Jerrod comes from generations of avid outdoorsman. He started out hopping rocks on pint-sized Adirondack streams in onesie pajamas while pursuing four inch brook trout from the time he could walk. His fishing passion began early on, while catching bass at his uncle’s farm pond at 6 or 7 years old with second hand beat up fly gear and oversized ambition. Growing up in the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York provided a central hub for many trout laden waters extending from the Catskills to Adirondacks and east to the Vermont state line. Somewhere during his highschool years Jerrod switched from conventional tackle altogether to pursue flyfishing for trout of all types. Whether it be a devoted passion or crazy obsession, Jerrod can be found all over the Northeast trying to fool fish with a fly rod in hand.
JERROD VILA
All About
As the leaves begin to change and the snow begins to fall, Jerrod’s passions shift to outwitting coyotes with the hunting group Downwind Outdoors. A CDL-A driver by trade, Jerrod is the outdoor columnist for the Amsterdam Recorder and member of NYSOWA (New York State Outdoor Writers Association). Jerrod is also the official chef of EB&T, with a passion for eclectic and elegant cuisine from all over the globe and a palate to match. He is always responsible for taking care of meals for the group. Perhaps dabbling in way too many entities; he always seems to be able to make time for fishing and the outdoors.
HOME TOWN
Amsterdam, NY
HOME WATERS
Ausable River, West Canada Creek & Battenkill River
TARGET SPECIES
Mainly wild trout but will also pursue warm water species like walleye and smallmouth.
ONE TIP TO IMPROVE ONE'S FISHING
Presentation is everything! Don’t be lazy when it comes to fishing. You see that awesome run out a ways, sure you can reach it from where you are, but the presentation might not be the greatest. Don’t do it! Take the time and effort to wade out and set yourself up for the best possible presentation on the first attempt and I guarantee you will put more fish in the net!
A GOOD FISHING STORY
The setting was some miserably cold rainy day in late April on an unnamed tailwater. My hands were pruny beyond recognition. The overall day was solid with a good number of nice fish being brought to the net. Then it happened, the hook up. At that very moment I knew it was big, real big. The line screamed off the reel and all too quickly, I was into backing. Running down stream as fast as possible over rocks, through brush, I finally gained line and started to tire out this beast of a brown affixed to the other end of the line. Eric was there anxiously waiting with the net. I finally got the big brown into a soft spot of current and managed to swoop him with the net. He was mine, or so we thought! The fish bowed like a horseshoe over the entire opening of the net and fell back into the river, still hooked. No big deal, we got this. Eric, who was solely focused on the task at hand, positioned himself to catch the gnarly brown that was just coasting across the surface heading directly for the net again. Snap! Eric had no idea the line had broken and all I could do was mutter indistinguishable caveman noises as the 28 inch brown lacksadaically turned and swam back to the depths. Well maybe it wasn’t that big, but I am a fisherman so therefore I am also a liar, but it was damn big. More importantly it is a story neither of us will ever forget.
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JERROD VILA
All About
Jerrod comes from generations of avid outdoorsman. He started out hopping rocks on pint-sized Adirondack streams in onesie pajamas while pursuing four inch brook trout from the time he could walk. His fishing passion began early on, while catching bass at his uncle’s farm pond at 6 or 7 years old with second hand beat up fly gear and oversized ambition. Growing up in the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York provided a central hub for many trout laden waters extending from the Catskills to Adirondacks and east to the Vermont state line. Somewhere during his highschool years Jerrod switched from conventional tackle altogether to pursue flyfishing for trout of all types. Whether it be a devoted passion or crazy obsession, Jerrod can be found all over the Northeast trying to fool fish with a fly rod in hand.
As the leaves begin to change and the snow begins to fall, Jerrod’s passions shift to outwitting coyotes with the hunting group Downwind Outdoors. A CDL-A driver by trade, Jerrod is the outdoor columnist for the Amsterdam Recorder and member of NYSOWA (New York State Outdoor Writers Association). Jerrod is also the official chef of EB&T, with a passion for eclectic and elegant cuisine from all over the globe and a palate to match. He is always responsible for taking care of meals for the group. Perhaps dabbling in way too many entities; he always seems to be able to make time for fishing and the outdoors.
HOME TOWN
Amsterdam, NY
HOME WATERS
Ausable River, West Canada Creek & Battenkill River
TARGET SPECIES
Mainly wild trout but will also pursue warm water species like walleye and smallmouth.
ONE TIP TO IMPROVE ONE'S FISHING
Presentation is everything! Don’t be lazy when it comes to fishing. You see that awesome run out a ways, sure you can reach it from where you are, but the presentation might not be the greatest. Don’t do it! Take the time and effort to wade out and set yourself up for the best possible presentation on the first attempt and I guarantee you will put more fish in the net!
A GOOD FISHING STORY
The setting was some miserably cold rainy day in late April on an unnamed tailwater. My hands were pruny beyond recognition. The overall day was solid with a good number of nice fish being brought to the net. Then it happened, the hook up. At that very moment I knew it was big, real big. The line screamed off the reel and all too quickly, I was into backing. Running down stream as fast as possible over rocks, through brush, I finally gained line and started to tire out this beast of a brown affixed to the other end of the line. Eric was there anxiously waiting with the net. I finally got the big brown into a soft spot of current and managed to swoop him with the net. He was mine, or so we thought! The fish bowed like a horseshoe over the entire opening of the net and fell back into the river, still hooked. No big deal, we got this. Eric, who was solely focused on the task at hand, positioned himself to catch the gnarly brown that was just coasting across the surface heading directly for the net again. Snap! Eric had no idea the line had broken and all I could do was mutter indistinguishable caveman noises as the 28 inch brown lacksadaically turned and swam back to the depths. Well maybe it wasn’t that big, but I am a fisherman so therefore I am also a liar, but it was damn big. More importantly it is a story neither of us will ever forget.