About

About Jake Petrasch

Jake Petrasch, in total, Jake John Garrit Petrasch Jr., is the owner of Valley Anglers, situated in the Mad River Valley, Vermont. It is a fly fishing guide service that offers guided trips and fly fishing gear. Similarly, it provides a wide selection of equipment such as rods, wading gear, reels, packs, and bags. Angler derives from the verb “angle,” which denotes “to fish with a hook.” 

Jake Petrasch is an owner, automotive enthusiast, site coordinator, and dedicated educator. He is a trained professional with a combined 20+ years of experience in education, property management, site coordination, and fly fishing. Additionally, his interests and hobbies involve surfing, skateboarding,  riding bikes, hunting, fly fishing in salt and fresh water, and spending quality time with his family.

Education

In 2001, Petrasch received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from St Lawrence University in Canton, NY. Later, he attended Johnson State College in Johnson, VT, to pursue his Masters in Education studies in middle-level education, completing in 2007. Additionally, he participated in a semester with the National Outdoor Leadership School. He was issued college credits from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT, from September 1996 to December 1996.

Career Spotlights 

Throughout his extensive career, Petrash has been involved in various professions, such as teaching, site coordinator, property manager, guide, logistic coordinator, and more. These professions have shaped him into a versatile individual. 

Valley Anglers LLC, Warren, VT

His passion for teaching drives Petrasch. Similarly, he is a fly fishing enthusiast. This combination of passion and enthusiasm led Petrasch to establish Valley Anglers LLC in 2005. The venture unites his dedication to teaching and love for the sport. As an owner/guide of Valley Anglers LLC, he teaches and guides about the art of fly fishing to people of all ages and abilities. He helps his clients learn and improve casting techniques, entomology, and knottying.

Counseling Services of Addison County

In 2010, Petrasch started his teaching career and joined the Counseling Services as an Alternative Program Head Teacher/Behavior Specialist. Throughout his tenure, he taught high school-aged students who had been expelled or removed from their traditional public school setting. He created lesson plans and provided hands-on experience in math, world studies, language arts, and earth science subjects.

Harwood Union High School-Duxbury, VT

Petrasch joined Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, VT, in 2012. As a para educator, he specialized in academic and emotional support and worked as the primary support to students in the Learning Resource Center. Later, he initiated an academic support program named Call Back.

Montpelier High School, Montpelier, VT

After Harwood Union School, Petrasch joined Montpelier High School as a site coordinator in May 2014. He ran the school’s Outing Club, which plans trips and outings during vacations and weekends. Additionally, he was responsible for co-teaching a CrossFit program for off-season athletes and students. He worked with the SOAR program, which focuses on building educational experiences around student interests.

Integrated Property Services LLC, Warren, VT

Petrasch joined Integrated Property Services LLC in April 2018 and currently works as a Head Landscaper/Property Manager. He takes care of many second homeowners’ houses within the Mad River Valley. He gets involved in providing in-house diagnostics. Additionally, he offers essential maintenance inside and on the grounds of around 50 properties.

Personal Life Chapter 

Petrasch’s personal life has been as inspirational as his professional career. He was born on July 20, 1977, in Fort Worth, Texas, and adopted at 10 days old. He spent most of his childhood’s summer in Nantucket. His first job was at the quintessential Juice Bar.  He spent most of his early childhood years in Nantucket, sailing and playing tennis at the Nantucket Yacht Club.  Petrasch’s most beautiful moment arrived when he was pursuing his undergraduate degree from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. There, he met his lovely wife, Andrea (Thompson) Petrasch. She was pursuing a career in child fashion at Puddle Jumpers in Stowe, VT. Jake married Andrea in Stowe, Vermont, in 2005. 

Fly fishing

Fly fishing has been one of the principal activities of Petrasch’s life. In the winter of 1999, Petrasch began his long journey of sobriety….which was spearheaded with a fly rod in hand.  He then spent the first sober spring, helping the New York Fish and Wildlife with stocked trout distribution around the Adirondacks.  He is a passionate fly fisherman, which he turned into his profession. He loves saltwater and freshwater fly fishing. For freshwater fly fishing, he prefers Vermont, while for saltwater, he has been fortunate to travel with his father to the Turneffe Flats area of Belize to chase bonefish and permit.  As for inshore saltwater fly fishing, his bread-and-butter fishing began at a very young age on Nantucket.  Prior to the vast usage of GPS, he learned nautical charts and piloted center console fishing boats for recreation and success.  After selling off the family house in Nantucket, he focused his saltwater efforts on southern Maine.  

Surfing 

In addition to his previous hobby, Petrasch loves surfing. His craze for surfing can be understood by the fact that he spent his childhood in Nantucket—an island famous for its beaches and beach activities, including surfing. Bored quickly, the idea of just “sitting” on the beach has led to a “later in life” rebirth of his love for surfing.  His wife had a surfboard shaper, Sean Veccione (VEC surfboard), who made him a longboard in 2020 and thus began another angle of love for the ocean.  He tends to b-line from Vermont to Long Sands Beach in York, Maine, to surf asap.  Hurricane season tends to be the best.  

Motorcycles 

Petrasch is a man of many interests. As a child and teenager, I was not allowed to ride motorcycles.  At 30, his wife gave him his first dirtbike.  A few years later, he purchased his first street bike, a Honda CBR600f4i.  One of his deep-rooted temptations is a motorcycle, especially the Harley Davidson. His love for iconic bikes has spanned over two decades, making him a true two-wheeled enthusiast. He considers driving his motorcycle a therapy. Due to his ever-growing love for Harley, Andrea gave him a new Harley Davidson as a surprise gift in spring 2024.

Hunting

Petrasch also has a generational love for hunting. His grandfather lived with the Masai tribe in 1931-2 in Africa, harvesting every known animal there. His father was an avid upland and waterfowl hunter from the marshes of Maryland to the suburban preserves of New England.  With this interest, he has learned to connect well with nature. He often prefers hunting with a bow but also uses a rifle and muzzleloader to utilize every hunting season Vermont has to offer.  

Maine Coast & Nantucket 

He is an adventurer who loves to gather experiences. Apart from his diverse hobbies and interests, he enjoys spending quality time on the Maine Coast. The Coast of Maine is located in the northeastern corner of the United States. It is part of the Gulf of Maine and includes the coastlines of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Nova Scotia. Maine Coast is famous for its diverse wildlife, historic lighthouses, and photogenic windjammers.

Petrasch’sNantucket also surrounds Petrasch’s life. His father and generations of relatives are buried there in the most significant historic cemetery.  This place has been an integral part of his childhood. Nantucket, an island in Massachusetts, is known for its charming cobblestone streets, beautiful beaches, and well-preserved historic homes. Recently, for his kids’ education and access to kids’ sports, Petrasch moved from Mad River Valley in Vermont to Williston, Vermont.

Petrasch’s Sobriety

One thing about Petrasch is that he wears sobriety on his sleeve, literally and figuratively.  He has spent a lifetime of high-test, adrenaline-soaked activities.  He shares the trials and tribulations of his journey to 20 years of sobriety openly.  He has worked with other peers who desire to achieve such success.  He has tattooed his journey through life, especially sobriety, all across his body.  He achieved sobriety prior to having children, yet he is very open about his journey with his children, who have an excellent perspective on his journey.  He has never done anything the easy way; sobriety is no exception.  But the learning, character building, and perspective gained along the journey is what it’s all about.  In a tribute to those before him, he has always been able to “Hold Fast” and continues to do so.