Jenny Grossenbacher coaxes a few more feet out of her rod in the 2001 GOG distance casting event.

DOB: 6/22/1968

Occupation: Flyfishing Guide

Background: Jenny grew up in the White Rock Lake area in Dallas and was introduced to fishing through conventional tackle. In the summer between her 4th and 5th grades she continually brought home fish, so finally her mother made her clean them. She says the sight of fish flopping in the sink was too much and she vowed she would never fish again. She kept that promise until she was 19-years-old and became a backpacking guide at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. There she met her future husband, Brian, an avid flyfisherman. She tried to spend as much time with him as possible, which meant taking up fly fishing. The fly fishing in Cimarron was sensational and her love for the sport took off.

Jenny and her husband Brian have owned Grossenbacher Guides for the last seven years. Grossenbacher means "Big River" in German. Jenny is a fisheries wildlife biologist and has spent a great deal of time studying grizzly bears in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Her diverse experiences in this field have taken her to the skies to conduct helicopter research, and deep into Yellowstone National Park, leading courses for San Francisco State University.

Jenny danced with "Up With People" in 1989. She has appeared on numerous TV shows and commercials and has modeled for several catalogs and calendars. She has been featured in outdoors magazines since 1997.

Participating Since: 1988

Competing Since: 2001

Strengths: As a woman in a male-dominated profession, Jenny constantly searches for every edge possible. She reads and fishes all the time to learn new information, whether it's on entomology or simply new techniques. As a fish and wildlife biologist, she has a strong background in trout, aquatic insects, as well as the ecology and dynamics of streams themselves. This has contributed significantly to her guiding success and her own personal fishing enjoyment. She understands where trout hold and when they feed on different stages of certain insect species.

Personal Bests: Jenny has a BS in Fish Wildlife Biology with Highest Honors, Montana State University, and a BA in Philosophy with Highest Honors, Montana State University. She also says that one of her personal bests was rowing the Yellowstone in 60-plus mph winds and getting everyone home safely. She holds the record for the most bluegills caught out of White Rock Lake by a nine year old.

Coaches/Mentors: Jennyh's husband dreamed of meeting Bud Lilly for a decade before Jenny ever knew his name, but she met him first, while getting a haircut. Bud later sent her one of his books and encouraged Jenny in her guiding career. Bud is largely responsible for catch-and-release fishing in the West and she says it is a privilege to know him. Jenny says that Paul Roos is an amazing fisherman and conservationist. She recently met him while shooting a Grays Sporting Journal show on the restoration of the Blackfoot River. She is honored to call Paul her friend and looks forward to learning more from him in the years to come. Her coaches include her husband, Brian Grossenbacher, and Brian Ramsey.

Sponsors: Sage, Waterworks, Simms, Action Optics, Montana Furniture Industries, Smartshield Sunscreen, Montana Travel