About SaraBella Fishing
We launched in 2014, and our founders include April Archer, JT Archer, and Scott Grieble. Our rod-building team consists of talented Veterans and Survivors. We’ve all been through some big life challenges, and we choose to work with our hands, collaborate as a team, and connect humans to water. Our company is headquartered in Erie, Colorado. Our production space is in Lafayette, Colorado, and our team works from home throughout the Denver metropolitan area. Together, our SaraBella team builds fly rods that perform with excellence and make impact. Contact Us for more info!
Leadership Team

April Archer
Chief Executive Officer
April Archer, Chief Executive Officer

JT Archer
Chief Operations Officer
Jt Archer, Chief Operations Officer

Scott Grieble
Chief Technical & Production Officer
Scott Grieble, Chief Technical & Production Officer
Scott Grieble serves as SaraBella’s Chief Production Officer and he oversees all aspects of product development, quality, and design. With profound attention to detail and a deep commitment to perfection, Scott exceeds all expectations for the creation of each SaraBella fly rod. Scott has engaged his family and friends in fly fishing, and he enjoys the thrill of each fish.
Leadership Team

April Archer
Chief Executive Officer
April Archer serves as the CEO, founder, and majority owner of SaraBella Fishing. She is deeply devoted to creating excellent products, offering a wonderful…
April Archer, Chief Executive Officer
April Archer serves as the CEO, founder, and majority owner of SaraBella Fishing. She is deeply devoted to creating excellent products, offering a wonderful customer experience, and making a positive impact. As a Colorado kid, April grew up fishing and adventuring outdoors with her family and friends. Professionally, April has owned a photography business, led the wellness living-learning community at the University of Denver, and worked as an international tax staff member at Deloitte. While at Deloitte, she earned a Master of Arts in international studies at DU, with a focus on economics and human rights. April’s love of water resonates in her efforts to educate, connect, and inspire fly anglers around the world. She has served on several boards of directors and actively engages in the fly fishing community through education and outreach. With a passion for excellence, innovation, and inclusion, April believes that through fly fishing and the healing powers of water, together, we can make the world a better place.

JT Archer
Chief Operations Officer
As SaraBella’s Chief Operations Officer, JT Archer leads our financial and operational efforts. He balances the team through his talent and…
Jt Archer, Chief Operations Officer
As SaraBella’s Chief Operations Officer, JT Archer leads our financial and operational efforts. He balances the team through his talent and humor, and he connects to all aspects of the business. JT began fly fishing with April, back in the 1990s when they were dating. He enjoys the adventure and the peace while fishing, and he thrives while teaching others to fish/cast.

Scott Grieble
Chief Technical & Production Officer
Scott Grieble serves as SaraBella’s Chief Production Officer and he oversees all aspects of product development, quality, and design. With…
Scott Grieble, Chief Technical & Production Officer
Scott Grieble serves as SaraBella’s Chief Production Officer and he oversees all aspects of product development, quality, and design. With profound attention to detail and a deep commitment to perfection, Scott exceeds all expectations for the creation of each SaraBella fly rod. Scott has engaged his family and friends in fly fishing, and he enjoys the thrill of each fish.
Rod-Building Team and Marketing Team

Pat Higgins
Rod-Building
Pat Higgins is a US Veteran, fly fishing guide, and lead rod-building instructor for Denver Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Pat has built hundreds of rods…
Pat Higgins (Rod-Building)
Pat Higgins is a US Veteran, fly fishing guide, and lead rod-building instructor for Denver Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Pat has built hundreds of rods over the years, and he enjoys teaching Veterans the art of rod-building so that they can enjoy the healing power of fly fishing.
- Daily mantra: Find something positive in every day
- Favorite fly: The PPL (fabulously tied by Pat) – PMD, Adams, BWO, Yellow Sally, and Callibaetis
- Interesting accomplishment: traveled to every continent except Antarctica

Cookie Hooper
Rod-Building
Cookie Hooper is a community activist, entrepreneur, fly fishing guide school graduate, and cancer Survivor. Cookie enjoys volunteering…
Cookie Hooper (Rod-Building)
Cookie Hooper is a community activist, entrepreneur, fly fishing guide school graduate, and cancer Survivor. Cookie enjoys volunteering with Project Healing Waters and supporting various non-profits through her many fly fishing talents.
- Daily mantra: All I saw was a skinny kid. I didn’t know who you were. – Hacksaw Ridge
- Favorite fly: Casting a Chubby Chernobyl with a Prince Nymph dropper toward the banks is a killer combo and my go-to on float trips.
- Interesting accomplishment: Completed the Professional Fly Fishing Guide Program at Colorado Mountain College in 2019. She also owns two thriving businesses – a real estate company and a fabulous coffee shop and is learning to play the banjo!

Tom Manka
Rod-Building
Tom Manka is a US Veteran and retired deputy chief of police. Tom enjoys keeping an active routine through rod-building and other woodworking projects…
Tom Manka, Rod-Building
- Daily mantra: work hard, be a good person
- Favorite fly: caddis because they serve him well on lakes and rivers
- Interesting accomplishment: having a son in US special forces inspires Tom to connect and give back through Project Healing Waters fly fishing

David McElwain
Rod-Building
David McElwain is a master fly tyer, author, certified guide, and male breast cancer Survivor. David enjoys building fly rods, fishing, and…
David McElwain (Rod-Building)
- Daily mantra: stay involved with fly fishing, teach others, making a difference
- Favorite fly: wooly bugger because they catch fish!
- Interesting accomplishment: Winner of the 2020 IFTD hog pond casting championship

Dean Millard
Rod-Building
Dean Millard is a US Veteran, accountant, and nationally-recognized rod builder. Dean enjoys building fly rods, fishing, and volunteering with…
Dean Millard (Rod-Building)
Dean Millard is a US Veteran, accountant, and nationally-recognized rod builder. Dean enjoys building fly rods, fishing, and volunteering with Project Healing Waters.
- Favorite fly: Elk Hair Caddis – the elk is the only North American land animal that has ivory in its mouth. Plus, the elk hair really makes the Elk Hair Caddis stand out.
- Interesting accomplishment: Won First Place in Category 1 (1st year rod builders) of the 2019 National Fly Rod Building Competition with Project Healing Waters.

Harry Nimrod
Rod-Building
Harry Nimrod is a US Veteran and a retired police sergeant. He has served the community and our country for 36 years. Now, he enjoys…
Mike Shaeffer (Rod-Building)
Harry Nimrod is a US Veteran and a retired police sergeant. He has served the community and our country for 36 years. Now, he enjoys working with his hands — through supporting the SaraBella rod building team and through fly fishing. He also volunteers with Project Healing Water Fly Fishing’s rod-building program in Denver. Harry’s skills include lathe work (grips, reel seats) as well as wrapping and fly tying.
Daily mantra: Accept responsibility for your actions and move on.
Favorite fly: “I can’t think of one that really stands out. However, One of my most memorable fishing trips was on the Big Horn River in Montana during the Trico mayfly hatch. What an experience.”
Interesting accomplishment: Harry planned and implemented the sheriffs’ motorcycle unit

Irma Reyes
Rod-Building
Irma Reyes leads cut/sew efforts to create our SaraBella rod sleeves. She works at The Mile High Workshop, a long-time non-profit partner and owns…
Irma Reyes (Rod-Building)
- Daily mantra: Spread joy one day at a time
- Favorite fly: the one that catches fish
- Interesting accomplishment: came to Colorado for college and loves to play soccer

Jennifer Rudolph
Marketing (Public Relations)
Jenn Rudolph is a multi-talented PR professional with passions for outdoor adventure, community impact, and living life to the fullest. She has shared…
Jennifer Rudolph (Public Relations)
Jenn Rudolph is a multi-talented PR professional with passions for outdoor adventure, community impact, and living life to the fullest. She has shared wisdom and enthusiasm to ignite SaraBella’s public relationships since 2015. As she battles each day for her life as a breast cancer Survivor, she brings abundant joy and insight to SaraBella.
- Daily mantra: Being a natural optimist my outlook is generally positive and I tend to follow the golden rule of treating others how I would like to be treated. Kindness wins.
- Favorite fly: Woolly Bugger, it’s fun to say.
- Interesting accomplishment: Level 3 certified ski instructor; her first fly fishing experience was in New Zealand

Noah Solomon
Marketing (Technology)
Noah Solomon runs SaraBella’s website/technology with poise and creativity. He works tirelessly to ensure a fabulous customer…
Noah Solomon (Technology)
- Daily mantra: Never set limits for yourself! Always keep reaching.
- Favorite fly: My favorite fly is the Lefty’s Deceiver. I really like the colors – it matches a Colorado sunset!
- Interesting accomplishment: attending Cornell University, and very active in the community

Andrew Miller
Research + Marketing Intern
Andrew Miller attends University of Colorado’s MBA program, focusing on Entrepreneurship. He has experience in environmental sustainability….
Noah Solomon (Technology)
Andrew Miller attends University of Colorado’s MBA program, focusing on Entrepreneurship. He has experience in environmental sustainability, immigration law, and marketing. Andrew enjoys writing, fishing, and spending time outdoors. At SaraBella, he helps with research, marketing strategy, content writing, and special projects.
Daily mantra: Get outside!
Favorite fly: A hot spot pheasant tail with a bright pink thorax. They’re fun and easy to tie, and
more importantly, they work.
Interesting accomplishment: Andrew’s an entirely self-taught fly fisherman, so he’s very
thankful for YouTube (and good old-fashioned books!).

Deb Nelson
Technology - Website
Deb Nelson runs SaraBella’s website/technology. Having worked in the IT industry for several years, she finds it very fullfilling to be able to support a woman owned business in today’s world.
Deb Nelson (Technology)
Daily Mantra: Problem solving is the way by which solutions are developed to remove an obstacle from achieving an ultimate goal.
Favorite Fly: Chocolate Thunder
Interesting Accomplishment: Spent 20 years in the Navy traveling the world while learning about computers.
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