BOISE, Idaho — One of my earliest (and favorite) memories is of my first fishing trip. My family was staying at a little cabin in the woods of Mio, Michigan, and my dad said he would take me fishing the next morning.
Preschool-aged me barely slept that night. My mind raced with thoughts of what might happen on the water. Would we catch a fish? How many? How big? What would it be like to reel one in? To hold one? Maybe, even, to keep one and eat it for dinner?
My dad and I didn't really know what we were doing that morning. But that didn't stop fishing from living up to the hype. We caught silvery trout. We caught spikey yellow perch. We caught saucer-shaped sunfish. I hooked a big bass (my first "one that got away"). But my young heart was captured by the magic of not knowing what would happen—because that meant that just about anything might!
Fast forward more than 30 years, and the spark that was ignited that day still burns as strong as ever. While fishing has many virtues, its mystery is what keeps me coming back. Because the truth is, it never goes away. Today, I'm a seasoned angler with tackle boxes full of knowledge and experience. But if I go fishing tomorrow, I still can't tell you what's going to happen. In fact, the special moments—the bucket list catches, the record-breaking lunkers, the monsters you've spent countless hours researching and daydreaming about—tend to happen when you least expect it.
Helping others experience that same magic is what Tight Lines 208 is all about. For the past decade, I've been sharing my love of fishing with Idaho audiences through written articles and classes. And today, I'm thrilled to be publishing my first column for KTVB! Look for my columns, fishing reports and other fun fishing content every Wednesday afternoon, and catch me on the 4 o'clock news for more fishing tips and tidbits. If you're familiar with my work for previous outlets, it's great to see you again! And if you're new to the Tight Lines 208 community, welcome! Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy it.
Some of my articles will give you tips on where, when and how to catch more fish. Others will share epic adventures or valuable learning experiences I've had on the water, or introduce you to people making waves on the local fishing scene. You can find all my content here at ktvb.com, as well as on my website, tightlines208.com.
Speaking of my website, it's where you can browse and register for upcoming classes. I teach once a month, and my next offering, Fishing Fun for Kids, is happening June 20!. If you want to learn skills and strategies that will last a lifetime—and meet lots of cool people who are passionate about fishing—come check out a Tight Lines 208 class! It's always a fun time, and I love meeting readers in person.
So, let's do this thing! I have always considered my column a two-way street. Your ideas and feedback are welcome. Email me anytime at tightlinesboise@gmail.com. Send me your questions, your epic fishing stories, or pictures of your trophy catch. Who knows? Your topic might make it into a future article, TV segment or Tight Lines 208 class.
Thanks for coming on this journey with me. I feel a lot like that youngster in Mio all those years ago—I don't know exactly what's going to happen, but something tells me it's going to be great.
Tight lines!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters for 25 years. Share your fish stories, adventures and questions with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com, or visit www.tightlines208.com for the latest local fishing reports and upcoming class offerings.
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