Idaho is world-renowned for its fishing spots, including its wide variety of lakes and rivers. It's no wonder Idahoans like Jordan Rodriguez have a passion for the sport.
Rodriguez began fishing at a young age.
“For whatever reason, fishing had just a certain magic for me,” Rodriguez said. “We weren't even necessarily catching very many fish in those days, but I just loved being outside, being in the outdoors, and just kind of the excitement and the adventure of never knowing what could happen or what kind of fish you might catch.”
Fishing is more than a hobby for Rodriguez. He is the fishing columnist for the Idaho Statesman in Boise. He is also the owner of Tight Lines 208, a fishing business where he teaches all kinds of fishing classes, offers private lessons, writes a fishing column, and publishes fishing reports.
"The core of the business is fishing classes. I now have about a dozen classes, and they are on a wide variety of topics. It usually species based, or type of fishing based,” Rodriguez said.
Idaho fishing laws prevent certain fish from being caught and harvested for several reasons. Rodriguez says it’s valuable to help others know this. And that is exactly what Tight Lines 208 is doing.
“Being able to provide that information and give them a solid foundation of knowing what kinds of fish they're catching,” Rodriguez said. “How to identify those visually, which ones are good for eating versus not good for eating.”
Fish are a vital part of the environment and often give indicators as to the effects of global warming, climate change and pollution. As Rodriguez said, the health of fish in rivers and lakes is often a strong indicator of what's going on at a macro level.
Another reason why Rodriguez loves fishing can be found in the longevity of those who fish. The older you get, the better you get at it. There is no retirement age for fishing, it can be done for as long as you are physically able to hold a rod.
Rodriguez is a self-proclaimed fish nerd and has done some studies to understand fish life spans. Fish like bluegill and crappies have short lifespans usually below 10 years. Bass in Idaho are known to live close to 2 decades while lake trout have been known to live between 40-60 years.
To take that to even a further extreme, the white sturgeon in the Snake River have been documented to live well over 100 years.
Visit Tightlines208.com to learn more or sign up for one of Rodriguez’s classes.