Clinton Martinez

A Spanish Fork man who shares his love of fishing with others

Tell us about yourself: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I am a native of Utah County. I have lived in Orem, Provo, Springville and Santaquin, and I now live in Spanish Fork. I enjoy spending time with my family in Utah's beautiful outdoors.

Why do you fish, and how did you get into it?

I have been fishing my whole life. I grew up spending time with my grandparents at their cabin at Strawberry Reservoir, and have been fishing there for as long as I can remember. I developed a love of bass fishing later in life, and because of that, I founded the first collegiate bass fishing team in Utah at Utah Valley University in 2011.

What is your favorite part of fishing?

My favorite part about fishing is being in nature and being able to share my love of the outdoors with others.

What are some tips you would offer someone who is interested in learning to fish?

Trial and error is typically the best teacher when learning anything new. However, I have always learned the most when I have gone fishing with an experienced mentor, including my grandfather, friends and others experienced anglers.

To learn more about fishing and fisheries management, visit wildlife.utah.gov/teamwildlife.

Erin Mathis

A local woman combining a passion for fishing and kayaking

Tell us about yourself: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and moved to Utah in 2007. I currently live in the Salt Lake area. I have been an aerospace engineer for nine years, and I am also the co-owner of Kayak Fishing Utah. We run a bass fishing tournament series all over Utah. From February through October, you can find me traveling the country to fish at national events, camping at lakes for our local tournaments, or hosting kayak fishing seminars with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

If you see me on the water, you will also meet my 80-pound boxer, Kaya, who loves to ride on the back of my Hobie while I fish! I am currently sponsored by Idaho River Sports and Millennium Custom Rods.

Why do you fish, and how did you get into it?

I fished a little bit when I was a kid and always loved it, but I didn't really get into fishing until 2016 when some neighbors took me out on their bass boat. After that, I purchased a $200 Lifetime Kayak and started fishing on my own. I had recently gone through some trauma, and I found that being on the water and enjoying the outdoors was the most healing kind of therapy for me.

I soon realized that I wanted a more versatile kayak and upgraded to a pedal-drive Hobie and began to compete in fishing tournaments. I was awarded Angler of the Year my first season and quickly realized that fishing would be my new obsession. Joe Randall (Shoot Fish Life) and I took over the Kayak Fishing Utah organization in 2019 and have grown the club exponentially.

As part of the club expansion, we also started a junior league so kids, ages 3–15, can compete in fishing tournaments for free. It helps the kids make new friends, learn new skills, and they always take home a prize or trophy. Our club is known across the country for being one giant family.

Being a tournament director doesn't always allow me to be as competitive as I used to be, but now it's all about making sure everyone is having a great time fishing.

What is your favorite part of fishing?

At this point, I like to consider myself a seasoned bass angler. I absolutely love how smart these fish are. I love having to analyze the weather, moon phases, depth, water temperature, and best time of year to find fish. It's like a math equation for me — sometimes one that seems unsolvable!

I also love the thrill of the fight, just as much as I love releasing them back into the water. It's awesome to watch these fish swim off to produce offspring for our kids to also enjoy catching for years to come. My favorite part about being on the water is the bonding time I get with my recently adopted dog, Kaya, and my loved ones.

What are some tips you would offer someone who is interested in learning to fish?

YouTube is always a great resource for getting into fishing and is a good place to start. There are plenty of Utah anglers that will post tips and tricks on finding fish at local lakes. I have learned a lot over the years from local Facebook groups and other anglers that just want to get outside.

Don't ever get intimidated by all the gear — you don't need expensive equipment to be successful in catching fish! You will learn something new with every fishing trip you take. Time on the water is the only way you will truly learn and master new techniques and become an amazing angler.

To learn more about fishing and fisheries management, visit wildlife.utah.gov/teamwildlife.

Heidi Lewis

A mom who fell in love with fly fishing

Tell us about yourself: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in southeastern Wisconsin until age 18 and then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. My dad was a charter fisherman on Lake Michigan, as was his father. My lineage goes back to Washington Island, Wisconsin and beyond to Norway, so I feel that fishing is in my genes. It is truly a part of me and my family's history, and I have been catching fish since I was 2 years old.

I currently work for our family business with my husband. When I'm not working, I'm caring for two teenage daughters and three active dogs (my favorite job). I've volunteered as a Trout Unlimited council member for many years, and I also started a women's fishing group — Utah Women Flyfishers — in 2013. It's not as active as I want it to be at the moment, but kids don't stay kids forever, and I'll have more time to get meetings going again in the near future.

My river time is sacred to me, and I try to fish at least once a week. I have gone fly fishing that much, if not more, religiously since 2012 when I started my fishing journey. Since then, it has become part of my routine! I make sure to fit in fishing for many reasons. It's not "just" fishing for me.

I have a few published flyfishing article that I've written over the years and also podcasts I've done at https://linktr.ee/heidiaqua.

Why do you fish, and how did you get into it?

There are so many reasons why I fish. It's a complex answer, and some days have different intentions. It often depends on where I am, who I am with and maybe even the time of year as to why I fish.

In 2012, I went to a fly fishing film tour with my husband. At the time, my youngest daughter was 2½ years old. I had been thinking of what I could do with myself away from the house for some "me time." That film tour lit me up! It was exciting to watch, and I knew from that moment that flyfishing was the thing I wanted to learn to get me outdoors for some quality "me time."

I called up my local fly shop (Western Rivers) and learned they had a women's class that was meeting the next month — and they only had one spot left! During the actual fishing component of that class, I caught my first fish on a fly on the Middle Provo. The rest is history!

Over the next year, I took every one of my instructor's fly fishing classes and went fly fishing once a week on my own to dive into the sport head first. I would go back to the fly shop and review my fishing trips with the crew there, picking their brains on what I saw, how I failed and what tips I could implement for the next time I went. Over that first year of fly fishing, I experienced every season of the Provo River, learned how the fish behave and what bugs hatch there during different times of the year.

I have continued fishing year round since then and continue to learn from my successes and failures. Even now, I learn something new every time I fish because no day on the water is the same. I think that's one of the most exciting parts of fly fishing.

While the initial reason I got into fishing was a way to get out of the house, my motivations for fishing have evolved since then. It's a time to clock out mentally from the daily grind, and it serves as a meditative mindful reset. I am so in the moment on the water that everything else fades away. I often have to set an alarm if I have to go at a certain time because I will completely lose track of time. Being able to do something with your mind and body that requires you to be completely present is the ultimate reset.

I also fly fish because it's a fun challenge. There are so many pieces to the puzzle, and figuring out how they need to be put together on that day to have success catching a fish requires patience, overcoming failure and being willing to try new things. You also have to learn a variety of skills, including navigating flows and river systems, how to observe bug and bird activity and how to fish in different weather patterns.

What is your favorite part of fishing?

I have met so many interesting people across the country through the fly fishing community, especially women. Knowing other female anglers in a male dominated sport is special, and I now travel and hang out with many of those women on and off the water.

Fly fishing is the whole package for the mind, body and soul. It's challenging, it's therapeutic and it's also a great social activity. I can enjoy fishing alone and also with others. I also enjoy the physical exercise of fishing. I try to get as much exercise as I can when I fish — walking against the water current and hiking the trails to get to the river feels great!

Ultimately, fly fishing requires me to be fully present in the moment. That's truly the best part.

What are some tips you would offer someone who is interested in learning to fish?

If you are a woman looking to get into the sport, know that there is room for you on the water and you belong — even if you don't see other women out there. We are here, and we support you! Don't be intimidated to stop into your local fly shop and ask them what classes they offer for beginners. Supporting your local fishing shops will benefit you. Having more women involved helps normalize women in fly fishing.

Learning how to cast a fly rod and line is the key to your success. I suggest doing this off the water (or at least not while trying to catch a fish). You can hire an instructor to help you learn the basics. And then make sure to practice a lot! There are different casts for different conditions and knowing how to do those will make your day that much better when trying to catch a fish.

Most importantly, spending time on the water will make the biggest difference. You have to spend the time and make some mistakes to learn how to fly fish. What works for someone else, may not work for you. It's important to know that there are many ways to catch a fish with a fly!

To learn more about fishing and fisheries management, visit wildlife.utah.gov/teamwildlife.

Joe Sanchez

A dad who loves the adventure of fishing

Tell us about yourself: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I grew up in Paradise, Utah and currently live in Ogden. I am self-employed as a sub-contractor. During my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family camping, hiking, fishing, sipping on craft beers and grilling. I make the best carne asada tacos.

Why do you fish, and how did you get into it?

I fish because it is exciting and fun. You never know what you are going to catch, but you are always going to have a good time. I grew up in the '90s, and the other neighborhood kids and I would ride our bikes all over town from dusk to dawn. We were lucky to live in a town with a lot of lakes and rivers nearby, which allowed us to fish as much as possible.

What is your favorite part of fishing?

My favorite part of fishing is arriving at the water and figuring out the best approach. Whether I am fishing in a river, ice fishing or posting up on a lake, my success depends on where I approach the water. After years of fishing, you learn to read the water and know where the fish are located. The yield of my success depends on the time of day, location or my choice of tackle. As you become a more experienced angler, you are able to make better decisions on strategy to help you have success. I have learned that fish are creatures of opportunity — if you present them with an opportunity of easy food, they will take it.

What are some tips you would offer someone who is interested in learning to fish?

There are two things that I would recommend to a beginner:

1. Don't make fishing a chore, make it easy to do. One way to help with that is to keep your fishing gear in your car and to keep it light and compact. Have your fishing rod and tackle ready to go at all times so you can stop by a body of water in your spare time and throw in a line. Nothing is worse than driving past a good fishing hole and not being able to fish it because you don't have your gear with you. Be prepared and keep things simple!
2. Follow the rules. Read the current Utah Fishing Guidebook so you know the laws for each area and can keep on fishin' on!

To learn more about fishing and fisheries management, visit wildlife.utah.gov/teamwildlife.

Rebeca Granillo

A local guide finding healing through fly fishing

Tell us about yourself: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I was born, raised and still live in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am a fly fishing guide and instructor with over a decade of experience on our local rivers, lakes and streams. My passion for the job inspired me to create my company, Immerse Fly Fishing, where we provide in-depth educational courses and guided fly fishing trips.

Along with guiding, I can be found volunteering my time with various nonprofit fly fishing groups and other fishing organizations. I currently mentor children in foster care through fly fishing with The Mayfly Project, and I also volunteer with Trout Unlimited as the Women's Initiative and Diversity Inclusion chair in Utah.

At the center of everything is my family. My partner and I are blessed to have a daughter and two pups. A typical weekend for us is spent finding roads less traveled and exploring waterbodies along the way.

Why do you fish, and how did you get into it?

I grew up in conditions where access to the great outdoors was next to impossible. As I got into my late teenage years, my family was able to acquire a vehicle, and we began to explore the Wasatch Front by hiking any trail system we could get to.

At age 20, I found myself combating severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Through a series of events, I discovered fly fishing a year later — which ended up being a blessing in disguise. Since then, I've fished the same creeks and streams our family hiked next to many years previously, but now with a rod and flies in hand. It was quite memorable to revisit places I thought I knew so well only to discover there was a whole new underwater world to explore and become familiar with.

I fish for a handful of reasons, but the biggest motivator that gets me on the water is in finding solitude. After all, it was that same solitude that led me to truly process the past events in my PTSD, which then allowed me to work through them and finally accept them. Fishing has become a healing tool for me, as it has been for so many others.

What is your favorite part of fishing?

I'd have to say my favorite part of fishing is in the community I have found along the way. I would probably have never met some of my closest friends, and even my husband, if it wasn't for fishing bringing us together.

In this community I have also found mentors, leaders, family and a wonderful support system.

What are some tips you would offer someone who is interested in learning to fish?

Here are the five things I would recommend to anyone who is looking to start fishing:

1. Join local fishing groups that have outings or classes throughout the year. This is a great way to make new friends while also learning new skills.
2. Visit your local fishing shop and ask all the questions. Most anglers behind the counter love getting a new angler dialed in for success.
3. Establish a budget. Once you have that set in stone, you can purchase gear within your means and still get out on the water without breaking the bank. My first setup consisted of a used pair of kid's fishing waders and a kid's fly rod, but they got me out there and that's all that matters.
4. Read the Utah Fishing Guidebook to familiarize yourself with our state's regulations, fish species and waterways.
5. Get out and fish! Whether it's at the community pond or a high alpine lake, get out when you can and apply what you learn, while also experimenting with different rigs and methods you make up along the way.

To learn more about fishing and fisheries management, visit wildlife.utah.gov/teamwildlife.