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.