Hello Bassresource,

 

My name is Jacob, and I live in northern Idaho. I am forty-two, and fishing is my life's passion.

 

I fell in love with fishing by catching mostly fingerling-sized smallmouth on the Snake River with my late Dad at around age 5. At age eight, I caught my first steelhead, and that event changed my life more than almost anything else, short of fatherhood and family/friend events and milestones. 

 

Since 1999, I have spent probably 95 percent of my fishing time and treasure chasing steelhead, with the occasional white sturgeon, stream trout, and random bass trip thrown in. Although steelhead will always be my favorite, I never stopped loving bronzebacks. They are easily my second favorite fish.

 

This spring, my son and I went on the first freshwater guided trip of my life. We fished Dworshak reservoir, so I could see what techniques (and more importantly), what type of water (depth, temp, structure) the professionals sought out for potential trophy, pre-spawn smallmouth. Since 2019, I know of at least four smallmouth in the 9lb range caught and released in this fishery, including the new catch and release state record last winter (all 23.75";  Smallmouth bass state record falls once more | Idaho Fish and Game. I am hoping to land a 6lb plus fish someday and am directing my fishing goals to that pursuit. Thanks to primarily lurking here, and other research, the techniques and water types we fished on our guided trip largely lined up with what I thought we might do.

 

More importantly, that trip lit the smoldering ember of a long-dormant love of smallmouth into a flame. I am currently shore bound, so chasing a 6lb trophy smallmouth will be challenging, but I think my bank steelhead experience will help, as far as mindset, as one bite per day (or none) is pretty standard for river steelhead from the bank. I think fishing hard for one or two bites from a potential trophy is my kind of fishing, though action is always good too. I also understand that even on Erie, St, Clair, Tenn River, or Dworshak, 6lb plus smallmouth do not come easy and need to be earned. I look forward to the challenge of chasing these magnificent fish. 

 

This online community is so very knowledgeable and helpful, and I am very excited to be a part of it. I hope to learn enough to contribute.

 

Thank you,

 

Jacob

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome

Welcome aboard Jacob.. great introduction.

Hello Jacob ~

Nice Intro and Welcome to Bass Resource.

A-Jay

Nice to meet you Jacob. 

Welcome to Bass Resources 

Thank you all! 

Welcome Jacob !

 

Welcome from Florida Jacob. 
I used to hunt Northern Idaho.  Around Babins Corner. Near Wallace. Beautiful area. 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Hi from the Sunshine State of Florida 

Welcome!

Welcome to Bassresource! 

Welcome!

Thank you all!

Hello @steelheader316 from Northern California! Welcome Jacob to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Sweet!  Welcome to the crowd. 

Welcome aboard, Jacob!

Welcome home! We're glad you're here.