adrenaline_junkie_ff

Shawn began fishing with his father as soon as he could walk. He grew up chasing Pacific Northwest Steelhead and salmon year round. He then got bored with that and began pursuing Largemouth Bass with his childhood friend at lakes around SW Washington. An idea hit them both to try their hands at fly fishing for sea run cutthroat trout. They learned how to tie their own flies then began building their own flyrods. It was then suggested to them to try Smallmouth fishing on the mighty Columbia River. They spent a few years fighting mighty river smallies on the Columbia River and the Snake River. When Shawn enlisted in the Navy, he had the opportunity to fish in Florida and Hawaii. 1998, after the Navy, Shawn relocated to Eastern Washington where he was introduced to ice fishing. He fished the mountain lakes in Idaho and the high desert lakes across Eastern Washington. Shawn then relocated to Golden in 2007 where the world of ice fishing turned his wife into an ice fishing widow. He enjoys trying to rescue any fish that is trapped under the ice. Each year, he looks for one more lake to study and learn as well as constantly trying different lures and techniques, either on his own or going with other fellow ice fishermen to see what he can learn and try. Shawn volunteers with Just One Day, a local non-profit that offers to take military veterans and active duty personnel fishing, providing all gear and lunch, while also providing giveaways from many local sponsors. He has helped in the success of Vets on Ice and is now actively involved in developing Heroes on Ice, an ice fishing event that hopes to provide an ice fishing opportunity not only for our nations veterans but also first responders. Shawn feels that our veterans and first responders can benefit greatly by introducing them to a family friendly, winter hobby with fellow veterans and first responders.