The Fishing Podcast

Mark Tonello joins me this week to talk about his love for fishing that grew into a dream job as a fisheries biologist here in the state of Michigan.  It was a fun chat discussing different aspects of his role with the DNR and talking about all kinds of differnt fish and fisheries.  We discuss everything from egg takes for walleye to where to find big browns!

This week I decided to do a bit of an experiment and did a solo episode.  Something I was a little nervous to do honestly, because I don't consider myself an expert.  However,  I had some pretty fantastic experiences over a 5 day period of fishing, and I wanted to share what I learned.  So this episode is a combination of observations made by me and my friends over these 5 days.  I learned something everyday I felt like, and I hope that this might be interesting for all of you.  

The weather is warming up, and with that so should the smallmouth bite!  Today we have John Gouker on podcast with us, and we talk in depth about his tactics for river smallmouth fishing.  John also educates us on smallmouth migration patterns and when and where to find these incredible fish.  Known as one of the strongest pound for pound fighters, smallmouth truly are incredible game fish!

This week John McMillan is back!  One of my favorite guest from last season.  We talk about his most resent steelhead season,  Dam removal, hatcheries affect on wild fish, and all kinds of other interesting info.  John has been studying trout and salmon species for many years and has a tremendous amount of knowledge!

This week Brian joins me from Eastmans'  Flycast, and we try to break down what reading water means.  Its something that you hear about a lot, but don't hear many in depth conversations on.  So we try to break down what we are looking for in rivers, where to find fish, and how to fish certain types of river features.  Brian lives in Montana, but is from the West coast.  So it was really interesting to compare and contrast our experiences.

You asked for more Koz, and podcasts recorded on the water, and this one has both. Catching fish on top water is my favorite. Big trout on a dry fly at night? Even better! In this episode Brian and my buddy Ross Gibbs discuss the hex hatch. For those that don’t know the hex is a large mayfly that hatches after dark. So you are fishing blind to fish that you can only hear. We walk through the life cycle of a hex, where to find them, and what to use. Spring is here, and the trout are looking up. It wont be long now before the hatches start in full swing. So get prepared and get out there! I hope this helps some of you get into some fish after dark this year!

Today I sit down with Glen Blackwood of Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company.  Glen has a deep history in the world of trout fishing and it was a pleasure to stop in and interview him at the shop!  We discuss his background in fly fishing, his favorite methods, we compare and contrast the the past to the current state of trout fishing, his favorite trout literature, and much more.  To find some of the books Glen refers to, see the list below.

To find out more information about Glen or Great Lakes Fly Fishing Company, visit his website here - https://troutmoor.net/

Thanks for listening!

Today my cousin and best fried Dustin joins me to recap some epic brown trout fishing that has happened recently.  We both caught some very big fish, and I wanted to record an episode to analyze how it all came together.  We discuss how we caught the fish and how we go about chasing big browns in general.  This one is filled with a lot of great info and hopefully a few laughs!

This week Christian Bacasa joins me from Dupe a Fish.  Christian is a stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, and it was actually his recovery that introduced him to fly fishing.  He is a well-traveled avid angler, and we get a little audio vacation from our quarantine by listening to him relive some of his favorite adventures!

To learn more about Dupe a Fish and your next fishcation check out https://dupeafish.com/

Mark Kenyon is on today's episode to talk about some of his fishing adventures, the importance of public land, and his book That Wild Country.  Mark is well known for the company he created Wired to Hunt.  As well as being a team member of the MeatEater crew.  Mark is a hunter and angler, but also a very passionate conservationist.  

If you would like to purchase a copy of marks book here is the link - That Wild Country.

This week we go random!  I call 3 of my fishing buddies Matt Peisert, Bob Polanic, and Dustin Feldpausch to talk fishing and try to take out minds off the current world events.  We talk mostly about trout and steelhead fishing.  From the sounds of it, fishing has been good for both lately!  Matt tells us about a great day on the water chucking streamers,  Bob offers up some advice on catching steelhead, and Dustin and I compare and contrast his Colorado fishing to his home state here in Michigan.

In today's episode, we have Biologist Nicole Watson joining us to tell us about her research on Arctic grayling, and the hopeful attempt to reintroduce them to their native waters here in the state of Michigan. This episode is packed with interesting information from Nicole's research on both grayling and some of our favorite trout species.  

Today we have Todd Hatfield, Bob Polanic, and Roger Hinchcliff joining us to talk Winter Steelhead Fishing.  We discuss what their favorite tactics are, and how they vary from warm months of the year.  Lots of great info!

Any trout fisherman dreams of one day landing a 30" brown.  For very few of us that ever becomes a reality.  Today we get the chance to hear first hand about a fish of a lifetime.  Austin Wenke is a Fisheries technician.  He recently caught and released a 30" native brown trout!  We discuss his exciting story on this episode.

Today Jon Lee and Jonas and Joe from HUFIUS join me to talk about catching carp on the fly.  Carp get a bad reputation, but they are really amazing fish.  They are tough to catch and hard fighting which makes them incredibly fun to chase.  Jon has been guiding for many years, and does an awesome job of breaking down how its done! 

Today Hunter Engel joins us on the show to talk about salmon fishing.  In this situation we discuss catching salmon while trolling on Lake Michigan.  Hunter has been doing this his entire life, and is full of knowledge.  I dig deep to break down what is needed to be successful on the water.  We also review Hunter's recent trip to Africa, and his experience in Salmon fishing tournaments.

Today Matt Goehler joins me of Michigan Trout Addicts.  MTA is a non profit focusing on helping children in need as well as inspiring and educating the youth.  We get to hear how the organization got started, and where it is at today.  Matt is also an incredible trout angler.  In this episode he breaks down his fishing tactics and how he catches his trout.  

Today Heather Hettinger joins me to tell us about her role as a Fisheries Biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  Heather is a wealth of knowledge and an avid angler and hunter.  A couple of the topics we discuss are dam removals, fish stocking, and the different fishing opportunities that Michigan has to offer.

Today we talk with Brett and Matt from Hook 360, a fishing apparel company that is focused on giving back.  They donate a portion of each sale to help regrow coral reefs, and ship their packages in paper bags rather than plastic.  On this episode we also talk about Tarpon fishing, peacock bass, and many other Florida fishing adventures!

Today Tommy Lynch and I sit down at a bar in history-rich Baldwin, MI to talk streamer fishing.  Tommy is well known in the fly fishing world for his long career as a guide, and creating game-changing flies like the Drunk and Disorderly.  This guy is incredibly entertaining to listen to and drops some awesome knowledge on us about streamer fishing and trout fishing in general.

What a time to be alive! Trout season opens up here in Michigan on Saturday the 27th, and we kick things off in style with a live podcast recording with Remote No Pressure, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Brian Kozminski, Jon Osborn, and Glen Balckwood, at Rockford Brewing Co. This episode is chuck full of trout fishing info, facts, history, and much more!

Today Dave Jensen from Jensen Fly Fishing joins me to talk about their most recent adventures to Argentina and New Zealand.  Dave and Amelia capture some of the most amazing moments on film that I have ever seen.  We talk about the art of sight fishing for trout, and how they manage to capture these moments to share with the world!

This week I have Jared Frasier from 2% for Conservation.  We talk about Jared's time spent chasing the fish of 10,000 cast, why he loves Muskie fishing, and some of his families top secret methods.  We also discuss different conservation issues, and what 2% for conservation is all about!

On this weeks episode, we talk Permit with Captain James Johnson.  We discuss what it is like to chase these evasive fish in the beautiful country of Belize.  Permit are not easy to catch!  From where to find them, what to use, and how cast we discuss it all! However, Belize has a lot more to offer when it comes to fishing. So we talk a bit about the other great species you may encounter.

Jake Ruedisale of Two Track Custom Rod Design gives us an inside look at custom rod building.  My cousin Dustin joins us as well.  We discuss the different possibilities for custom rods, and what goes into building a quality fishing rod.  We also talk about upcoming steelhead fishing, and past fishing adventures.

On the show today I have Roger Hinchcliff and Tom Posey. We discuss the History of Lamiglas Rods and how they have led the market in fishing rod innovation for over 70 years.  Later in the episode Roger breaks down the art of plug fishing for steelhead.  Sometimes fish just don’t want to bite. So what can you do? Plugging can be a game changing tactic to make the fish bite. We talk about what you will need, and how it is done.

Warning!!! This episode might make you quit your job!  This story is one that is quite amazing.  Carlito Cro decided to go backpacking in Mexico and headed south.  He stopped in the country of Panama and never left.  Now he is a full time fishing guide truly living a dream! 

Today's Episode is a litter different.  Since I am down in the country of Panama right now, hopefully chasing Rooster fish and Tuna, I wanted to give you a taste of what I might be doing.  This episode features Bryan Huskey's story telling podcast SkyLines.  These stories are inspired by his personal adventures, and he is an amazing story teller! This is his story of chasing Rooster Fish Baja.

Today I sit down with Tom and Max Werkman.  They run a father and son guide business here in the state of Michigan.  They guide for many different species including trout, salmon, steelhead, smallmouth, large mouth, and even run ice fishing trips!  We discuss many topics including catching fish through the ice when the midwinter bite slows down, and where to target winter steelhead.

Today I give Derek DeYoung a call and we talk about his Tarpon, Permit, and other saltwater adventures.  He has spent a lot of time on the water down in the keys chasing these fish, and has some awesome stories!  Derek makes his living creating amazing art work that is inspired by his fishing adventures.

If 20 inch plus brown trout have always been a dream of yours, then look no further than the White River in Arkansas.  John Holsten has been guiding there for many years, and he tells us all about the fishery, what to use, and when to go!

We all know some fishing trips are better than others.  Some are just plain terrible.  Today Matt Peisert joins me to tell about his recent disaster.  What was meant to be a tarpon filled adventure to Mexico ended up being one of the worst stories I have ever heard.

Today Jon Osborn joins me to discuss his most recent book  Flyfisher's Guide to Michigan.  We discus how he came to write the book, what the book covers, and his history in the sport of fly fishing.  This book is nothing short of amazing.  It is an incredibly useful tool, and I highly recommend picking up a copy.  

Matt Zudweg is a fly fishing guide on the mighty Muskegon River in the state of Michigan.  He specializes in spey fishing for steelhead, and top water smallmouth bass in the summer.  On top of being a phenomenal fisherman, he is also an amazing artist.  

This is probably the most entertaining episode to date.  We cover a wide range of topics!  Sturgeon fishing, smallmouth bass, hidden UP destinations, canoeing across the world, and why Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is the fastest growing conservation organization out there!  This one is a great listen, and I promise you wont regret it!!!

On this episode I give John McMillan a call, and we discuss wild trout and salmon.  John is a Science Director for Trout Unlimited's Wild Steelhead Initiative currently, but has worked as a Fisheries Scientist for trout and Steelhead all up and down the west coast.  He is easily one of the most knowledgeable guest I have had on the show, and really enjoyed this one!!!

This week Cam Venderhoff and I sit down to ask Brady Stasa about his time spent guiding in Alaska.  We discuss the different types of salmon and trout that can be targeted, what the area is like, wildlife encounters, and much more!

On this episode I discuss my vision of what I am trying to accomplish with this podcast, how setting goals can lead to more success, how networking with others is key to speeding up learning curves, and I announce a 2 day guided fishing trip that I will be giving away next year!

On this installment I give Joe Cermele a call.  Joe is the fishing editor for Field & Stream, and Outdoor life.  He also runs the Hook Shots webisode series and podcast.  Joe has a tremendous amount of fishing knowledge.  He has written articles on too many types of fish to count.  Today we discuss two very exciting fish, snakehead, and striper.  

Part 2 of the Walleye fishing episode with Mark Martin!  We discuss different tactics for catching walleye, and also their migration patterns.  Mark and I swap scary stories of fishing on rivers through the ice, and then dive deep into walleye fishing at night.  We even explore some sound bits from Marks very first TV show appearance!

If you grew up following the world of fishing, Mark Martin is someone you already know.  Mark is one of the most dominate Walleye anglers ever to fish the professional trail.  He has been featured in many national TV shows, and magazines.  Today I am honored to have him on the show today to talk walleye.

On this episode we talk a lot more about backpacking than fishing.  However if you are looking for a real adventure, and to catch some fish at the same time, backpacking is the way to go.  With that being said, its something you want to be well prepared for.  We talk about why you should do it, what you need to bring, and things you need to know!

If you spend as much time scrolling through instagram as I do, you have probably seen the hashtag #keepemwet on some fishing pictures, but what is it all about? On this episode Bryan Husky and I talk about his passion for the outdoors, and his journey to founding KeepemWet an organization dedicated to releasing fish in the best condition possible.

On this episode I sit down with Roger from Steelhead Manifesto. If you have spent any amount of time chasing steel, you have probably heard the name. Roger is a writer, speaker, rod designer, and steelhead guru. In this episode we talk about what to use, when to use it, where to fish, and what tackle you need. There is something for everyone in this episode!

On this episode I talk with my friend Rhett Feltman from Colorado.  Rhett has lived in Colorado all his life, and has great deal of knowledge on fishing and hunting alike.  Recently when I was in Colorado,  Rhett took me and my buddy Jacob trout fishing on a mountain reservoir.  We caught some AWESOME fish.  

In this episode we cover that fishing trip, where we were, what we used, and what the fishing was like.  If you are wondering about the title of this episode it will all make sense.  We also cover many other types of fishing that Colorado has to offer.  If you are interested in fishing in Colorado this is a good starting place.  We also cover some of the dos and don'ts an things to watch out for.

I had the chance to talk with Sam Ubl the Founder of Chase Nation TV, and Co-Founder of the huntmore and fishmore app.  Sam knows his stuff when it comes to Musky.  We talk through his history of fishing musky, his success on the Professional Musky Tournament Trail, and what you need to know to catch one of these monsters of a fish.

Being known as a fish of 10,000 cast, musky aren't easy to bring to the net.  It takes a lot of hard work, but if you use the right gear, and fish in the right places you can greatly reduce the number of casts needed.  I walked away from this conversation knowing twenty times as much about musky fishing as I did going in.  We had a few technical difficulties, but if you can deal with those, I promise this will be worth your time!

Mousing for big browns is arguably one of the best ways to catch 20 inch fish.  I'll admit I was pretty intimidated by it at first.  Fishing in the dark, with no lights, with a fly rod, on a river??? I thought "No thanks I am all set." However when you get an invite from someone like Brian Kozminski or "Koz" as he is affectionately known,  you don't say no.  Brian is one of the most knowledgeable trout anglers out there.  He has been guiding for many years, and you can tell he truly enjoys teaching others. 

In this Episode I talk with Bob Polanic on the subject of Salmon fishing.  We cover the basics of what you need and how to do it.  Salmon can be a hard fish to catch in the river, but they will bite, and when they do HOLD ON!  These fish can fight!  If a screaming drag and twenty pound fish jumping out of the water is your thing, chances are you will like Salmon Fishing.  I think catching salmon in a river is something everyone should try once.  If you have always wanted to give it a try, this is a great episode.