Freshwater Bite - Sportsmen's Nation

Detroit River is popping right now with limits of walleye being filled for anglers on most boats.  On this episode Lee is joined by some local river rats Fred, Ryan and Austin who just finished 13th out of 149 boats on the first stop of the Michigan Walleye Tour.  If you have ever thought about coming to jig or fish the Detroit River for walleye you'll want to tune into this episode as the boys share how they were successful in changing weather conditions and water clarity from day to day.  April is a mix of all types of weather conditions and that can either turn on or shut down different kind of bites in the river.  Listen in to hear how you can be ready for any conditions mother nature wants to smack you with.  Cheers folks!!

It's been a minute but Lee is back with the Freshwater Bite Podcast that you all have come to love.  On this episode Lee sits down with his friends Fred and Ryan, two former guests of the podcasts, to discuss their new rigs they purchased, electronic setups, tips for early spring walleye fishing and more.  The podcast is back and better than ever. Thank you for the continued support and for sticking with the show. Now, Enjoy!

There are a ton of fishing lures out there that are famous for a certain type of species.  A few examples would be the crawler harness for walleye, weedless black worm for bass, the original Dare Devil for pike.  In the state of Michigan, the Jonah Jig is what many anglers recognize to be their choice of lure for vertical jigging salmon.  On this episode Lee is joined by founder and creator of the Jonah Jig and no, his name is not Jonah.  His name is actually Larry Jennings. Larry has literally been all over the world fishing.  He shares how his travels helped shape the way he thinks about how to catch locally back in Michigan and loves how he continues to evolve as angler.  Can't wait to have him back on the podcast again in the future!! Enjoy! Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode Doug Glimmerveen, host of the Smackdown Outdoors podcast rejoins the podcast to catch up.  Lee and Doug talk about summer bass fishing, podcasting life and Doug recently joining the Waypoint TV network where Doug will now have his podcast available.  Hope you all enjoy this little b.s. session with Doug and be sure to go follow his podcast now on Waypoint TV!  Cheers! Freshwater Bite is Powered b y Simplecast

It's that time of year where we here in Michigan can give thanks for how fortunate we are to have Salmon swimming in our Great Lakes! On this episode Lee talks with Bob Hinds and Quinn Knudsen of Central Coast Angling out of Traverse City, MI.  The boys talk about upgrades to the Central Coast Angling fleet, first mate Quinn coming aboard to share his knowledge and about how the salmon are starting to show up along the Lake Michigan coast.  Salmon are back folks…..it's officially summer time!  Cheers.  Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Any angler with a competitive bone in their body has either entered a fishing tournament or at least thought they have what it takes to enter one at some point.  What does it take to truly be successful?  Are you really as good as you think you are?  I am joined this week by Ryan Petravicius who gives us all some great insight as to what he had to do and what mindset he had to be in, in order to take that next step in competitive walleye fishing.  The Michigan Walleye Tour is a walleye tournament with growing popularity in the Midwest and is quickly becoming a big stage for the sport of walleye fishing in general.  Ryan recaps the conditions and his top 10 finish in this weeks episode of the podcast.  Enjoy!! Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

The first event of the Pro Walleye Series of the H2H fishing tournament wrapped up last week here on the Detroit River.  Lee brings on past guest and walleye professional, Joe Okada who finished in the top 8 to discuss his experience fishing the new format and how he had to change his plan of attack daily to move on to the next round day after day.  The event was extremely exciting to follow and Joe discusses how the pressure of a live streamed event helps sharpen his skills in ways he never had practiced in the past.  H2H fishing tournament is making a big splash in the walleye tournament world and is a format that many hope is here to stay.  Enjoy the podcast with Lee and Joe.   Joe Okada Instagram: @joeokada Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Think you need a big boat to chase salmon?  Not this time of year!  Ice is blowing out and melting around The Great Lakes region and that means it’s time to bust out the long rods.  Nolan Tokar joins the podcast to talk about his experiences trolling for salmon close to shore from his kayak.  This time of year requires safety and a well thought out plan before hitting the open water as water temps remain extremely cold.  Nolan shares with us how to stay safe, his kayak set up and how he likes to troll for salmon and trout.  Check out Nolan’s YouTube channel to see exactly how he set up his kayak and how organization can keep you efficient while in a small vessel like a Kayak.  Enjoy!  Nolan’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNtmKL_4PlAtzjotL1ly9dA Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

When you listen to and meet our guest on today’s episode you’ll instantly feel like you have known the dude forever and will want to get out fishing with him just to see what he will do or say next.  Guest and friend of the show, Captain Donnie O’Bert joins Lee this week to discuss all about how he learned early on in his guiding profession that it is not all about catching fish all the time but more about leaving a positive lasting impression.  Donnie shares how most of his clients become lifelong friends in addition to him teaching them how to catch big fish using different techniques.  The laughs on this episode are endless and by the end of it you’ll find yourself wanting to follow Captain Donnie on his guiding adventures and maybe even book a trip for yourself.  Enjoy the episode folks! Book A Trip with Donnie  - www.rainydazeoutdoors.comInstagram @capt_donnie Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

March madness is coming up just around the corner.  The upsets, overtimes and high pressure situations play out in the next few weeks.  If you like this style of excitement and you like to watch competitive fishing, you MUST check out H2H Fishing (pronounced Head 2 Head Fishing).  Matt Tratz and Andy Cleveland join Lee on the podcast today to talk about where the idea originated, the breakdown of the bracket style / fast pace tournament and how it will change the future of competitive angling for the future.  H2H Fishing is a live stream fishing tournament featuring all of your walleye and bass pro’s you may recognize from other traditional big style tournaments.  Matt and Andy breakdown what we need to know and how we can get involved ourselves through a membership style subscription which will allow everyday anglers access to learn from the pro’s, discounts on tackle and a chance to fish some local H2H tournaments ourselves. Enjoy!H2H Fishing www.h2hfishing.com Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Making a living in the fishing industry is something can vary and look quite different across the board.  Some are business owners, guides, professional angler, tournament winners, YouTube stars, engineers and or just a model employee at your local outdoor equipment store.  In my opinion, if you are making a living in the outdoors and love what you are doing you are crushing it in my book!  Drake Herd joins the podcast to share his diverse and evolving portfolio of fishing knowledge both on the business side of things and casting a rod.  He is a walleye pro fishing the National Walleye Tour every season and is a well known name on the tour.  Drake recently partnered up and created a new company called Fin Gear.  Fin Gear designs and produces precision machined mounting systems and storage solutions.  Basically, they make some really cool stuff!  From custom colored rod holders, electronic mounts to rod storage lockers, Fin Gear is pushing the envelope in high end fishing equipment.  Drake tells us exactly what makes their products unique and why you may want to consider looking at Fin Gear products.  If you are in the market or looking to upgrade some equipment in the boat this offseason, take a listen to this episode.  Enjoy! Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

We are off and running here in 2021 with the podcast and a new episode for you to enjoy.  Not everyone chases fish during the hard water season so it is a great time to work on your boat or start looking in the market for one to purchase.  Eric Long from Long Line Charters joins us for this episode to tell us all about a $3,000 boat he purchased and fixed up for an affordable price.  When looking for a boat you don’t have to break the bank especially if you don’t have much time to fish or if this is your first time buying a boat.  Eric shares with us what he looked for before purchasing the boat and what to look at when you are there thinking about pulling the trigger.  I love this episode because he breaks down the steps of what he did to get this affordable vessel into fishing shape and ready for open water when it arrives.  Check out Eric’s website below and I hope you can take away some pearls for your boat this upcoming season.  Enjoy.   Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Happy holidays everyone!  On this episode of the podcast Joe Bricko, owner of JT Outdoor Products stops on by to chat.  It has been almost 2.5 years since we last spoke with Joe and JT has grown significantly since then.  Joe and the team have come up with some very unique and innovative rods that separates them from the competition like the new 9 ft 2 snare rod.  We discuss where Joe came up with the idea, how it proved to be a success and how we all should fish it during the open water season.  Joe and I also go over some ice rods and how we like to use them in hopes it can help you in your decision before purchasing a new ice rods for this season.  Enjoy the episode!!! Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Christmas will be here before we know it.  A new fishing sonar for the boat or ice may be on your list this year.  Joe Testa of Freshwater Therapy rejoins the podcast to talk about his experience with Garmin’s Livescope sonar.  As technology becomes more and more advanced and more expensive it seems the learning curve becomes slightly longer.  Joe shares with us how to cut the learning curve of Garmin’s Livescope and just how beneficial it can be both in open water and on the ice.  We also talk about Joe’s new YouTube channel and why he wants to get into sharing what he knows with the world with a camera in hand.  Link for his YouTube channel is below.  Enjoy!!Freshwater Therapy’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwmva2y_SXOAatoptmk9_QA Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Behind every good photo there is a person trying to tell a story by freezing one moment in time.  How you take that photo can be the difference between a great story and a forgettable one.  I would think a great photographer is trying to make sure you always remember their story or at least the way they would like to tell it.  Brian Eavey joins the podcast to tell his story about how he got into fishing and how picking up a camera has put him behind the lens photographing some of the most famous anglers in the bass fishing world.  We talk about life’s unexpected paths and how different doors of opportunities open themselves up by putting in the work.  Brian is in my opinion a great photographer in the outdoors world and one who’s work I enjoy following.  If you want to learn some more basic 101 photography tips, this episode is a great spot to start.  Enjoy!  Brian’s Insta:  @brianeavey_photo  Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

There are a few spots and locations throughout the United States that are deemed or self proclaimed to be “Walleye Capital of the World”.  One lake on that list is undeniable, in my opinion.  A body of water so rich and a considered a “factory” for producing consistent large numbers and size of walleye is, Lake Erie.  Having grown up near the shores of this historical body of water I can attest to the amount of fish that come out of there year after year.  But how good is it truly from a biological standpoint?  Many of us anglers can say it is great but many times there are often conflicting point of views between anglers and biologist.  I brought Matt Faust on the podcast today, a fisheries biologist from the Ohio DNR, to help us all better understand Lake Erie’s walleye population and what makes it such a “factory” of walleye.  To understand it’s current state of production and health it is important to dive into the past and how Lake Erie has evolved and changed throughout the years.  Matt shares some very in depth knowledge and statistics to help us all better understand how walleye produce, survive and thrive in Lake Erie’s ecosystem.  Pay attention to feeding patterns and bait populations discussed during this episode to help you decide what lures to throw and where to find the schools of bait fish.  The real success comes to those who pay close attention!  Enjoy!!  Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Arctic Grayling are a historic fish to us here in the state of Michigan as they used to inhabit the cool waters of the Au Sable River and other streams up until the early 1900’s when they rapidly disappeared completely.  These fish were the only native salmonid to Michigan streams and could be easily identified by a sail like dorsal fin and blue slate colored body.  Arctic Grayling were so abundant at one point that the town of Grayling was named after the salmonid.  What you may not know however is how this unique looking fish disappeared from our northern rivers and streams.  Why would such a healthy population completely be wiped out in such a short period?  Attempts to reintroduce them to their native waters and bring them back have failed year after year.  However, my guest this week, Nicole Watson is among a group of researchers looking to successfully reintroduce the Arctic Grayling back to its native waters in the northern lower part of Michigan streams and rivers.  Nicole is a Ph.D student at Michigan State University.  This is a MUST listen podcast episode!  Nicole is an avid angler herself with a focus and passion on making this initiative be the one that will work for the Arctic Grayling.  I myself couldn’t be happier that there are folks out there like Nicole, working hard to bring back a piece of the past and a piece of natural wild Grayling to Michigan.  Enjoy! You can help the Arctic Grayling Initiative through anyone of these sites below: Salmo Coffeehttps://salmojavaroasters.com/products/michigan-arctic-grayling-initiative-mexican-chiapasGrayling Initiative T-Shirthttps://shoppeninsulas.com/collections/apparel-accessories/products/michigan-arctic-grayling-initiative-t-shirt?variant=27938390704151Arctic Grayling Initiative Michigan website https://www.migrayling.org/Iron Fish Distillery Fundhttps://manisteefoundation.org/component/funds/view/3933 Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Berkely and the other brands with Pure Fishing, Inc. have been leading innovation in tackle, lures, rods and reels for decades.  Berkley has designed baits that have won many tournament anglers big pay checks and has given everyday anglers the chance to fill their live wells consistently.  Dan Spengler, senior project manager for bait development at Berkley rejoins the podcast to break down why their new bait, The Hit Stick, lives up to all the hype and anticipation.  Not only do we learn about the long history of why this bait was developed but Dan also shares with us how to fish this bait in different scenario’s, size offerings and more.  I find we as anglers have the opportunity to become more efficient on the water when we take the time to learn the details of the tools and baits in our arsenal.  The more we understand our lures intent and design the more it will make sense to us as to why we choose to fish that specific lure the way we do.  That’s fishing folks!!!  Dan also shares a hot tip with us on how to us Spy Baits to target walleye.  This episode is FILLED with value bombs, so be sure to take some notes.  Enjoy!!  Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

The pandemic has re-shaped many of our daily lives, activities, plans, events and much more.  We as a society and country have had to adapt and keep, keeping on.  ICAST is an event that I look forward to each and every year.   So on this episode I wanted to bring awareness to the fact that, yes it did still happen.  But, also wanted to highlight the winners of product categories that I thought might pertain to the freshwater fishing world.  Even with all the challenges that have been thrown our way this year, ICAST and the great companies of the fishing and outdoors industry still came together to put out their latest products for all of us to view and look forward to seeing on the market this year.  In this episode, I briefly highlight some of the industry’s best and give a quick summary about the product winners and where you can find them.  Cheers and thanks for supporting fishing and this podcast.   Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Most of us if asked to fish every single day for a year straight would be all over the opportunity.  However, could you really do it?  Think about all of your priorities, obligations, commitments, vacations planned etc.  Still think you could somehow manage to fish every single day, 365 days? In the perfect world I would say yes, but reality is, it is a hell of a bigger commitment than most realize.  However, my guest this week, Stephen Veals did just that.  He fished 365 days, every…. single….day for a year straight.  It is a hell of an achievement and after listening to his story, I have a tremendous amount of respect for what this guy went through and the challenges he faced in everyday life while staying committed to fishing daily.  It takes a lot of personal self awareness, improvement and mental toughness to stay committed that long to something that others might deem meaningless.  The fishing knowledge, skills acquired, obstacles overcome and self determination will be something no one can ever take from him.  I applaud Steve and I am happy that there a folks out there like him willing to share their story with us.  Enjoy!!!  www.stephenveals.comwww.backcountryhunters.orgwww.reelrecovery.org Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode I am joined by my new friend and fellow podcaster, Doug Glimmerveen from the Smackdown Outdoors Podcast and the Make Fish Famous Podcast.  Doug and I talk for almost two hours about all sorts of interesting topics from why he started podcasting in the outdoor space, our goals in this space, switching from a walleye tournament guy to bass tournaments, bass rigs, how to fish them and more.  I really enjoy these types of conversations for the simple fact that we truly get to see the person behind the pursuit of fishing and what makes them tick.  Doug is a super down to earth and honest guy.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for the dude and am glad I get to chat with him from time to time.  Please go check out both his podcasts on Itunes, Spotify and wherever else podcasts are found.  Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

This has to be one of my favorite podcasts to date! I am joined by Martin Szeliga, a.k.a. The Airborne Angler.  Martin has such a unique story about how he migrated to this great country, to his time served in the military and how he fell in love with fishing.  Anyone who lives here in the state of Michigan, specifically the Saginaw Bay Area has probably got an ice scouting report or aerial view condition report from Martin.  You see Martin has taken his curiosity and love of angling to the sky’s to get a different perspective of the bay before heading out to fish. Over the years he decided to share his knowledge and use his flying skills to provide anglers with an arsenal of tools to use however they see fit to stay safe and make educated decisions before heading out on the big water.  The Airborne Angler’s obsession with figuring out walleye has led him to take a deeper dive in all aspects of fishing from locating structure, filming underwater bites with his Spydro Fishing cam, teaching us how to read our fish sonars, GPS and more.  Please do yourself a favor and check him out over at www.theairborneangler.com and listen to this entire podcast as it is filled with great conversation and a fascinating way to scout.  Please Subscribe!!  Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

This is a unique episode as it is a little different than the usual.  I was asked to be a guest on the Smackdown Outdoors Podcast, hosted by fellow podcaster and outdoors enthusiast Doug Glimmerveen.  Doug puts on a fantastic show and has recently started another podcast called the Make Fish Famous podcast focusing on techniques and tricks to help you with your fishing adventures.  On this episode you hear more about my humble beginnings and why I started my podcast, how our governor shut down fishing here in the state of Michigan, fishing techniques, what pisses us off and what drives us on the water all year round.  The 2hr time slot flew by and it was an absolute honor to be a guest on his podcast.  Check out both of his podcasts the Smackdown Outdoors Podcast and Make Fish Famous wherever podcasts are found. Cheers! Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Bowfishing is always something that I have admittedly been looking at from the outside but have been extremely curious about.  This downtime recently has allowed me to look into the sport more as I feel it could help feed my bowhunting addiction and merge it with my other addiction, fishing.  Whenever I look into any topic or subject matter I am always looking for folks who are passionate about what they do and become somewhat obsessed.  I have the same obsession with certain endeavors but I also feel it is more important for those individuals who are passionate to also be the one most willing to educate and inspire others to do the same. On this episode I am joined by two of the co-founders from Loxley Bowfishing.  Ryan Simmons and Jon Graves, two of the three founders of the company come on the podcast to share with us all their passion for Bowfishing and what it entails.  We discuss exactly what Bowfishing is, how they got started, the grass roots on why Ryan, Jon and Jake started Loxley Bowfishing, conservation and the importance of Bowfishing and much more.  The boys were also generous enough to offer all of YOU listeners a DISCOUNT CODE of FRESHWATER15 to save 15% off of your purchase over at loxleybowfishing.com .  Please give Loxley Bowfishing a follow on instagram and on FaceBook.  Instagram: @loxleybowfishingFacebook: Loxley Bowfishinghttps://www.loxleybowfishing.com Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

The state of Michigan is truly an amazing destination for so many species of fish.  Each pocket of the state holds a treasure and a true destination fishery for many types of fish.  Grand Traverse Bay Area is a corner of the state that holds a special place with me.  It is not only the place where my wife and I decided to start our little family but it is also an area with breathtaking views, gin clear water and home to one of the most diverse fisheries.  Cisco, also referred to some as “lake herring” is one of those hidden treasures many anglers may have heard of but never quite figured out how to target.  On this episode my good friend from Central Coast Angling, Bob Hinds, joins the podcast again to talk to us all about how, where and when to chase these tasty fish.  Cisco back in the early 1900’s were considered a forage fish but were highly sought after by commercial fisherman.  This native species of the Great Lakes experienced a decline due to heavy commercial fishing over the years but due to recent conservation efforts are making a big comeback and are there for the sport angling anglers to pursue in healthy numbers.  Bob talks all about some great tips on where to find Cisco this time of year and how to distinguish between them and Lake Trout on your fish finders.  Bob is extremely knowledgable when it comes to catching Cisco and one of the few fishing guides in Michigan actively chasing them.  Kick back and pass the time in quarantine as Bob and I discuss how to catch these amazing native, Great Lakes fish.  The mighty Cisco.  Photo cred:  @brianeavey on Instagram Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

To fish or not to fish?  That is the big question we as anglers are facing in different parts of the country.  Here in Michigan, specifically southeast Michigan, Detroit is considered as a “hot zone” for the Covid 19 virus.  Now up until recently, I had intentions of still getting out on the water with friends to do a some much anticipated fishing for the walleye run.  However, after seeing a post from Wes Smith of the Metro Detroit Walleye Stalker group on Facebook, I reconsidered my desire to fish and I questioned myself.  I debated the risks and benefits in my mind and made a decision to NOT fish until things calm down.  The point of this episode is to NOT tell you what you should or shouldn’t do during these times as it pertains to fishing, but rather just to have you think for a minute of what you feel is the right thing.  I am joined by Wes and he gives a great perspective and how he came to the difficult decision to NOT fish during these times. We all love to fish but is now the right time?  Just some food for though.  I wish you all the best and stay safe out there. More great content to come.  Cheers! Freshwater bite is Powered by Simplecast

Catfish is probably the most underrated / best tasting species of fish that we have swimming in our lakes and rivers.  The passion to pursue these tasty monsters are pocketed throughout all regions of the United States.  This is one topic that YOU the listeners were very adamant on learning more about.  On this episode Lee is joined by two of the most passionate catfish anglers you could ever hope to meet, Mark Larsen and Richard Dickerson.  Residing all the way from Arizona, these boys share their passion for chasing catfish and teach us all how to get into filling our freezers with some catfish meat ourselves.  Mark and Richard break it down for us all on how to get set up, where to find these creatures and techniques that will work wherever you may live.  These are some strange times we are living in, so sit back relax and listen to episode 40 of the podcast.   Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Lake Erie is a destination fishery for many throughout the world.  On this episode Lee is joined by Fred Wickenheiser to talk about just how to get started with the basics and how to get your boat set up to be successful.  Developing a successful program to net more fish can be a lot of trial and error.  It also can be very costly.  Fredy shares with us what worked for him and where he went wrong and gives us some pointers to consider to save us all some $$.  Go give him a follow @fredwicky on instagram to see how he continually puts out some big numbers of walleye from Lake Erie.     Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

On this episode of the Freshwater Bite Podcast Lee is joined by Layne Maier of MTN MAN OUTDOORS. Layne is an accomplished tournament angler from Saskatchewan, Canada who recently started his own guiding business. He has been fishing since he can remember and is entrenched in the lifestyle of catching big fish all year round. From learning how to chase big walleye to manufacturing high end products for the fishing industry, Layne tells Lee how fishing is “ a way of life” to him and how much it has taught him over the years. Check out Layne on Instagram @mtnmanoutdoors and be sure to follow. Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

On this episode of the Freshwater Bite Podcast Lee is joined by Joe Test of Freshwater Therapy.  Joe and Lee discover they have a lot of common frustration, success and favorite techniques to catch fish on one of their favorite bodies of waters in Northern Michigan.  Joe is unique in the fact that he guides on bodies of water in both the state of Michigan and New York.  This is a great episode to sit back and listen as Lee and Joe give away some great tips on chasing walleye that are unpredictable throughout different seasons and how they get them to bite.  Lee also announces the WINNER of the JT Outdoor Products ice rod.  Cheers!! Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

The best way to learn about your local body of waters, what tackle to use and how to learn more about fishing in general can be as simple as logging onto your favorite social media account.  Building a community of anglers is not only good for the sport of fishing but more importantly, the FUTURE of the sport of fishing.  Angler recruitment is always an important topic and folks like Juan Gomez and Josh Strand from Reel Midwest Fishing come on the podcast today to talk about how they are building a community of anglers to not only promote the sport of fishing but how to make sure it continues to grow for years to come.  Lee also asks them about some of their “must have” ice fishing gear they never leave home without and what bodies of waters they are hitting this hardwater season.  Don’t forget to listen how to enter for the GIVEAWAY Lee is putting on.  Cheers.   Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simplecast

Fall seems to be fading fast for many of us here in the Midwest as temps begin to drop rapidly.  However, if your launches are not frozen yet and you boat is still not stored away for the winter there is still some great fishing left to be had.  On this episode Lee is joined by Blake Tollefson to talk about late fall crappie and how you should be taking advantage of this amazing bite throughout the Midwest.  Blake is a staff member and content provider for Eurotackle.  Listen in as the boys talk crappie and what baits work best to filling up a bucket to take home for the fryer this fall.

Time to get educated folks! If you are fuzzy on the history or haven’t heard the story of the introduction of salmon into The Great Lakes, this episode is for you. I speak with Jay Wesley of the Michigan DNR to bring to light the history and some of the issues effecting salmon populations throughout The Great Lakes. We go in depth on how the DNR determine stocking numbers, collecting data and how to help insure a healthy population for many years to come. ATTENTION: At the beginning of the episode I announce an awesome giveaway that you won’t want to miss. Give this one a listen and hope you are as pumped about fall time, salmon and this giveaway as I am. Enjoy. Freshwater Bite is Powered by Simpleast

My guest this week is the youngest angler to ever win a National Walleye Tour At the ripe old age of 20 years old!! Dylan Nussbaum joins the Podcast to share his story of how surreal it was to take home the number one podium spot at such a young age and how he broke into making a name for himself as a professional walleye angler. We are approaching fall weather and water conditions soon so I ask Dylan to share some of his fall tactics for catching walleye. Dylan explains how he likes to fish reservoirs this time of year and what you should be looking for to catch some big fish. It’s fall y’all. Let’s enjoy it! The Freshwater Bite Podcast is Powered by Simplecast

The salmon are running right now around The Great Lakes region but the water levels are high!  What do you do?  Lee checks in with Dan Stewart of Chrome Seekers Sport Fishing to see how he attacks the high waters and how he is getting the salmon to still bite in these conditions.  Lee just returned from a somewhat unsuccessful trip up north and the boys talk about what you can do to make sure you walk away with a cooler full of salmon.  If you are thinking about going after these fish this time of year there is still plenty of time to cash in on the opportunity.  Hopefully you can learn from Lee’s mistakes and zero in on the bite as Lee and Dan talk their way through how they view the water and fish conditions. Dan also throws out a date for any who want to get involved with cleaning up the rivers one day in mid October and how we must keep our rivers free of trash before we lose our privileges!. It’s up to us anglers! 

You may have heard of tackle company brands like Berkley, Abu Garcia, Shakespear and more. Dan Spengler of Pure Fishing gets to go to work everyday developing and perfecting some of the most well known baits and products on the market today that help us all catch more fish. Dan joins Lee to talk about how making baits growing up as a kid landed him a full time job working for one of the largest most well known tackle and bait manufactures in the world. Dan also shares what baits you should be throwing this fall as walleye and bass make their way back into more shallower waters. Enjoy!

On this episode Jim Ludden joins Lee on the podcast to discuss the short and long term effects to a fishery when stressing, moving or taking bass off of their nests. Obviously by now all bass are off of their nest but the findings in the study that Jim conducted are a MUST listen as it is up to US as anglers to know our impact on a fishery even when our practices appear to be harmless while on the water. We as anglers must continue to educate ourselves and conduct best practices to ensure the healthy future of our fisheries for many generations to come. Enjoy.

On this episode Lee asks Matt Bain to join him one more time to review some of the products from ICAST 2019 that stuck out the most to them. ICAST had too many great products to go over and picking out just a few to talk about doesn’t do the whole show justice. Lee and Matt give you a brief overview and encourage the listeners of the show to go check out the products discussed. Technology in all aspects of life is changing fast and it is no different in the fishing world. Keep up and give this one a listen! Links below for products discussed. Lakewood Products: Tackle Storage https://lakewoodproducts.com/product-category/fishing/ Striker Brands: Evolve Rain Suit https://strikerbrands.com/pages/event GoFish Cam : Underwater Camera https://gofishcam.com/ Fire Disc Cooker : Portable/Durable Cook Top https://www.firedisccookers.com/ Lithium Pros : Lithium Ion Marine Battery https://www.lithiumpros.com/application/marine/ Bubba Blade: Lithium Ion Powered CORDLESS Filet Knife https://www.bubbablade.com/knives/electric/lithium-ion-cordless-fillet-knife/1095705.html PowerPro: Moonshine Braid https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Power_Pro_Super8Slick_V2_Braided_Line_MoonShine/descpage-MNSH.html Garmin: Force Trolling motor “Freshwater Only” https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/610414 Lowrance: Ghost Trolling Motor https://www.lowrance.com/ghost-trolling-motor/

On this episode Lee is down at ICAST 2019 and joined by walleye pro, Max Wilson. The boys touch briefly on ICAST but get more into the details on how Max Wilson became the youngest walleye pro to win a Cabelas NWT championship event at the age of 21. It wasn’t always roses for Max. He talks about the high’s and lows of making your way to the top and how to be successful at becoming a walleye pro. The boys are also joined by Matt Bain and they talk about how to target suspended walleye during these hot summer days. This and more. Enjoy!!

On this episode Lee takes the opportunity to update you on a few things happening in his life and how it will tie into the podcast. Also, this episode is very important to sportfishing anglers and conservationists who care about our Great Lakes fishery. Lee updates you on two sets of bills that are making their way through the house in Michigan that could significantly impact the species you love to fish for everyday including walleye, lake trout and yellow perch. It is important to educate yourself on the proposed legislation and to call your representative to let them know where you stand. These are the opportunities that require action from sportsmen and women like us to protect what we enjoy and want to preserve for future generations. Enjoy!! Where to find your local state senator. https://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html Where to find your local state representative: https://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/frmFindaRep.aspx

A new podcast is up this week featuring Jon Lee of Kalamazoo River Guide. If you have ever wondered what its like to chase smallies, carp or northern pike on a fly rod, this episode is for you. Lee talks with Jon on how to ease yourself into fly fishing by chasing after some of these species and how to relate it to a river system or body of water near you. The boys also get into the importance of conservation and giving back to the fishery instead of always just taking from it. The conversations get intense and you can tell Jon is a passionate angler who not only promotes the sport but also is concerned about keeping it around and healthy in the future. Enjoy!

Lee has been a huge fan of the hit fishing TV show, The Next Bite for a long time. On this episode he is joined by Jake Flaa who is the field producer for the popular show the past five years. Jake shares how he first picked up a camera and started his journey to pursue his passion for photography and film in the outdoors industry. You will be surprised and inspired to find out the obstacles Jake has overcome to land his dream job. Jake is someone who won’t be going anywhere any time soon and has made not only a lasting impact on The Next Bite show but the fishing industry as a whole. Tune in and give it a listen!!! https://thenextbite.tv https://www.waypointtv.com https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/the-next-bite/ Instagram: @thenextbitetv @jakeflaa Snapchat: jake.flaa

On this episode Lee is joined by Bob Hinds of Central Coast Angling after a successful time out on the water chasing lake trout. These are becoming one of Lee’s favorite fish to pursue. The boys talk about lake trout behavior this time of year, where to find them and how you can boat some for yourself. As a native species to the Great Lakes, these fish seem to have an endless appetite but are often mishandled when caught by uneducated anglers. Bob and Lee talk about the issues surrounding this species, how to probably bring them up to the surface and best possible handling techniques to release them back. Enjoy! www.centralcoastangling.com

Matt Johnson talks with Lee on episode 23 just before Matt heads out for the highly anticipated Minnesota fishing opener. Every year anglers in Minnesota count down the days until they can keep a few walleyes for the fryer again and celebrate their yearly traditions. However on this episode Matt shares with us why we should be looking to stay away from the crowds out on the big lake to focus on crappie in the shallows. The boys talk about how and why Matt chooses to chase crappie this time of year and to let the boat crowds die down before going after walleye again. This and much more on episode 23. Take a listen. www.mattjohnsonoutdoors.com www.blackfishgear.com www.clamoutdoors.com

Spring time typically brings warmer weather and more sunshine, but it also can bring lots of rain and changing winds. On this episode Lee talks with Eric Long of Long Line Charters. Eric talks about his day on the water and how he had to change his game plan when the wind picked up and temperatures dropped. The boys also go over how to make the best of the white bass (silver bass) run starting soon, Lake St. Clair and muskie fishing tips. Remember, the white bass are coming!!! Enjoy. www.chartergreatlakes.com #muskie #muskiefishing #greatlakes #charterboat #fishforlife #silverbass #whitebassfishing #whitebass #walleye #bassfishing #freshwaterbitepodcast

Typically when you hear custom paint jobs you are expecting someone to talk about their car, Harley or painted rims. In this episode however, we get really drippy with some custom lure talk. Drake Herd is the owner of Renegade Manufacturing and Renegade Outdoor Innovations and joins Lee on the podcast for episode 21. Whether you are fishing hard baits or soft plastics, see why Drake and R.O.I stand out from the rest to give you the best custom colors to match your pursuits. https://www.renegadeoutdoorinnovations.com http://fishaddictions.com

Well it is officially springtime!! How do we know you might ask? Well living around The Great Lakes a good indicator is when fresh “chrome” a.k.a steelhead start to stack up in the rivers. On this episode Lee is joined by Dan Stewart of Chrome Seekers Sportfishing. Lee talks with Dan about how he grew to love chasing after these beautiful fish and how he evolved into a charter boat captain. The boys break down how to get set up chasing steelhead this time of year and the tackle you need to be successful on the water. Having a boat is not a necessity on this episode but simply just having a pair of waders is all you need to catch these amazing fish without lugging around too much tackle. They also go over two main techniques on how they were successful after a day on the river fishing together. It’s officially open water season everyone!!! Let’s get after it. www.chromeseekers.com Follow Dan on Instagram @chromeseekers_sportfishing Deck Hand Nate: nate_fishforlife

On this episode Lee records an in-depth handlining seminar in front of a live audience at Domka Outdoors in Monroe, Michigan. He is joined by Wes Smith of Metro Detroit Walleye Stalkers, Philip Kirk (P.J.) and Theron Hoffman. You may remember a few episodes ago Lee sat down and talked with walleye pro Bill Shimota a little bit about handlining and how important it is to have in your arsenal of angling techniques. This seminar takes it to the next level for the person wanting to learn more about lures, boat set up, reels, line used, size weights to use, boat control and more. Whether you are just starting out handlining or looking to see how others are doing it successfully day in and day out, this episode is one you will want to keep handy. www.domkaoutdoors.com www.roadsideminnows.com FatBoy Jigs LLC on Facebook Metro Detroit Walleye Stalkers Wes Smith on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wes_smith_walleye_hunter/ Metro Detroit Walleye Stalkers on Facebook

On episode 18, Lee is joined by Travis White and Alex Sherbinow of ProNav Marine to help you get ready and start preparing for the open water season. ProNav is a very unique product in that it is the worlds first Wireless Bluetooth GPS Autopilot for fishing boats to be driven by an app on your smartphone and or tablet. As any angler knows, boat control is everything when trying to stay on and or locate the fish. Travis and Alex talk to Lee how ProNav has superior GPS technology that can be integrated into your current trolling motor set up and how it can save your hundreds of dollars if you are looking to upgrade your boat this season. This episode is a must listen if you are looking to take your boat control GPS features to the next level. Links: Website: https://pronavmarine.com/ Motion Control: https://pronavmarine.com/motion/ Shop page - contains motor bundles, controller, and ProNav all on this page: https://pronavmarine.com/product-category/pronav-angler/

On this episode of the Freshwater Bite Podcast, Lee and his buddies share exactly how they break down large bodies of waters in the Great Lakes, specifically Saginaw Bay. These large body of waters can be intimidating to anglers who have never ventured out on them before. It is an entirely different animal to attack and preparation is everything. The boys break down how to adapt to changing conditions on the ice, how to venture miles out safely, where to set up to fish, lures they use and much more. They also go over how to keep your machines running efficiently and how to avoid major mechanical failures. If you have never fished a bay or large body of water like Saginaw Bay this episode will bring you an ENORMOUS amount of value. From a preparation stand point on what to have with you this episode should be on repeat anytime you head out to these types of bodies of waters. Enjoy the episode and listen as the crew have a few cold ones while dropping value bombs!

On this episode Lee is joined by professional walleye angler, Bill Shimota. Bill has been fishing in the big leagues for many years now and has become a staple name on the Cabela’s National Walleye Tour. The boys go over how Bill got into one of his current business of rigging boats for other pro’s and walleye anglers. They discuss what items Bill has seen added to boats that are “game changers” in his opinion and some key highlights of the new Lowrance HDS Live Sonar. Bill also delivers a ton of great value on the podcast and sheds some light on a technique he has become known for called “handlining”. Lee and Bill discuss why Bill thinks this style of fishing can be so effective on the rivers, how to go about rigging it and when to use it. River conditions in the spring time can change within a few hours and being able to adapt to those conditions using a unique style of fishing, like handlining may be the difference in putting more fish in the livewell or going home empty handed. You don't want to miss this one!!!!! Follow Bill on Facebook @Bill Shimota Instagram: @billyshoals visit www.lowrance.com to learn more about the new HDS LIVE Sonar.