Mike Valley, owner and operator of Valley Fish and Cheese in Prairie Du Chen, WI, took Mark and Jimmy under his wing for a peek into the life and history of a commercial fisherman on the Mississippi River. Our initial plan was to discuss mostly just fishing for catfish with Mike, as that seems to be his true passion and specialty, but through time spent on the river and hours processing fish by hand, we heard enough stories about growing up on the river in a commercial fishing family we knew it had to be its own episode.  Mike discusses the rise and fall of commercial fishing on the river, clamming for the button and imitation pearl industry, and why fish like sheep head and red horse sucker which most people see as “Trash fish” can be some of the most delicious treats you’ve ever tried. He even goes into a near-death experience he once had 40 feet under the water’s surface that will surely make any claustrophobic listeners out there cringe!

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