Montana Outdoor Podcast

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with FWP Region 5 Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd about what the hunting opportunities will look like this year in his region. Matt and Rigger take a deep dive into Region 5 to discover which hunting districts in the region have the best hunting opportunities for Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Antelope, Waterfowl, Upland Game Birds including Pheasants and Turkeys and more! When you listen to the podcast you will find out all kinds of super useful information about animal population sizes throughout the region, how much of Region 5 has public hunting opportunities, how much of it has private land that is open to hunters through the Block Management Program and the list goes on and on. If you love to hunt in Region 5, have ever thought about hunting there or are just looking to explore other areas of the Big Sky Country to hunt in then you need to listen to this Podcast! If you do you will be WAY ahead of all the other hunters with the excellent information Matt Ladd delivers just for you! And don’t miss next week’s Podcast when Rigger brings you all that info for Region 6! There will be more regions to discover in the weeks that follow as well so keep checking back right here on the Montana Outdoor Podcast! Yeah, this year all you Podcast Listeners will be the best prepared hunters in the State!

Links:

• Click here to look through the FWP Hunting Forecast for Region 5.
• If you would like to learn more about Region 5 click here. 
• You can also find more great ongoing updates on the Region 5 Facebook Page by clicking here!
• Click here to use the FWP Hunt Planner map.
• To learn more about the FWP Region 5 Block Management Program as well as to get property maps and more for Region 5 click here.
• Click here to get up to date on all Montana hunting regulations.
• Do you have questions or comments for Region 5 Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd? Click here to send him an email.
• Don’t forget your old buddy Downrigger Dale! He would love to hear your comments about this Podcast and any of your ideas for topics for future Podcasts. Just click here to send him an email.

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Tom Kobza owner of TKI CNC. Ever since poor old Downrigger has talked with Tom he has been wondering around with his mouth open in a constant state of amazement. Once we got him to snap out of it for a moment his first words were “Holy sh.. that guy is amazing. Each of the things he told me about that he has invented just made me slap my head and say why couldn’t have I thought of that? I know, because I am not magician…. I got to sit down, I am….” And then he went back to staring into space with his mouth open again. What Rigger is referring to are all the amazing things that Tom Kobza and his crew at TCI CNC have made for boats, snowmobiles, motorcycles and all kinds of other things we use outdoors. When you listen to the Podcast you will learn about the things he has designed and made like his unbelievable rod holders. We know you are probably saying “Rod holders! Those have been around forever how would anyone improve those?” That is what we said and then we saw the video and it blew our mind! So simple yet it has never been done or at least we have never seen anything like it. You really need to listen to this podcast. Oh, and there is much more that Tom and TKI CNC has come up with to make your outdoor gear become magical. How about this one…a heated brake lever for your snow machine! Again, so simple, so incredibly practical, yet, it has never been done until now. Your wife’s fingers (and truth be told yours too) will never be cold again. And the cool things just keep coming when you listen to the podcast. Where does he think of all this? Often out fishing with his wife on Fort Peck Reservoir or at home in Billings, MT. Ok, one more and then you must just stop reading and go listen. Tired of your game trail cameras getting stolen or broken? Well, they won’t be anymore! He will make them Big Foot proof! No really, he actually made some for a guy who goes out and looks for Big Foot! Is Big Foot real? Tom didn't ask, but that guy will never lose another trail camera. Enough, just go listen to this podcast! We are positive you will hear about something that will amaze you. Ok one more. He has also made some great stuff for ice fishermen be sure and listen for that too!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Tom and TKI CNC and look at all the incredible things that will make your stuff work even better!
• Click here to watch that video about the Rod Holder we were telling you about!
• Click here to watch even more videos about all kinds of cool things!
• Do have a question or comment for Tom Kobza? Click here to send him an email.
• Please let Rigger know what you thought of this podcast! Just click here to email him!

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Ken Schultz, President of the Montana Bowhunters Association or MBA. Ken and Rigger cover a TON of ground all about bowhunting in the Big Sky Country. Things like, what all does the MBA do for Montana’s bowhunters, the advantages of being a member and what issues the sport is facing now and in the future. Another area that they cover is the incredible popularity of bowhunting in the State and why. For example, do you know how many bowhunters there are now in Montana? Take a guess and then listen to the podcast and see if you are right. We are guessing that most of you will miss that question. Another question that Rigger and Ken discuss is why some states have abandoned an exclusive archery season and why that continues to be proposed in Montana and how likely that may happen. The good news for archery hunters is they also talk about what the Montana Bowhunters Association is doing to try to make sure that does not happen. Here’s another question, do you think crossbow hunting should be considered archery hunting? Listen to see what most bowhunters in Montana think about that. Another really interesting topic that Ken and Rigger covered is what the MBA is doing for Disabled Veterans and others with disabilities so that they can still hunt with a bow. This Podcast really does have something for everyone who loves bowhunting or is interested in learning more about the sport and the Montana Bowhunters Association. Give it a listen!

Links:

• To learn more about the MBA click here.
• Click Here to learn why you should become a member of the MBA today!
• To watch the video about the Founding Fathers of the MBA, click here.
• Ken mentioned an article titled Keep Elk Public. Click here to read that article.
• For information about getting your bowhunting certification from the FWP click here.
• Interested in becoming a Bowhunters Education Instructor? Click here.
• Click here to see some incredible hunting photos from MBA members!
• Questions or comments for Ken Schultz, President of the MBA? Click here to send him an email.
• Hey shoot your old buddy Downrigger Dale an email and let him know your thoughts and suggestions! Just click here to email him.

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale sits down with former hunting guide and all-around amazing archery hunter and elk caller Shawn Plakke. Some of you may recall when Shawn was on the Podcast with Rigger last year. This year he gives us even more incredible advice and instruction on archery elk hunting. Things like when to use cow calls and bull calls, how to understand what the different calls you hear mean and so much more. When you listen to the Podcast you will also hear Shawn actually do several different cow and bull calls and go in depth about what situation is the best to use them and more importantly when not to use them. When you listen to the Podcast you will also hear A great deal of Shawn’s advice and theories that are explained by his VERY popular analogy of how guys and gals used to act back in the heights of the Singles Bar popularity back in the 1970s. As Downrigger Dale put it; “I remember last year when Shawn first said to me, that during the rut bulls and cow elk act a lot like folks used to act in singles bars. I thought, what the hell is he talking about. But when he explained it I was amazed at just how right he is. Early in the season is like 5:00 in the evening in a singles bar. Everyone is getting settled in, having a drink and looking around at the guys and the gals. As the season goes on it is similar to it being 7 or 8:00 in the bar, guys are getting their courage up to ask the gals to dance a little and maybe even try to strike up a little conversation. As the season goes on it is a lot like it was in a singles bar at around 10 or 11 at night. The liquid courage really starts kick in, caution starts to get tossed to the wind and now and then a fight might even break out!”. You just have to listen to this Podcast to hear how Shawn explains the best way to deal with all the different scenarios that hunting elk can throw at you. By the time this podcast is over you will for sure have a TON of knowledge to become a more successful hunter!

Links:

• Click Here to listen to Shawn on last years podcast and get caught up!
• During the Podcast Shawn mentioned a video he made of him calling a bull in. To watch it click here.
• If you would like to ask Shawn about the calls he does or if you have any other questions or comments click here to email him.
• Click here to look over calls and other items from Born and Raised Call Company, recommended by Shawn.
• Give Rigger a suggestion for a topic for a future podcast? Click here to send him an email. 

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to the owners of two different Montana fishing tackle manufacturers, Gary Rueb of Blackjaw Flies and Dr Don Sawdey of 406 Tackle Company and boy did they give some awesome information! If there was ever a time to go after those huge King Salmon in Fort Peck Reservoir now is the time to do it. According to the reports we have been hearing on the Montana Outdoor Radio Show and MontanaOutdoor.com the big ones are biting. Of course, the big Kings are unpredictable and elusive so if you want to improve your odds of catching one of those beauties this Podcast is a perfect one to listen to! When you do you will learn a great deal about what are the best things to use to catch them like which flashers, lures and flies to use and how to use them. Yeah, as Downrigger Dale’s Grandpa use to tell him, “Listen and learn”!  Yes, this podcast really will help you learn more about how to fish for these exciting Chinook Salmon that inhabit Fort Peck. There are so many variables that can come into play that can help or hurt your chances of hauling in a 25+ pounder. Things like colors to use, size of flies, length leader, how far off of your downrigger ball should your flasher be, and the list goes on and on and the good news is when you listen to this Podcast you will learn about those things and a whole lot more!

Links:

• If you have any questions about Blackjaw Flies you can click here to send an email to Gary Rueb. He is a wealth of information. Also a great place to see and buy Blackjaw Flies is at the Fort Peck Marina Tackle Shop!
• If you would like to learn more about 406Tackle Company, you can email Don Sawdey by clicking here. You can also learn more by clicking here to go to the 406Tackle Company Facebook page.
• You can also see and buy 406Tackle Company tackle at Lakeridge Lodging and Bait Shop in Fort Peck, D&G Sports and Western in Glasgow and the Fort Peck MarinaTackle Shop in Fort Peck.
• Do you have thoughts about this podcast that you would like to share? Just click here to email Downrigger Dale! While you’re at it be sure and let him know if you have any topics you would like him to talk about on an upcoming Podcast!

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale takes a unique approach to learning all about the Fall Mack Days fishing tournament that will take place on Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana, starting September 5th and going through November 3rd. Rigger talked to 4 different competitors and Tournament Director Cindy Benson. When you listen to the Podcast one of the things that will likely standout to you BIG TIME is the amounts of money that all these competitors have made in the past. Not only did they talk about how much they have made, they went into detail on how they did it! Everything from what kind of rods, line, lures and bait they use, to how deep and where to troll or jig for those Mighty Mackinaw Lake Trout in Flathead Lake. Julie Perkins and Terry Krogstad are boyfriend and girlfriend fish together. Julie has won the women’s division several times and Terry has done the same in the men’s division. They also were lucky enough to catch a $10,000 tagged fish in 2021! There is another $10,000 fish that will be swimming around this year, plus (3) $5,000 & (5) $1000 plus over (9,000) $500 to $100 tagged Lake Trout! David McDaniel and Joe Minnehan also talk to Rigger. David fishes solo and talks about his unique double jigging technique and much more. Joe fishes with a partner and talks about a very interesting vertical jigging and casting technique, plus a whole lot more. They have all made 4 to 5 figure incomes fishing Mack Days and when you listen to the podcast you will learn a ton of things that will help you to maybe do the same!

Links:

• Click here to get all the details about this year’s Fall Mack Days.
• You can fish just one of the days of the tournament or every day! It is super easy to enter and the link above has all those details. However, if you have questions you can email Tournament Director Cindy Benson by clicking here. Or call you can call her at 406-270-3386.
• Click here to see a map of Flathead Lake. You can enter things like, Blue Bay Campground, (which Rigger and Cindy talk about on the podcast) in the search bar.
• Get the free Fishes of Montana App so you can identify the right fish. You don’t want to accidently keep an endangered fish! Click here for the android version. Click here for the Apple version.
• Click here to go to the Montana State Parks website for info on campgrounds in the area.Click here for all kinds of info about all kinds of things in the ar

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Dr. Christopher Guy, Assistant Leader of the Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit and Affiliate Professor at Montana State University. Chris is one of the creators of the Fishes of Montana App. This is a great App that everyone who loves to fish or just wants to learn more about the fish we have in Montana should have on their phone. It truly is a wealth of information, and the best part is it is super user friendly and describes the fish in normal language and not science speak. No this isn’t your daddy’s Field Guide by any stretch!  Don’t get us wrong if you want to get into the technical jargon the app has that too but for most anglers, we just want to have up to date info that can quickly help us out when we reel in something and wonder “what the heck did I just catch?”. Yeah, when you listen to the Podcast you will hear Dr Guy give a step-by-step example of how to quickly identify any fish in Montana. Another cool thing is it can help you find where a species of fish that you are looking for can be found in all the lakes and rivers it swims in Montana! Once you start using it you will have it at the top of your Apps list on your phone. The app is totally free to anyone that wants to download it. Now how the heck did Chris and his fellow App developers pull that off? Listen to learn all about that and who else was part of the App development team. Rigger also asked Chris about his 30+ years of research on the fish in our great State! Another question that Rigger asked Chis was what his favorite fish is to catch. We thought it would be one of Montana’s famous trout but that was not even close! Another super interesting thing is, of all the fish that Dr. Guy has come across in Montana during his 30+ years of research is the fish that he has found to be the most interesting. What do think it is? You guessed it…you'll need to listen to find out!

Links

• Click here to learn more about Dr. Christopher Guy.
• Click here to download the Fishes of Montana App for your iPhone or other IOS device.
• Click here to download the Fishes of Montana App for your Android device.
• If you have any questions for Chris, feel free to click here to email him. He would love to hear from you!
• The Montana FWP has an interesting video about the App as well which also features Chris in it along with others that were involved with developing the App. Click here to watch that.
• Do you have any comments about this Podcast or ideas for future topics? Click here to email them to Downrigger Dale or click the link at the top of this to

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Ross Tate one of the best Lake Whitefish, aka, Lake Superior Whitefish, fisherman on Flathead Lake located in Northwest Montana. If you want to learn how to find and catch one of the hardest fighting fish in Montana, you HAVE TO listen to this week’s podcast. Ross was a wealth of information giving great advice on where to go on the lake, what to look for on your fish finder and even what rod, reel, line and lures work the best for these incredible eating fish. Yes, you heard right these fish are not just sought after because they are an exciting sportfish to catch, they taste incredible! In fact, when you listen to the podcast you will even learn from Ross how best to handle and clean the Lake Superior Whitefish so that you get the most flavorful fish that you may ever catch! One of the interesting things you will also learn is that these fish are the most abundant of all fish in flathead lake BUT for some reason there are only a few times in the year that you can find them and catch them. Why? Well, listen and Ross will give you one of his theories on that subject. There is so much you will learn here so get to listenin now!

Links:

• If you want to learn more about the Lake Whitefish, click here to learn what the Montana Field Guide has to say about them.
• Click here to look at a map of Flathead Lake so you can find some of the places Ross is talking about.
• Ross talks about some of his favorite lures he uses to catch these fish. Click here and click here to check them out at Zimmer Tackle.
• If you have any questions for Ross, you can click here to email him.
• Downrigger would like to hear from you too. Click here to email him and tell him about your thoughts on this podcast or give your ideas for future topics you would like him to explore on upcoming podcasts.

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with FWP Fisheries Biologist Brian Stephens about an incredible chain of lakes in Northwest Montana. These lakes are stunning in appearance and cover approximately 3,000 acres and stretch over 20 miles along Highway 2, halfway between Kalispell and Libby. This includes an extensive State Park that includes shoreline access to 18 lakes including McGregor Lake, Little McGregor Lake, Lower Thompson Lake, Middle Thompson Lake, Upper Thompson Lake, Horseshoe Lake and Loon Lake. Depending on which lake you fish you will find all kinds of different fish, such as Kokanee Salmon, several different species of Trout, Large Mouth and Small Mouth Bass, Northern Pike, Perch, Pumpkinseeds, and even a species of fish that you rarely find in Montana, the elusive Tiger Muskie! And get this we have not even named all the different species. Brian Stephens is extremely knowledgeable and when you listen to the podcast, he will take you on a podcast tour of several of the lakes and talks about what you can find in them. Rigger and Brian spent some time talking about the Tiger Muskie in Horseshoe Lake since that is a fish you just don’t find often in Montana. Brian talked about why they were put into Horseshoe Lake which is VERY interesting. Basically, they are used, in a way, like a biological Rumba to keep populations of non-sportfish down so that the lake can support fish that are more popular to fishermen. Wait until you hear how tricky these fish are! There are several campgrounds throughout the area so plan on staying a while and explore these lakes. They truly are fascinating and will get you addicted to the area since you can catch so many different species of fish in these lakes. It is likely that you will want to listen to this podcast more than once as there is a TON of information waiting for you.

Links:

• Click here to learn more and see activities, services and what’s nearby. You can also learn more about the Thompson Chain of Lakes and the State Park that covers almost the entire area click here. And Click here to see a map of campgrounds, boat ramps, day use areas, etc. on the Thompson Chain of Lakes. 
• Click here to look up the regulations for these lakes. Since there are so many different species with different limits it is a good idea to get familiar with the regs. Regulations for Western District start on page 23.
• If you have any questions for FWP Fisheries Biologist Brian Stephens, click here to send him an email or call him at (406) 293-4161.
• Let Downrigger know your thoughts. Click Here to Email him.

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale caught up with Owen Willcox to talk about how he and his teammate Ziek Gordon pulled off a fantastic come from behind victory! Owen called in from the banks of Lake Oahe outside of Pierre, South Dakota where he and Ziek had just finished doing some pre-fishing for the 50th South Dakota Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament. This is a fascinating podcast as Owen goes into great detail about how he and Ziek overcame one of the toughest Walleye Bites that the Gov Cup has seen in a very long time! You will learn how Owen and Ziek were able to somehow get into seventh place with just three fish at the end of Day One of the tournament. Then you will hear about the discussion that Own and Ziek had that night. They decided to throw caution and their original plan to the wind and head to…. Well, you will have to listen to the podcast to find out where they went and how they went from being in 7th place and almost 18 pounds behind the leaders to winning the whole thing! What were they using on the end of their lines to pull that off? How many fish did they have to catch to get to get that magic 5? What was their final winning weight? When you listen you will learn the answers to those questions and many others. Plus, you will also learn about Owen’s career as young professional fisherman on the National Walleye Tour! This was a VERY interesting part of the podcast as well since we rarely get to learn about tournaments outside of Montana. The National Walleye Tour takes Owen all across the country including the Great Lakes and even as far east as New York. Owen even gave some advice for other young men and women that might want to give the National Walleye Tour a try! Owen is only 20 years old but he is wise way beyond his years when it comes to fishing. Whether you fish tournaments a lot or never have you will for sure learn something from this podcast!

 Links:

•  If you would like to learn more about the Montana Governor’s Cup, click here.
• If you would like to see the standings of the Gov Cup after Day One, click here.
• If you would like to see the final results of where everyone finished the Gov Cup, click here.
• If you would like to learn more about Owen Wilcox, click here.
• If you would like to learn more about the National Walleye Tour, click here.
• If you have any questions for Owen Wilcox, click the link below and Rigger will get your questions answered for you.
• Of course, your old buddy Rigger would love to hear from you too so just click here to send him an email with your questions, comments or suggestions for future podcast topics!

Remember to tune in to our live radio show, The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, every Saturday morning from 6:00AM to 8:00AM. The show airs on 30 radio stations all across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.