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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale had a great conversation with Ross Tate who is also known by anglers on Flathead Lake as the Whitefish Whisperer. Click here to watch or listen here and you will understand that Ross is called that for a good reason. There are very few folks out there that know more about how to catch the Lake Whitefish in Flathead Lake. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has ever wanted to learn how to catch the Lake Whitefish also referred to by many on Flathead as the Lake Superior Whitefish. If you have never caught one of these fish, you might be wondering what is the big deal about catching Lake Whitefish? There are two main reasons. 1. They are quite possibly the best eating freshwater fish anywhere on the planet! And 2. Pound for pound they are one of the hardest fighting fish you will ever catch! There are only a few times of the year that the lake whitefish can be found and caught. Now is the time they come up to feed on the freshly hatched perch fry, but it takes a special technique to find and catch the HUGE ones and you guessed it, Ross is one that truly knows how to do it! If you can try to watch this one on YouTube by clicking here. That’s because Ross shows all the lures he uses, and he shows the rod and reel that delivers the perfect action to get the job done. Plus, Ross even describes the perfect way to clean Lake Whitefish so you and have perfect boneless filets. If you can’t watch you can listen here and you will likely get the just of it and you can also click the link below and Rigger will email you some videos and pictures. Don’t miss this one gang, it is fantastic info that will get you (pardon the pun) hooked on catching Lake Whitefish!

Links:

• To learn more about Flathead Lake and its Campgrounds click here.
• Click here to find the tackle Ross talks about from Dick Zimmer.
• Ross & Rigger also talked about having info handy if you are stranded on Flathead Lake. Click here for one of the companies that can help.
• Rigger also mentioned that you can contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary for a free boat safety inspection. Click here for that.
• Do you have a question for Ross Tate? Click here to email him.
• Click here to email Downrigger Dale. 

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 has another great conversation with FWP, Game Management Bureau Chief, Brian Wakeling, this time about Montana's Elk Shoulder Seasons. These seasons are already underway in several hunting districts and will go on and off through February 15th, 2026. Just that statement right there is confusing. Thus, there are a whole lot of hunters that pass on giving these elk harvest opportunities a try. Rigger has received a whole lot of emails from many podcast listeners and viewers complaining about that. Folks have said things like "I have a helluva time figuring out what tag I even need in Shoulder Seasons near me" or "Antlerless elk!? Does that mean a cow or calf or what" or "just when I thought I had it figured out, I head out and the landowner said, "hey you can't do that here now that was for last week!" And the list goes on and on. That's why your host Downrigger Dale said "not this year, all that confusion needs to be cleared up and Brian Wakeling is the perfect guy for the job. Brian is excellent at explaining everything you need to know about Elk Shoulder Seasons. During the podcast Brian even opened the 2025 hunting regulations and showed some examples of where to look for Shoulder Season info and more importantly what all that info means. Once you listen or watch this podcast you will be walking around with a big beautiful light bulb above your head! True you won't be bringing home a trophy mount, but you will be able to fill your freezer with delicious elk meat! That is way better than sipping on a mug of tag soup! So what are ya waiting for ya brilliant meat eater? Go mash that play button and listen or better yet watch and learn all about it! 

Links: 

• Click here for a web page were you can learn even more, and it has some great hunt planning tools!
• Click here to look at last year's Shoulder Season performance data that Brian gave us.
• For a copy of Montana's Deer, Elk and Pronghorn hunting regulations click here.
• To send Brian Wakeling a question click here.
• Click here to email Downrigger Dale.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 has a fascinating discussion with Katie Vivian, FWP Region 4 Fisheries Manager. Katie is very intelligent, especially when it comes to the fish in Tiber Reservoir, which is also her personal favorite place to fish.  Tiber can be challenging to get it to give up its HUGE Walleye and other species. When you watch this podcast on YouTube or listen to it here, Katie will explain why and will help you get around that. One of the main reasons that Rigger contacted Katie in the first place was so many of you had emailed him and asked what was the reason for those incredible record breaking weights that were turned in during the Walleyes Unlimited Walleye Tournament just last June. In fact, those weights were so incredible that they became national news. It is VERY unusual to see the size of so many huge walleyes being caught over a two-day period and not just by the winning team but by many of the other teams. That's a huge change from past tournaments at Tiber. So yeah, it's not surprising that national publications picked up that story. One question came out of all those news stories, "why", why all the sudden such dramatic change in the size of Walleye caught in Tiber. Sure, one team can just have an amazing two days, but to have so many teams do it, well that lead everyone to feel that something BIG had changed at Tiber Reservoir but no one knew why, that is until now. Wait until you hear what Katie Vivian says on this podcast. When you do be prepared to have a "mystery solved" moment. All of us here at the Montana Outdoor Podcast can't wait for you to hear this!! Plus, Katie gives a great overview of what else is swimming around in Tiber Reservior. We predict there will likely be a whole lot of you heading for Tiber Reservior there in North Central Montana! So what are you waiting for? Get to listening or better yet watch it on YouTube cause Katie also shares some awesome pictures of some monsters that have shown up in her netting surveys at Tiber!

Links:

• To learn more about Tiber Reservoir click here. 
• Click here to learn more about Barotrauma in fish, a term Katie talks about in the podcast.
• Click here to check out the Montana Fish Management Plan.
• Questions for Katie Vivian? Click here.
• Click here to contact Downrigger Dale.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 has an amazing conversation with two of the preeminent wildlife biology researchers in the Country! They are located right here in Montana ln the University of Montana Wildlife Biology program. This is one of the highest ranked wildlife biology schools in the Country, if not the world. Rigger talked with Dr. Chad Bishop who is the Director of the program at the U of M and Dr. Andrew Whiteley who is a faculty member there at the U of M Wildlife Biology program and leads a lab focusing on conservation genetics of fish throughout Western North America! Rigger, Chad and Andrew covered some unreal topics. For example, Andrew is doing some amazing research he is, in essence, finding ways the problems caused by inbreeding in trout populations. An age old-problem that began as fish got isolated into certain areas. His work could change the future of endangered fish. His and Chad's research could go way beyond that to maybe even stop the spread of diseases in many other animals like Deer, Elk and Antelope! Chad, Andrew, other faculty and the students are working on much more as well at University of Montana. Of course, as always good old Downrigger had to push the edge of the envelope at, one point he steered the discussion into how AI is being used to help speed up research, of course thinking surely AI has not made its way into working with wildlife yet. Ooooh yes it has! Dr Bishop gave a perfect example of how he is using AI in his ungulate studies (deer, elk, antelope, etc.). You have to hear about this! They even got into the idea of possibly using gene of gene editing to help species survive things like CWD in deer and elk or Whirling disease in fish. Course Rigger had to ask if it was possible for them to get Walleye to start growing to 30 pounds! Wait a minute, can they? Watch on YouTube or listen here to find out. Heck they talked about the Flathead Lake Monster and Bigfoot! Could those really be out among us here in Montana? Find out what Dr Bishop and Dr Whiteley had to say about that! So mash that play button and watch or listen now!

Links:

• To learn more about the U of M Wildlife Biology program click here.
• Click here to watch a short video about the Wildlife Biology program.
• To learn more about Dr. Chad Bishop click here.
• Click here to learn more about Dr. Andrew Whiteley.
• Questions? Click here to email Dr. Bishop. Click here to email Dr. Whiteley.
• Click here to email Downrigger Dale.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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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In this week's Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale continues his no holds barred discussion with Tom Opre the Director of the amazing new documentary film called The Real Yellowstone. In Part Two of the Podcast about the film Tom gives more previews into of this truly groundbreaking film. Again, this is not about Kevin Costner's character in the popular TV series called Yellowstone. Instead, the film tells the REAL-LIFE story of what farmers and ranchers all across Montana are up against and how their challenges continue to increase and now those challenges have spread to hunters and fishermen. As Rigger put it after he finished recording this podcast; "Tom Opre is a great journalist who really tried to be fair and let all sides tell their story, so the viewers really see all sides of this. That must have been very hard because once I saw this entire film I sure felt strongly that the incredibly wealthy radical environmental lobby is making a major push to take over the farmland and prime hunting and fishing areas of Montana. This is a big eye opener as this is not like what those groups used to try. They are really going for it all, in my opinion farmers, ranchers and outdoorsmen and women are in the crosshairs big time. In fact, during this second episode I could really see Tom's impartiality starting to crack a bit especially when he passionately said about hunting "If we can't do this, then I don't see much hope for humanity because this is the most essence of who we are as humans. It's in our DNA." After recording this Podcast Rigger also said, "I flat challenge you to watch this podcast and this film and tell me with a straight face that you think what these out of state groups are trying to do is fair... to anyone!" There you have it folks you have been challenged so get to it. Watch or listen here and check out the links below and tell us what you think!

Links:

•  Learn more about The Real Yellowstone click here.
• Learn more about Tom's organization Shepards of Wildlife Society by clicking here. Make sure you join and donate if you can.
• Watch that trailer of the film again. Click here.
• To learn more about director Tom Opre click here.
• Click here to find a premier to attend near you! Don't forget if you can't make a premier in person you can go to Shepards of Wildlife Society and get a ticket to the online premier on August 15th!
• Send Tom Opre an email by clicking here!
• Send an email to Downrigger. Click here!  

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 has a fascinating conversation with award winning documentary director Tom Opre. Tom has created amazing films like Killing the Shepard and The Last Keeper. Now he focuses his camera on Montana's farmers, ranchers, wildlife and hunters with his latest film called The Real Yellowstone. Of course, most everyone is familiar with the incredibly popular television series Yellowstone starring Kevin Costner, but those episodes are not real. The Real Yellowstone delves into the real lives of ranching families who find themselves at the heart of a complex struggle. As stewards of both livestock and wildlife, these ranchers, whose families have worked the land for generations, face a web of rising real estate prices, predator attacks, and a powerful conservation movement that seeks to reshape the landscape they call home. When you listen to the Podcast you will learn that not only are the livelihoods of these families threatened but so are the rights of hunters and anglers. As Downrigger put it, "This discussion was one of the biggest eyeopeners I have ever had! Our heritage and the ability to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors of Montana is being threatened. EVERYONE needs to watch or listen to this Podcast and see Tom's film without a doubt!" Yeah, ole Rigger was a bit hot under the collar and was so happy that he got to do this podcast with Tom. In fact, in this podcast he had so much to cover with Tom about his film and its topic that this Podcast will be a two-parter. So, make sure you listen to or watch it on YouTube as you will get to see some scenes for the The Real Yellowstone. Also check out the links below so you can get info on where you can attend a premier of the movie! So, mash that play button now listen to this podcast or click here to watch it on YouTube!

Links:

• Learn more about The Real Yellowstone click here.
• Learn more about Tom's organization Shepards of Wildlife Society by clicking here. Make sure you join and donate if you can.
• Watch that trailer of the film again. Click here.
• To learn more about director Tom Opre click here.
• Click here to find a premier to attend near you!
• Send Tom Opre an email by clicking here!
• Send an email to Downrigger. Click here!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 about something that has been patrolling much of Montana's Waterways for many years but many of you may not even know about it. No, it is not part of the Montana FWP but works with them quite often. It is actually part of the Department of Homeland Security and more specifically part of the United States Coast Guard. Yes, this week Downrigger has a fascinating discussion with Captain Dave Hansen of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Yeah, that's right the Coast Guard Auxiliary has a strong presence on Montana's waterways, and it is all done by a bunch of dedicated volunteers. No, they are not part of law enforcement or out checking for fishing licenses or things like that. Their main focus is safety on the water, whether you are in a boat, on a jet ski,  on a sailboat or on a paddle board. They are just there to help everyone be safe or assist those that need help whether it lending you a life jacket for you or your child or actually saving your life when something goes wrong. No violations or fines just sincere help from experts in the field of safety. And it even goes further than that! With the a motto of “Semper Paratus” (Always Ready, or Always Prepared) it says a lot about these guys and gals in blue!  For those of you that watch this podcast you will see some of the boats they use and what the signs look like on their boats, as well as what their uniforms look like. That way you can give them a wave or stop and say hi and thank them for all they do, though these humble Auxiliarists never expect that, they just love what they do. Don't miss this podcast everyone we are positive that you will say, at least three or four times while listening or watching, "Wow! I had no idea they did that!" 

Links:

• To learn more about the Coast Guard Auxiliary all across America, click here.
• Click here to learn more about the Coast Guard Auxiliary here in Montana.
• To learn more about having them perform a free boat safety inspection for your or members of an organization that you belong to click here. 
• Click here to learn about all their boating safety classes.
• Do you have questions for Captain Dave Hansen? Click here to send him an email.
• Email your old buddy Downrigger Dale by simply clicking here!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 over the podcast studios and gets us all caught up on the latest outdoor news, Statewide fishing reports and peek at the future topics he will be covering on upcoming podcasts. He thought it would be nice to let the rest of the podcast staff take the 4th of July weekend off, but we are thinking that maybe he just didn't  get invited to any 4th of July parties. However, that is probably not that case as we all have never seen him wait to be invited when he smells food or beer. But seriously be sure and join Dowrigger on this weeks podcast so you can get caught up on the latest news concerning the Makoshika State Park fire, news of a bit of a brouhaha between the BLM and the Montana FWP, a report that indicates the water is flowing on the Milk River Project but how far, and the list goes on. Plus, Rigger has some great fishing reports for rivers, lakes and reservoirs across the state! So, sit back, crack open a cold one and let your old buddy Downrigger Dale keep you up to date on everything outdoors in Montana. In fact, rumor has it that Rigger is planning on something to do with the Flathead Monster and Bigfoot!! Actually, you may want to pop some corn for this one!! So, mash that play button and see what it's all about here on the Montana Outdoor Podcast!

Links:

• Click here to take a survey on hunting regulation changes.
• Region 1 has new Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, click here to learn all about him.
• Click here to lean about Hunter Education. Also click here to find an in-person class near you! 
• Rigger gave a fishing report for Fort Peck Reservoir from fishing guide Don Wilkins. Book a fishing trip on Fort Peck with Don by clicking here. 
• Click here to listen to the latest fishing reports from all across the state.
• You can see all the results of that unbelievable Walleye Tournament on Tiber Reservoir that Rigger talked about by clicking here.
• You can watch the video version of this a other Montana Outdoor Podcasts by clicking here!
• Send an email to Downrigger Dale by clicking here!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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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Yes, you read the title of the is Podcast correctly and yes, we meant to say that! All we should say about this one is YOU HAVE GOT TO LISTEN THIS PODCAST.  As Rigger put it, "when one of our audience members told me I should really consider doing a podcast about the North American Trap Collectors Association I yawned right after I read the words Trap Collectors. But I promised when I started hosting this Podcast that I would consider ALL suggestions. So, I looked into it. The next thing I knew it was 4:00 AM and I was still online looking at traps, yes, traps! I am without a doubt totally addicted, enthralled, fascinated, I could go on. An no not because my guest Brad Davis is a charismatic guy, he's not. It is the subject of this that got me! It is INCREDIBLE. " So, there you have it gang Downrigger Dale is, shall we say "trapped" in this topic. But seriously this truly is fascinating. The members of the North American Trap Collectors Association or NATCA collect the rare, strange, and even the typical traps and many of those date back hundreds and hundreds of years. On July 10th they will be holding a great event showing, buying, selling and best of all telling their amazing stories about their traps. You'll hear about  Mouse traps, fly traps, bird traps, fish traps and get this, even Man Traps. There will be one at the event at the Larry Creek Campground outside of Florence Montana. But first listen to this podcast you are going to get "trapped" into this subject just like Rigger did. Make sure you watch this one on YouTube you will see some really cool stuff and yes you will see the Man Trap as well. Why were they trapping people in Europe hundreds of years ago? Listen to this week's podcast and find out. Go ahead hit the play button, don't worry just push riiiiight there...SNAP!! 

Links:

• To learn more about the North American Trap Collectors Association click here. 
•  To find out more about the event on July 9th, 10th and 11th as well as other NATCA events, click here. 
• To learn about the Larry Creek Campground click here.
• Click here to get directions to the Larry Creek Camp Ground.
• To see the battlefields that Brad Davis also talked about click here. This site will take to all kinds of places in Montana.
• Want to ask Brad Davis a question? Just click here to email him.
• Give Downrigger some more great podcast ideas by clicking here!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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 the Executive Director of the Montana State Parks Foundation, Megan Buecking. No doubt many of you may be asking, "is that the formal name for the branch of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks that runs all Montana's State Parks?". We thought the same thing but when you listen to this Podcast you will learn that is a completely different organization. The Montana State Parks Foundation is a nonprofit organization that in essence raises funds for the things that the State Parks need or would like to provide but can't afford. So, does Montana's State Parks just not get enough tax dollars? Well, State parks don't receive any of your tax dollars. So, how do they get by? Listen to this week's Podcast to find out!  Megan and all the folks involved with the Foundation not only help raise money for many of the special projects and services that our State Parks provide but also helps come up with some of the great ideas that you come across when you visit Montana's State Parks. For example, the Montana State Parks Foundation provides those amazing all terrain Track Chairs that allow disabled park goers to go just about anywhere anyone else can go around the parks. Going for a hike was basically impossible for our disabled veterans and other disabled park goers before those came along. And best of all those wonderful pieces of technology are available at no cost to use! There is whole lot of other incredible things that Megan's organization provides that will blow you away, plus you will also get to hear about Montana's newest State Park that will be bringing some incredible history to life soon. So hit that play button now and prepare to be amazed!

Links:

• To learn more about the Montana State Parks Foundation click here.
• To learn about some of the latest project they have going on right now click here.
• Interested in taking a shot at winning some amazing prizes? Click here to learn more.
• To watch this Podcast on YouTube, click here.
• To learn more about all of Montana's State Parks, find a State Park,  make a campsite reservation and more, click here.
• Would you like to help the Montana State Parks Foundation accomplish even more? Click here and get involved!
• Questions for Megan Buecking? Click here to send her and email.
• Click here to let Downrigger know what you thought of this Podcast and to let him know your ideas for other Podcast topics. 

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations 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.