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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with the founder of the now 31st Annual Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Walleye Tournament, Joe Herbold. For those of you that fish the Walleye Tournament Circuit in Montana you'll likely recognize that name. In addition to starting the Tough Guy Tournament, for many years Joe was also the MC of the Super Bowl of Montana Walleye Tournaments, The Montana Governor's Cup. Of course, the Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Tournament is still very special to Joe and you will hear that when you listen to this Podcast. You'll also hear Joe talk about the history of the tournament like, how it got its name, what the first one was like all those years ago, where some of the "go to" hot spots are to find fish during the tournament, ideas on what to use and how to use it to catch Walleyes this early in the season and oh so much more! Joe also talks a bit about the history of the Hell Creek Campground and Marina, where the Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Tournament is based out of and also about the wonderful town of Jordan where Joe still lives today which is not far from the Hell Creek area and is the the town that most everyone goes through to get to Hell Creek and is also where the Jordan Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited holds their annual banquet which takes place on April 25th the night before the Tournament on the 26th. Don't miss that banquet folks! It's a blast, and you will dine on some of the best prime rib around and you can buy one of just 600 tickets to try to win the, get this, $10,000 cash prize! Click here for more info on that. But of course, first you are going to want to mash that play button and listen to all the other great info that Rigger and Joe give you during this fun podcast!

Links:

• Click here to go to the Jordan Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited Facebook page to get updates on the Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Walleye Tournament.
• Click here to get info on this and other Walleye Tournaments around Montana.
• To get more info about the Hell Creek Campground and to reserve a campsite click here. 
• Click here to get more info about the Hell Creek Marina. 
• You can get more info about Jordan Montana by clicking here.
• Click here go to our Montana Outdoor webpage to get all kinds of fishing reports, outdoor news, weather forecasts and of course updates about the Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Walleye Tournament. 
• Questions? Click here to email Downrigger and he will get you answers!

Support the show

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 your Host Downrigger Dale talks with Mack Days Tournament Manager Cindy Benson and her husband Mike Benson who has fished the Mack Days tourneys for many years! Cindy will give you all the details about this incredible Tournament which gets underway on March 13th and goes through May 10th on Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana. Downrigger referrs to the Mack Days Tournaments as the most unique fishing tournaments you will ever fish in and are the richest Tournaments in Montana and for Lake Trout tournaments, likely the richest in the world! Just wait until you hear Mike talk about how much money he won in Spring Mack Days just a few years ago. It is in the 5-digit range and the winner of last year's Spring Mack Days won quite a bit more than  that! How much? Click that play button above and find out. Mike will also give you great advice about how to fish for the Lake Trout, also known as Mackinaw or Macks. It's all explained in the Podcast from what lures to use, where to go on the lake and much more. So, click that play button and get to listening! 

Links:

• Click here to go to the Spring Mack Days website!
• Know how to identify the fish in Flathead Lake. The website above has that info or use the Fishes of Montana App. Click here to get that on Google Play. Or click here to get it for Apple. 
• Lures that Mike talked about:
  • Leadagator
  • Rattle-d-Zastor
  • Glowing Jigs
  • Paul's Jigs - Call 309-678-6160 to order.
  • PlugIt Tackle
  • Or talk to local tackle shops in area.
• Campgrounds Cindy talked about.
  • Blue Bay
  • Wayfarers
  • Big Arm
• Flathead Lake Map
• Montana Fishing Regulations
• Flathead Indian Reservation Fishing Regulations (South Half of Flathead Lake)
• To email Cindy and Mike click here.
• To email Downrigger click here. 

Support the show

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 you way up to the Mountains of Northwest Montana to a lake that stretches for 94 miles all the way across the Canadian border into the Province of British Columbia. The lake was created when the dam was put across the Kootenay River north of Libby Montana. As manmade lakes go Koocanusa is not that old. It was created in 1972 but boy is it ever a special place. Downrigger caught up with Randy Burch the owner of the Koocanusa Resort & Marina. When you listen to this podcast likely one of the first things you will notice is Randy is an amazing wealth of information. Rigger of course asked him all about the amazing fishing that Lake Koocanusa has to offer like huge rainbow Trout, Bull Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Burbot and list goes on and on. In fact, you will find the Gerrard Rainbow Trout also known as the Kamloops Rainbow in the lake as well. These are BIG fish! Another great thing about this podcast is that Randy tells you all about where to find and how to catch all the popular fish in Lake Koocanusa. Plus, you will learn a TON about the area as well. Rigger also asked Randy about his wonderful resort and marina and wow does that place sound awesome. In fact, Rigger is making plans to head up there this summer. So what are you waiting for? Mash that Play Button and get to listening, you are gonna love all the great info!  

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Lake Koocanusa, including fish stocking information, list of fish species and much more!
• To learn more about the Randy Burch's Koocanusa Resort & Marina, click here!
• Rigger and Randy also talked about the Koocanusa Resort & Marina Fishing Derby. Click here to get all the info!
•  Click here to download the Montana fishing Regs.
• It is important to be able to identify the fish you catch in Koocanusa there is a handy app that will help with that called the Fishes of Montana. Click here to get it for android on Google Play. Or click here to get it for Apple. 
• Questions for Randy Burch? Click here to email him.
• Questions for your host Downrigger Dale? Click here to email him!

Support the show

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 to Dave Chichester of Plugit Tackle. Dave talks about how he got into the tackle business when he started making lures for himself when the quality of his favorite lures that he used to buy started going downhill. Course little did he know that would turn into a thriving specialty lure company called Plugit Tackle. Why "Plugit"? Well, when you listen to this Podcast you will learn that Plugit makes wooden plug lures using a bit of s high tech lathe. Another thing that surprised Rigger and will likely you as well is the type of wood that Dave uses. So give this podcast a listen to find out what kind of wood that is and why Dave uses it. What kind of fish go after Plugit Tackle? Dave loved to go after the Gerrard Rainbow Trout also known as the Kamloops Rainbow Trout. These are the biggest Rainbows you will ever find. Dave often fishes for them sometimes in Lake Pend Oreille in the panhandle of Idaho but most of the time you can find Dave trolling his Plugit Tackle Plugs after those monsters in Northwest Montana. Now where would that be? Give the podcast a listen and you will not only find that out, but you’ll also learn how fast to troll, how to use planer boards and a few other techniques that are amazing. But Plugit Tackle is not just a giant Rainbow catcher, Dave talks about the other species of fish in Montana that can't seem to resist going after his plugs, like Walleye, Pike, Salmon and the list goes on. This is a super interesting podcast full of great techniques and much more. So click the play button and get to listening so you can start to put some Montana Monsters of your own in the boat!

Links:

• Click here to go to the Plugit Tackle website to learn more about Plugit Tackle.
• If you would like to see all the different sizes, colors and designs of the plugs that Rigger and Dave talk about click here. Make sure you click on each style so you can see all the different colors. BTW Dave hand paints each one!
• Dave talked about how he sets up his planer boards and how he can put out multiple lines while trolling. Click here to see the diagram he talked about and other pictures in the podcast article on our website!
• Questions for Dave Chichester of Plugit Tackle? Click here to send him an email.
• Tell Downrigger what you thought of this Podcast and also let him know your ideas for future Podcasts. Click here to send him an email. 

Support the show

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 to Brian Olson about Region 6's incredible ponds located in Northeast Montana. All across Montana's Hi-Line there is an unbelievable number of ponds that can be found if you know where to look. The amazing thing is they are full of huge fish! And even more amazing is the fact that very few folks fish these wonderful waterbodies! Brian goes through the different species that can be found in these ponds ranging from huge, beautiful Trout, monster Walleye, jumbo Perch, and even Tiger Muskie to name a few. Brian even talks about the lures, jigs and baits that work best! So how did he find this treasure trove of finned wonders? Well, all that info had been sitting there online all organized by pond, location species and even stocking data in a book Brian ran across called the Region 6 Pond Fishing Guide! Now, there are some important facts that you need to know about getting into this little-known waterbodies and Brian has learned those things from fishing those ponds for the last 20 years! So, this is important info that you likely are only going to learn by listening to this Podcast. So, whether you want to go now and catch these lunkers through the ice or head out this spring. So, what are you waiting for? Get to listening to this Podcast now!

Links:

• Click here to get a copy of the Region 6 Pond Fishing Guide!
• You can click here to look up even more info from current stocking info and more.
• Click here for a online version of the Montana Fishing Regulations. Some of these ponds are in areas that may have different Regs so best to look them up just in case.
• Do you have questions for Brian Olson. He travels a lot, but your old buddy Downrigger Dale knows how to track him down so click here to send your questions to Rigger and he will make sure you get the answers your looking for! 

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your Host Downrigger Dale sits down with the head football coach of the Montana Grizzlies, Bobby Hauck for an exclusive interview about a side of the Big Sky Conference's most winningest head coach that you have likely never seen or heard from before. Coach Hauck talks about how fishing is therapy to him and can relive the incredible stresses of being a head coach and all that comes with that responsibility. So do you know what kind of fishing Bobby prefers? Does he like river or lake fishing? You will also learn how fishing can get him centered for another ultra competitive season of pre, regular and post season football. Who do you suppose first taught Coach Hauck how to fish? He also sets the same goal for fishing every year. That is to catch at least one fish in every month of the year. Has he every pulled that off, especially given his demanding schedule. You will learn the answers to all those questions and a whole lot more. So, what are you waiting for? Click that play button and get to listening. You are going absolutely love this podcast. And you will learn not only learn about a side of Coach Hauck that you have never seen before but you may just learn a little more about yourself along the way.

Do you have questions for Coach Bobby Hauck about this podcast? Click here to send him an email.

Questions for your old buddy Downrigger Dale? Click here to send Rigger your email.

Support the show

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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By Popular Demand! Held Over for Another Week!
This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with outdoorsman Scott Arnold about ice fishing on 3 incredible reservoirs near Helena. Plus, Scott also covers ice fishing out on Georgetown Lake located 48 miles west of Butte near the historic little town of Philipsburg. Scott has ice fished these waterbodies for over 40 years so he knows them better than most folks you will ever meet! Scott gives you a TON of info about where to find and how to catch the Kokanee, Walleye, Trout, Ling (aka, Burbot) and Perch that are in these incredible waterbodies! As Rigger put it; "It is no surprise that this Podcast has been so popular. It is full of AWESOME info. I can't wait get out on these lakes and try all I leaned from him. I know that folks are not only going to love this podcast, but they’re also going to catch A LOT of fish!".  After you listen not only will you know how to fish these lakes, but you will also have a ton of knowledge about what lures, baits and other tackle to use, where to find each of the different species of fish that Scott talks about in each lake and the best techniques to use to catch them! So hit that play button, sit back and soak all that knowledge in!

Links:

• To learn about the size, location, fishing access sites, regulations and much for each of these waterbodies just: 
  • Click here for Canyon Ferry Reservoir. 
  • Click here for Holter Reservoir. 
  • Click here for Helen Regulating Reservoir.
  • Click Here for Georgetown Lake.
• Click here for info about the Humminbird Flashers that Scott talked about.
• Click here to see pictures of some of the lures that Scott Uses.
• Questions for Scott Arnold? Click here to email him.
• Click here to email Downrigger

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with outdoorsman Scott Arnold about ice fishing on 3 incredible reservoirs near Helena. Plus, Scott also covers ice fishing out on Georgetown Lake located 48 miles west of Butte near the historic little town of Philipsburg. Scott has ice fished these waterbodies for over 40 years so he knows them better than most folks you will ever meet! Scott will give you a TON of information about where to find and how to catch the Kokanee, Walleye, Trout, Ling (aka, Burbot) and Perch that are in these incredible waterbodies! As Rigger put it; "Scott's attention to detail and his ability to explain in a way that is so easy to follow is amazing. By the time we were done talking I felt like I had been ice fishing on them my entire life! I can't thank Scott enough for sharing all this information with us and I can't wait get out on these lakes and try all I leaned from him. I know that folks are not only going to love this podcast, but they’re also going to catch A LOT of fish!".  After you listen not only will you know how to fish these lakes, but you will also have a ton of knowledge about what lures, baits and other tackle to use, where to find each of the different species of fish that Scott talks about in each lake and the best techniques to use to catch them! So hit that play button, sit back and soak all that knowledge in!

Links:

• To learn about the size, location, fishing access sites, regulations and much for each of these waterbodies just: 
  • Click here for Canyon Ferry Reservoir. 
  • Click here for Holter Reservoir. 
  • Click here for Helen Regulating Reservoir.
  • Click Here for Georgetown Lake.
• Click here for info about the Humminbird Flashers that Scott talked about.
• Click here to see pictures of some of the lures that Scott Uses.
• Questions for Scott Arnold? Click here to email him.
• Click here to email Downrigger and he will send you a list of more things that Scott uses out on the ice!

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with another of the top fishing guides in Montana, Captain Matt McComb. This topic is all about ice fishing in NorthWest Montana. Matt literally puts on a Master Class about how you can have great success ice fishing on the 30 plus incredible lakes up in Northwest Montana that are great for ice fishing. Matt gives a list of the best gear to use, including some of his top lures, bait, electronics and...well, the information is just flat amazing. He and Rigger also talk about some of the top techniques to use to catch a whole bunch of all the different species you can catch trough the ice in that part of Montana, from Salmon to trout to pike, perch and the list goes on and on! One of many things that are super interesting in this podcast is how Matt uses underwater cameras to help him locate where the fish are, what bait to use and even what technique to use! He goes over other electronics that  work great from him as well. Gang, after you listen to this podcast you are definitely going to have all kinds of information that will for sure make you a better ice fisherman or woman! So what are ya waiting for? Hit that play button now and head out on the ice with Captain Matt in Northwest Montana. Oh, and don't forget he if you want to learn even more from him book a trip this winter or summer with him, he is an incredible teacher and guide!

Links: 

• To learn more about Captain Matt, click here and scroll down to Captain Matt McComb.
• Questions for Matt? Click here to email him or call ‭(406) 261-6980‬.
• Click here to listen to Matt's latest fishing reports as well as other reports from around Montana.
• Click here to see pictures of the Hali lure that Matt talks about as well as other pictures of Matt and the gear that he uses.
• Downrigger Dale is of course always happy to find the answers to any of your questions and he would love to see your suggestions for future podcast topics. Click here to shoot him an email.

Gear List With Links From Captain Matt:

• Ice augers: manual / electric/ propane or gas. (Talk to your local Sporting Goods Store)
• A sled to haul your gear. Matt says Otter Sleds are the best.
• Rod and reel combos, 32-36 in length med-med light rods, inline reels to stop line twisting vs spinning reels. (Talk to your local Sporting Goods Store)
• Electronics: Vexilar and Marcum flashers for deeper fish.
• Underwater cameras for shallow fish. Aqua-vu is a great starter camera. 
• Extra lines for: Tip Up’s or Jaw Jackers.  
• Safety gear: Waterproof boots, float jacket and ice cleats are a must. (Talk to your local Sporting Goods Store)

Support the show

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.

Send us Fan Mail

This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Bill the Producer of one of the most anticipated sports shows of the year, The Great Rockies Sportshow! For the last 25 years this show has been bringing outdoor folks together to learn about the latest fishing, hunting, hiking and camping gear. Plus, the show always has the top experts in the world who teach the latest fishing and hunting techniques. Listen now and find out which experts are coming this year to teach the seminars! Not only that but Bill tells Rigger all about the fun things he has planned for the kids. Man! Your kids are going to love it! This podcast takes you behind the scenes with Bill filling you in on all the incredible folks from all over the world that will have booths at the show! Yeah, you will learn about taking hunting trips to Africa or fishing for monster Walleye in Canada and the list goes on and on. On top of all that you hear about a whole bunch of the latest RVs, Fifth Wheels, ATVs and more that will be at the show. Bill also has a very special guest that will be making an appearance every day of the show which will be happening in Billings Montana next week January 17th through the 19th at the MetraPark ExpoCenter. Who is this special guest you ask? Well, you have to listen to the podcast but we will give you a little hint, he is a movie star and he is also known as the King of Beasts! So get to listening and learn all about the Great Rockies Sportshow and then make plans to come to this incredible show!

Links:

• To learn even more about the Great Rockies Sportshow click here.
• Click here for times and an interactive map of how to get to the ExpoCenter in Billings.
• If you would like to ask Bill any questions just click here to send him an email!
• What did you think of this podcast? Send your old buddy Downrigger Dale an email by clicking here. 

Support the show

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.