The Bilge

The Bilge episodes:

• 03.11.2024

  Steve Kennedy: The Best Swimbaits On The Market

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Steve Kennedy on the shores of Lake Fork on this week's Bilge Podcast presented by ​⁠@battlebornbatteries. Steve reviews his entire swimbait collection in a must watch Bilge for any big bait fisherman. Bass...

  
• 03.11.2024

  Seth Feider: Llama Speaks On Current Controversies

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Seth Feider on the shores of Toledo Bend on this week's Bilge Podcast presented by ​⁠@battlebornbatteries. Seth opens up about payouts, the split, and much more in this short but sweet episode. Please...

  
• 03.11.2024

  JT Thompkins: The Most Dominate Opens Pro Ever

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with the Bassmaster EQ Angler of The Year and Rookie Elite Series Fisherman, JT Thompkins, to discuss his 3 years in the Opens, his mindset heading into the Elites, how he was able...

  
• 03.11.2024

  MLF Polygrapher Tells All

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with one of the nation's top polygraphers, Mark Teceno, to discuss his experiences during his 10 years of polygraphing professional fishermen, investigating cheating in fishing tournaments first hand and much more on this...

  
• 02.14.2024

  Kristine Fischer: World's Best Woman Angler

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Kristine Fischer to talk women's fishing, kayak tournaments, moving to a bass boat and much more on this week's The Bilge Podcast presented by ​⁠@battlebornbatteries Please support Battle Born Batteries when looking...

  
• 02.12.2024

  JP Morris: The Future of Fishing's Most Powerful Brand

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with John Paul Morris, Chief Customer Officer of Bass Pro Shops, on this week's Bilge Podcast presented by ​⁠@battlebornbatteries Please support Battle Born Batteries when looking for your next set of lithiums for...

  
• 02.09.2024

  Mike McClelland: MLF Minority Owner Speaks Out

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with one of the nicest guys in professional tournament fishing, Mike McClelland, to talk about his journey back to Bassmaster, where he's thrived in fishing, his earned wisdom through the many changes in...

  
• 01.02.2024

  Randy Blaukat: The Most Polarizing Man in Pro Fishing

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Randy Blaukat on this week's Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries. Please support Battle Born Batteries when looking for your next set of lithiums for your boat. Here’s the discount code for...

  
• 12.28.2023

  James Watson: MLF Angler Being Muzzled

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with James Watson for a different side of who he is, what he has planned in the future and much more on this week's The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries. Please support...

  
• 12.26.2023

  Rob Terkla: Key Growth Issues in Pro Fishing

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Robert Terkla to talk about his venture into the fishing industry with Googan Squad, the state of the industry in his eyes, sponsoring professional fishing tournaments, and much more on this week's...

  
• 11.14.2023

  Matt Pangrac: Grey Areas Are Legal

  Chris Zaldain and Trait sit down with Matt Pangrac of Bass Talk Live to hear Matt's real opinions on how pros do things, his future plans when it comes to balancing a Bassmaster Opens career with a Daily Podcast, and...

  
• 11.07.2023

  Battle Born On Its Way To Producing Fully American-Made Lithium Batteries

  Chris and Trait sit down with the CEO of Dragonfly Energy (Battle Born Batteries) Denis Phares, to discuss all things lithium batteries on this week's The Bilge Podcast. This episode includes pro tips when shopping for the best battery system,...

  
• 10.25.2023

  Spencer Shuffield: His DQ & The Cayuga Cheating Scandal

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Spencer Shuffield to talk his upbringing in fishing, his life before BPT, his DQ at MLF, the other Cayuga controversy through his eyes, and much more on this week's The Bilge Podcast...

  
• 10.19.2023

  Josh Bertrand: Payout Stagnation & The West Coast

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with the nicest professional in bass fishing Josh Bertrand to talk tournament payouts, MLF / Bassmaster Split, West Coast innovation slow downs, and much more on this week's The Bilge Podcast presented by...

  
• 10.06.2023

  Josh Jones: Banning Livescope

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down with Forward Facing Sonar pioneer Josh Jones on this week's The Bilge Podcast presented by *Battle Born Batteries*

  
• 09.16.2023

  Zaldain: Ignoring The West, Payout Growth & Season Review

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain review Chris' season, discuss the latest Bassmaster Elite schedule and the current situation out on the West Coast on this week's The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries

  
• 09.16.2023

  Greg Hackney: The Reality of Money in Fishing

  Greg Hackney joins Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain on The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries to discuss the current state of tournament fishing at the highest ranks.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Gerald Swindle: Big Issues in Fishing

  Gerald Swindle joins Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain on The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries to discuss the current state of tournament fishing at the highest ranks.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Kevin Vandam: Cheating in Pro Fishing

  Kevin Vandam joins Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain on The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries to discuss his retirement plans the current state of tournament fishing at the highest ranks.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Mark Zona: Untold Bassmaster Split Stories

  Mark Zona, TV Show Host, joins Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain on The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries to discuss the Bassmaster-MLF Split Story from his experience.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Lee Livesay: #1 Fisherman on Lake Fork

  Lee Livesay, Bassmaster Elite Series Angler and Top Lake Fork Guide, joins Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain on The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries to discuss recent events in the bassmaster tournament world and his career thus far.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Chris Bowes: Rule Maker for Bassmaster

  Chris Bowes, Vice President of Tournaments for Bassmaster, joins Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain on The Bilge Podcast presented by Battle Born Batteries to discuss recent events in the bassmaster tournament world that have resulted in DQs and other interesting...

  
• 09.16.2023

  Trey Epich: Running A Successful Tackle Business

  Trait & Chris Zaldain sit down with Trey Epich, CEO of House of Outdoors which is the holding company for Googan Baits, Googan Squad and Bass Mafia brands.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Ed Loughran: Lawyer of Pro Fishermen

  Trait & Chris Zaldain sit down with Ed Loughran who is both a lawyer and a Bassmaster Elite Series Angler and dive into angler contracts, Bassmaster’s business, sustainability of a no entry fee system and raising the $100k prize, polygraphs,...

  
• 09.16.2023

  Rus Snyders: #1 Kayak Fisherman In World

  Chris and Trait sit down with the king of kayaks, Rus Snyders, to discuss the differences in kayak fishing and bass boats from a guy who has won on both sides. As well as talk about his past as a...

  
• 09.16.2023

  Jon B: Googan Squad Founder / YouTuber

  Chris and Trait sit down with fishing YouTube pioneer Jon B. They talk about the Googan Squad vs Tournament Fishing drama, Googan Baits, what current pro fishing is missing on the content side, and the business of Youtube Fishing.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Ricky Teschendorf: Building Fishing Rods in China

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down in the latest episode of The Bilge x Battle Born Batters to discuss the rod building process and misconceptions with the top rod guy from 13 Fishing.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Chase Anderson: Owner of Bassmaster

  Trait & Chris Zaldain sit down with Chase Anderson, Chairman & CEO of Bassmaster, to discuss rumors, current business and the future of Bassmaster and bass fishing.

  
• 09.16.2023

  Zaldain: I Signed With Bass Pro Shops

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain sit down in the latest episode of The Bilge x Battle Born Batteries to discuss his biggest sponsor change of his fishing career and the thought process behind his major sponsorship changes over the last...

  
• 09.16.2023

  Josh Jones: Forward Facing Sonar Expert

  Chris and Trait sit down with Forward Facing Sonar Pioneer and the man who claims the 5 largest bass ever filmed cast to catch, Josh Jones, in this Podcast Episode of The Bilge x Battle Born Batteries. Josh discusses all...

  
• 09.16.2023

  Tom Hungerford: Texas Parks & Wildlife Fisheries Biologist

  Chris and Trait of The Bilge podcast sit down with Texas Parks and Wildlife Fisheries Biologist, Tom Hungerford, to discuss all the questions bass anglers have about growing big bass, the effects of all the tournaments nowadays on bodies of...

  
• 09.16.2023

  Matt Herren: Brutally Honest Pro Fisherman

  Chris Zaldain and Trait Zaldain review Chris' season, discuss the latest Bassmaster Elite schedule and the current situation out on the West Coast on this week's The Bilge Podcast presented by *Battle Born Batteries*

  
• 09.16.2023

  Rick Clunn: Greatest Angler of All Time

  Chris and Trait sit down with bass fishing GOAT, Rick Clunn, to discuss the legendary rumors about him, his thoughts on the Bassmaster and Major League Fishing split, and other subjects everyone has been dying to hear his thoughts on.

  
• 12.15.2022

  Too many tournaments? Impact of Forward Facing Sonar? Wakeboat erosion? Grass spraying? Livewelling?

  Chris and Trait of The Bilge podcast sit down with Texas Parks and Wildlife Fisheries Biologist, Tom Hungerford, to discuss all the questions bass anglers have about growing big bass, the effects of all the tournaments nowadays on bodies of...

  
• 12.15.2022

  Sold his boat for kayak tournaments?? KVD of kayaks & former Clearlake guide compares the two worlds

  Chris and Trait sit down with the king of kayaks, Rus Snyders, to discuss the differences in kayak fishing and bass boats from a guy who has won on both sides. As well as talk about his past as a...

  
• 12.15.2022

  Bassmaster's imperfections, polygraph problems, Tony Christian scandal, 2019 Split, and The Opens

  Chris and Trait sit down with the most (brutally) honest man in the professional angler ranks, Matt Herren, to discuss the split 4 years ago, why polygraphs are not busting more cheaters, the changes Bassmaster needs to consider, the real...

  
• 12.15.2022

  Jon B talks Googan & tournament guys, gaps in pro angler content, Youtube money, & California lakes

  Chris and Trait sit down with fishing YouTube pioneer Jon B. They talk about the Googan Squad vs Tournament Fishing drama, Googan Baits, what current pro fishing is missing on the content side, and the business of Youtube Fishing.

  
• 10.26.2022

  The GOAT addresses legendary myths, the 2019 Split, why Chris can't close and more.

  Chris Zaldain and Trait sit down with bass fishing GOAT, Rick Clunn, to discuss the legendary rumors about Rick, his thoughts on the Bassmaster and Major League Fishing split, and other subjects everyone has been dying to hear his thoughts...