Part 2 of our discussion Live on the St Lawrence River concludes with a robust talk about how the guys planned on adapting their approach to the changing weather.  Points of discussion include: 

• How Fall/Winter season affects muskie behaviour/patterning 
• Adapting strategies for variable winds 
• Livescope/technology discussion 
• Casting in cold weather 

In this episode, we record live on location on the St. Lawrence River system.  Frank is joined by his buddy and training partner Attila Ipacs, as well Alex Boutin aka Rex St. Pierre of Barbarian Braid/Taxeman Custom Lures.  The guys have a great discussion on how the end-of-season trip is going and what the state of the waterway is.  Points of discussion include:

•  The consistency/inconsistency of the fishery over the last few years
• Tips for fishing in variable late-season weather conditions 
• Lessons learned from losing fish while trolling and new tactics for minimizing this 
• The importance of acting as a team and knowing your role in the boat when that fish hits 
• How to select the best fishing line for late season 

Part 2 of our discussion with Dr. Steven Cooke concludes with topics that every muskie angler values.  We had a great discussion with Dr. Cooke and made sure that his vast knowledge was tapped and that we addressed vital points of interest to anglers such as:

- Critical factors affecting muskie habitat 

- Information Dr Cooke has discovered that could help muskie anglers discover patterns

- Can fish be educated (re: baits)?

- The importance of moon cycles, if at all

In this episode, we speak with  Professor of Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology at Carleton University, Dr. Steven Cooke.  In this episode, we discuss: 

- Dr. Cooke's team at the Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory

- The research papers on fish ecology that Dr. Cooke has published

- the intrinsic biological weapons of the apex predator, the muskie! 

- When do muskies eat?

- Muskie movement and migration 

From real brawls to muskie brawls, Chris and Frank begin the discussion with the recent Fury vs Ngannou  prize fight and then take a call from Dave Grey, organizer of the Musky Brawl that just took place on Lake St Clair.  Dave recaps how the event went, what transpired, and what is on tap for Musky Brawl 2024! 

Our fun talk with Chef Antonio Smash Meleca concludes with what else....a good muskie chat!  Highlights include: 

• Antonio kidnaps Kit Harington from Game of Thrones 
• Why Antonio struggles with trolling for muskies 
• The trials and tribulations of being the net man 
• Losing the fish of a lifetime 
• Antonio reveals who he would cook for if given the choice (anyone in the world)

Antonio "Smash" Meleca is our guest this week!  Antonio is an accomplished chef and entrepreneur and happens to be as obsessed with muskies as anyone else.   He is also co-host of the excellent Eating Wild Podcast on the Outdoor Journal Radio Podcast Network.  In this episode, we talk muskies, but first, we had to take advantage of Antonio's excellence in his field.  Part 1 includes:

• Why passion matters 
• Up your game:  Simple starting ingredients to use if you're new to cooking 
• Importance of resting meat
• How to make a great shore lunch

In this Full Moon Friday episode, Chris and Frank review the tactics of seasoned anglers and tournament fishermen and women in this community - information gained from the past discussion with Musky Brawl Creator, Dave Grey.  This episode incorporates different aspects of muskie fishing, both from the point of view of the angler, as well as that of a parent or mentor.  Highlights include: 

• A look at Fall fishing activities for the Ugly Pike crew, as well as possibly future guests
• A quick discussion on the upcoming UFC event that has been made better by 2 top fighters dropping out and being replaced last-minute
• Parents/mentors turning kids on to fishing: How to do it and how/when to incorporate that first muskie hunt!
• The process of growing as a muskie angler and getting better
• Points of value learned from the guys' recent discussion with Dave Grey, particularly modifying baits for deeper exposure

Part 2 of our awesome chat with Dave Grey!  This interview was so much fun for us and took such an interesting turn as we took a deeper look into what it is like to run a massive muskie fishing event.  In this conclusion we touch on:

• The ins and outs of fishing Lake St Clair
• Why the Musky Brawl event is so much fun, how it is administered, and what types of anglers participate
• Dave's interesting story of how he was catfished and how it lead to the ultimate happy ending! 

Dave Grey is a lifelong outdoorsman who was on the winning boat at the recent Unleash the Beast challenge on the French River/ Lake Nipissing.  Despite not being familiar with the water, Dave and his boat partner managed to bag the biggest fish and win the challenge.  We reached out to Dave to talk about how he formulated his winning strategy and to talk about his huge event on Lake St Clair in November - The legendary Musky Brawl!  In this first episode, we talk about: 

• how Dave and his outing partner approached fishing a relatively new lake (to them) and netted the biggest fish out of 60 seasoned anglers at Unleash the Beast
• effectively working baits on the French River and Nipissing 
• the business of making and selling baits 
• adapting baits to make them heavier and targeting deeper fish