Ugly Pike Podcast

Taking a trip of a lifetime to one of Canada's best angling lakes should be fun and easy, but not for muskie anglers.  In this first session of our series live from Moosehorn Lodge on the legendary Lac Seul, the guys go over the challenges that a cold front brought to their first days on the water.  Chris and Frank sit with guide Joe Marsh and review how the first days of the adventure went, and what will be done to change the...

The Musky Hunter himself, Jim Saric calls into the show for a 4th of July Muskie extravaganza!  It is always a thrill to spend time with Jim and in typical fashion, he drops a ton of muskie knowledge!  Tons of practical tips as it relates to locations and methods are found in this episode.  Topics include:  

• Early fishing in Ontario 
• USA early year fishing 
• USA stocking  operations 
• Upping the catching odds - planning the day
• Bite w...

In this second episode with kayak muskie hunter Dan Joseph, the guys get into it.  The discussion shifts toward how to catch and land monsters and what that feeling is like as you handle a giant, boatside and without a net!  The episode concludes with a pulse-pounding story of weather turning ugly on big water, while fishing in a small kayak!  Points of discussion include:  

• How to land a muskie in a kayak  
• Customizing your kaya...

In this episode, Chris and Frank reveal big plans for their Summer fishing adventure including the location and the lodge.  After that they welcome Dan Joseph onto the show.  Dan got the guys' attention during a recent discussion with Matt Toth who talked about Dan landing fish as big as 55 inches from a kayak.  This episode is a cool look into the world of apex predator kayak fishing!  Highlights include: 

• The guys announc...

In this second part of our discussion with Winnipeg River guide Austin Sandstrom, the discussion turns toward the approaches and methods for finding big fish in this water system.  Austin goes into how to adapt to the different types of waterways and what his choices for baits are, before finishing with a couple of great stories of his time spent on these waters, practically all by himself, chasing monsters.  Points include: 

• Gu...

It took over 200 episodes, but the guys finally found an excellent guide on the Winnipeg River to talk about this lesser-known, lesser-fished body of water.  Chris and Frank sat with guide Austin Sandstrom, who guides out of multiple outfits on this secluded and amazing body of water.  Austin describes what it is like to hunt for muskies on some of the most beautiful and remote lakes and rivers in Ontario.  In this episode, they di...

In the conclusion of our episode with Nate Andrychuk, we dive deep into how to approach the great waters of Northwestern Ontario.  Baits and tactics are the focus, as well as how to target the mega monsters that very few anglers are lucky enough to ever see.  The elusive 60 inchers!! Points include:

• Different bait approaches to the different NWO lakes
• Topwater fishing and bait tuning
• Water bodies like reservoirs and changing water...

It has been a few years since we have talked with Nate, and since he is one of the most prolific guides on Lac Seul, we needed to have him back.  In this second interview with Nate, he completely outdoes himself and gives us a good understanding as to why there are muskie guides, and then there are exceptional muskie guides.  In this part 1, we discuss:

• Nate's guiding grounds
• How a guide team instills confidence in anglers
• Mu...

In this episode, the guys chat with the one and only Muskie Mama, Linda Rice! Linda is the owner of the Moosehorn Lodge on majestic Lac Seul.  Linda is well known in Northern Ontario for her passion for the sport and for the excellent service that her lodge provides.  In this first part of our discussion, we touch on the following topics:

• Linda's life on lac Seul
• Opening Moosehorn Lodge 
• Keys to success for the lodge 
• The maje...

In this Full Moon Friday episode, the guys discuss Chris' recent surgery and (another) brush with death (not lion related), as well as extracting and analyzing the best fishing tips from recent episodes before taking a call from Matt Toth, organizer of the Kayak Musky Challenge, a tournament that spans the Canadian Muskie waters and runs all season long!  In addition to talking about this event, Matt gives some very cool insig...

In this second part of our discussion with Davin Heinbuck, Davin gives yet another master class on reading environmental conditions in order to ascertain the very best times to be on the water.  We then get into a unique discussion about the psyche of an angler and how intuition plays a role in everything that we do. This part of the discussion was unexpected, but it really made an impact.  Points of discussion include: 

• Making ...

Davin Heinbuck returns to the show to follow up on what is often referred to as one of the mega episodes in this show's history.  Davin's level of detail and scientific approach to muskie hunting is truly unique, and in this second interview, he completely outdoes himself.  In this first part, Davin provides amazing insights on the following topics:

• Research effort update
• Fish movement patterns
• Trip planning using weathe...

In this part 2 with French River/Lake Nipissing guide Corey Warden, the discussion shifts into a deeper look at tactics where working baits are concerned.  Corey then answers some insightful questions that might surprise the listeners before finishing with one of the most epic fish stories in the show's history!  Points include:

• Guiding first-time muskie anglers
• Covering the water column when casting
• Working baits in a differ...

In this episode, Chris and Frank connect with friend of the show Corey Warden who works as a guide out of the Chaudière Lodge on the famed French River.  Corey has had a busy season both on the water and after the season, working hard at all of the fishing shows, so the guys wanted to chat with Corey to go over what he learned this season fishing and how the off-season shows went. In this episode, they discussed:

• Corey's or...

In this second part of our discussion with Justin Gaudry, we take a detailed look at fishing methods and lure selection for targeting muskies on Lake of the Woods.  Justin ties everything together while addressing approaches to fishing the different structure types on the lake and gives a master class in angling in this conclusion of the episode.  Highlights include:  

• Trolling spots with heavy bait present
• Targeting fish relatin...