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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with the Director of the 14th annual Hebgen Lake Ice Fishing Tournament, Garrett Ostler. With a total prize purse of likely $10,000 or maybe even higher, this tournament is one of the richest and for sure most fun ice fishing tournaments in Montana. Hebgen Lake is a beautiful lake near West Yellowstone Montana. Garrett does a great job of going over all the details about the tournament which takes place on Friday the 16th of this month with pre-fishing and rules meeting and then the tourney takes place on Saturday the 17th. This tournament not only pays out a bunch of money to its contestants it also raises money for an incredible program for all kids who want to learn how to ice fish, ride snowmobiles, cross country ski and much more through the West Yellowstone Kids ‘N’ Snow Program. In fact, if you watch the podcast you'll see a heartwarming video during the podcast that will show a ton of things that kids get to do and learn about FOR FREE. But there is even WAY MORE to this podcast. You will also learn how West Yellowstone has evolved into the capital of wintertime fun in Montana, with seemingly endless snowmobile trails, stunning wintertime tours of Yellowstone National Park, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, ice skating, sledding, the Grizzley & Wolf Discovery Center and of course ice fishing and the list goes on and on. We are pretty darn sure once you listen to this podcast you will for sure be doing two things next. 1. You will want to register your two-person team to compete in the Hebgen Lake Ice Fishing Tournament. 2. You will be packing up the whole family to leave to take part in all that this podcast tells you about this FOR REAL winter wonderland! So, click play now!

Links:

• To learn more about and to register to compete in the Hebgen Lake Ice Fishing Tournament click here.
• To learn more about the Kids ‘N’ Snow Programs at West Yellowstone click here.
• Click here to learn more about the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center.
• To learn more about winter activities, and summer ones too, in West Yellowstone click here!
• During the podcast Garrett mentions his video about knifeless fish cleaning that he made after he broke his arm. Click here to see that, if you dare! It is for sure NOT for those of you that have a weak stomach!
• Questions for Garrett? Click here to send him an email.
• Questions or comments for Rigger? Click here to send him an email.

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 Dogsledding with the owner of Basecamp Bigfork, Mark Schurke! You have got to see this one gang! Folks are having a blast with this, and it is likely because of the way Mark does it. Yeah, you can sit and ride on the dog sled, which is a ton of fun, but Mark actually lets you become the Musher! That’s the person that, for the lack of a better word, drives the dog sled and that makes it even more fun. In fact, when click here to watch this week’s video of the podcast you will get to watch the dogs and mushers in action. Another incredible thing you will learn is that the dogs that Mark uses are Inuit Dogs, that is the oldest dog breed in the world. They are unbelievable at what they can do and if you want, they can make your trip with them pretty wild. Click here to watch them jump over streams and take the sled flying right over it as well and other cool stuff! You are going to love this Podcast! Not only do folks get to become the musher they also get out into some of the most beautiful places in Northwest Montana. DO NOT miss this podcast. So, click that play button and get to mushing!!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Basecamp Bigfork.
• If you would like to watch even more videos and see more awesome pictures, click here to see them on Facebook or you can click here to see more on Instagram.
• Questions for Mark? Click here to send him an email.
• As always, your old buddy Rigger would love to hear what you thought of this week’s Podcast. Click here to shoot him an email!

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 a couple fellas that are new to the Podcast from Trout On The Fly, Fly Fishing Outfitters based out of Bozeman. You will meet Nate Sevane the owner of Trout On The Fly and his Lead Ice Fishing Guide Matt Hoff. They tell Rigger about ice fishing on Georgetown and Canyon Ferry lakes plus two other lakes that Rigger has never talked about on the Podcast, Ennis Lake and Harrison Lake. Ennis Lake is of course not far from Ennis Montana and Harrison Lake is just north of Ennis Lake near the town of Harrison, that lake is also known as Willow Creek Reservoir. When you click here to watch or listen right here and find out if any ice has made it to these 4 lakes as well as learn a TON from Matt about the species that can be found in those lakes as well as some great tips on how find and catch them. Yeah, it always seems ole Rigger finds something new to show us and this week for sure does not disappoint. On top of all that the owner of Trout On The Fly, Nate Sevane will tell you about the iconic rivers that his guides take folks fishing on in the summer including some incredible trips that flow through Yellowstone National Park! So, what are you waiting for gang?! Click here now to watch or listen right here, you are going to love this one for sure!

Links:

• Click Here to learn all about Trout On The Fly, Fly Fishing Outfitters and book a trip with them. They do still have some openings for this winter.
• To learn more about Ennis Lake and see fish stocking data there click here.
• Click Here to learn more about and see fish stocking data for the very unique Harrison Lake.
• To check out the latest fish stocking data and learn about Canyon Ferry click here.
• Click here to learn about Georgetown Lake and see the stocking data there as well.
• Questions for Nate Sevane or Matt Hoff? Just click here to send them an email and they will get right back to you.
• Be sure and tell Rigger what you thought of this Podcast be clicking here to send him an email.

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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Downrigger Dale talks with Don Wilkins one of the most in demand fishing guides in America! You will learn all kinds of ice fishing tips and tricks. Don also gives some awesome safety tips and you will hear about how Don sets up his tip ups, the kind of rods and reels he recommends as well as jigs that can catch monster lakers and King Salmon through the ice! There is much more as well!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Don Wilkins.
• To learn more about Fort Peck Reservoir including fish species and stocking info, click here.
• To get more information about all the gear that Don talks about, click these links. HT EnterprisesTip-Up | Blackhole | Eskimo | Pflueger | Lakeridge Lodging and Bait Shop | Line Dancer Rods | Okuma Baitfeeder Reel | D&G Sports & Western | Power Pro Super Slick Line Spiderwire Fishing Line | Humminbird Helix 9 | Garmin LiveScopeIce Fishing Bundle | Frabill Tip-Ups | ThermaSeat Ice Hole Covers | Jaw Jacker | Finicky Fooler | Brew City Sonar Pole
• Questions? To email Don Wilkins just click here. Or 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 went behind the scenes of the Fort Peck Hatchery to find out how a King Salmon can go from a tiny egg to one of the most sought after and hardest fighting fish in Montana’s largest body of water. This Podcastis destined to be a classic so we thought we would call this one “Rigger and the Salmon Factory”! Yes, we are talking about the mighty King Salmon or more accurately known as the Chinook Salmon, which is the Everlasting Gobstopper of the salmon species, but it is far from being a native fish of Montana. So how does the Chinook Salmon continue to maintain it’s population? They won’t spawn in Fort Peck Reservoir. There is no way Montana FWP could go out buy fingerlings to stock into the reservoir every year. They have to get them from the Chinooks that are in Fort Peck Reservoir now, but as we said they don’t spawn so then how…. That is where Fisheries Biologist Heath Headley and Fort Peck Hatchery Manager Wade Geraets come in. They take the eggs from the dying females and milt from the dying males and turn all that into a brand-new King Salmon every year! How do they do that? Just listen right now. Rigger does a deep dive into all of that and we are positive that you are going to be amazed and entertained by what this podcast for reveals. For example, Heath and his crew collected 895,000 Salmon eggs this year. How do they know that? Those tiny, tiny eggs were counted, no not by Wade’s Oompa Loompas, he does not have any of those. So how then? That is just one of the many questions you will get answered when you listen. Rigger even got his buddy The Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show involved. Captain was able to record amazing video of the process while Rigger did a fascinating interview with the Salomon wizards Heath and Wade there at the hatchery. So DO NOT miss the amazing adventure and incredible tale of “Rigger and the Salmon Factory”!

Links:

• To learn more about the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery click here.
• To ask Heath Headley questions click here.
• To ask Wade Geraets questions click here.
• Got a question or comment for Rigger? 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 start a new series that will preview the most popular ice fishing areas in Montana with top ice fishing professionals. To kick it all off Rigger brings on the top fishing guide in Northwest Montana as well as one of the top guides in the State if not the Country. Captain Matt McComb with Fish On Charters. Matt puts on a masterclass about ice fishing. Matt covers all the best lakes for ice fishing and tells you what species are best to target in those lakes. He even tells you what to use to catch them! If that were not enough, he shows you his ice fishing gear, gives great info on why he uses certain types of gear and explains that using it will help catch a lot more fish. No matter if you are new to ice fishing or are an experienced angler, you are going to learn a TON and love this podcast!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Captain Matt McComb and Fish On Charters.
• To Learn more about the lakes Matt talks about click these links. Lake Mary Ronan Little Bitterroot Lake Thompson Chain Echo Lake Rogers Lake Swan Lake Flathead River Slews
• For Montana Outdoor Approved Sporting Goods Stores click here.
• Click for more on Vexilar flashers Eyoyo camera Otter sled Hali lure Clam Jacket and Bibs throw rope Ice Picks
• What to do if you fall through the ice? click here .
• Questions? Click here to email Captain Matt McComb. Click here to email you old buddy 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 Downrigger Dale turned over the reins to his buddy Roger Fishwell to do the hosting duties. Ol’ Rigger needed to take a little time off. If you listen or watch the podcast on a regular basis you will recognize Roger he is the one you hear or see introduce Rigger on the podcast every week. Rog also works in our research department as well as many other things. But Don’t worry good ol’ Rigger will be back next week unless he gets lost out there. So, this week Roger got information from hunting check stations all across Montana in all 7 hunting regions of the State! So, when you listen here you will find out how many harvested deer, elk, antelope and a few other critters were counted at those check stations. The info in this Podcast will give you a great idea of where hunters are finding game in every hunting region in the State! Roger will also give you some great stats on the success rates for hunters in all those areas plus a whole lot more! So, give this one a listen and happy hunting!

Links:

• Click here to for the latest news and information about hunting and fishing on our website for hunters and anglers. We will post more results right there from check stations as they come in.
• You can also go to our Facebook Page by clicking here. That page has great info as well.
• Questions? Just click here to email Downrigger or Roger. They will get back to you as fast as they can!

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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You know it’s true! If you love to fish for Walleye, you just have to pass that 30 plus inch benchmark and until you do things just never feel complete, right? This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Ken Ault and his girlfriend and fishing partner Amy McComas about Ken’s seemingly never ending quest to get his 30 plus incher! This podcast is A LOT of fun to watch or listen to. You will hear how Ken and Amy decided to switch from bottom bouncing to jigging. And how they researched the latest technology all to become better at one of their favorite things to do together, fishing for Walleye. Which brings us to another really good reason to click here to watch or to listen to this podcast and that is you will learn a lot about trying new ways to fish for walleye and probably find out that fishing can be an amazing thing to with the one you love. On top of that you will also learn about Nelson Reservoir which is a great place to fish for Walleye. Rigger was able to pull some good info out of Ken and Amy as far as the best place to put in this time a year and a few other great tips. But don’t worry Nelson anglers, Rigger was not able to get them to give up any a major Walleye secrets about that great waterway and after all isn’t half the fun getting on the water and starting your own quest? So, did Ken ever get that 30 plus inch Walleye? Well, you will have to click here to watch or stay here and listen to find out. We will tell you a little secret though, Amy got Her’s!

Links:

• To learn more about Nelson Reservoir, the fish you find in there and stocking reports click here.
• If you have any questions for Ken or Amy, just click here to email Downrigger Dale and he will track them down and get your questions answered.

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.