This Weeks Show

Episode 20

Northwoods Tradition with Pete & Tex

Show Date: May 16, 2026

Location: Hayward, Wisconsin

This week we’re making our annual trip north to Hayward to spend time on the water with longtime friend Pete Maina and his dad, Tex. It’s a tradition we look forward to every year — getting out just after the opener, enjoying the Northwoods scenery, and sharing laughs with two people who truly love fishing.

Tex is always one of the highlights of the trip. Between stories, jokes, and the occasional bit of hard-earned wisdom, he keeps everyone smiling no matter what the conditions throw at us.

And this year, the conditions definitely tested us. Strong winds, cold temperatures, and even a few morning snow flurries made it difficult to fish some of the spots we had planned to target. We spent much of the trip adapting, searching for calmer water, and trying to make the most of the hand we were dealt.

Even with the challenging weather, we were still able to find some cooperative fish and enjoy time on the water together. No giant trophies hit the net this trip, but that never really felt like the point. Days like this are a reminder that fishing is about more than just the size of the catch — it’s about the people, the stories, and the memories made along the way.