DECEMBER 2025

Episode 48

Late-Fall Salmon Run Adventure

Show Date: December 6, 2025

Location: Sheboygan River, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin

Guide: Tim Maher [(920) 604-4169]

We’re thrilled to climb back into the raft with guide Tim Maher, and this time we’re chasing a hard-fighting trifecta: steelhead, brown trout, and coho salmon. We managed to sneak this trip in just before Thanksgiving — and just before the big snowfall hit — giving us perfect late-fall conditions on the river.

Tim’s raft is truly one-of-a-kind. It’s built to slide into shallow stretches and tight bends that other boats simply can’t reach, letting us fish water that rarely sees a lure. Not only does it give us access to hidden spots, but it also lets us cover an impressive amount of river in a single day.

From the first hookup to the last, these fish put on incredible battles, making every catch a thrill. A fantastic day on the river — and the best part? Tim runs trips like this all winter long, whether the water is open or iced over.

Episode 50

Last Cast Before Ice-Up

Show Date: December 13, 2025

Location: Chequamegon Bay, Ashland, Wisconsin

Guide: Josh Teigen [715-813-0575  | joshteigen.com ]

Accommodations: River Rock Inn & Bait Shop [715-682-3232 | riverrockinn.net]

We managed to slip out onto Chequamegon Bay just before everything locked up with ice, and what we found was a surprisingly hot multi-species bite. With our special guest Acorn aboard, we expected to spend most of the day catching bass — but the fish had other plans.

Instead, the pike were absolutely fired up, and we even picked up a few bonus walleyes along the way. It turned into one of those late-season trips where every stop held a new surprise.

Hard to believe that the very water we were fishing is now capped in ice. Now all that’s left is to wait for safe thickness so we can get back out and start the ice-fishing season!

Episode 51

Airboats & Early Ice

Show Date: December 20, 2025

Location: Mississippi River, LaCrosse, Wisconsin

Guide: Vince Moldenhauer [(414) 791 5534 | greatriveroutdoorsllc.com]

Ice fishing season is officially underway, and we’re kicking it off where early ice is almost always reliable — the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Fishing near La Crosse, Wisconsin, we’re surrounded by nearly endless sloughs and side channels that hold fish all winter long.

This time of year, perch, bluegills, crappies, and even bass slide into these protected backwaters, following baitfish and sheltering from current and larger predators. Our guide Vince and his crew are constantly exploring, searching for new spots that reload with fish, always hoping to put clients on a true trophy through the ice.

Getting there is half the adventure. The safest and most dependable way to cross the main river channel is by airboat — not the lightweight Everglades style, but reinforced, tank-like machines built to chew through broken ice and glide onto solid ice where the real fishing begins. With an outstanding crew along for the ride, it was an unforgettable way to start the ice season and a perfect first day back on the hard water.

Episode 52

Jigging Giants on Lake Michigan

Show Date: December 27, 2025

Location: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When winter gives you a rare stretch of calm, stable weather, something truly special can happen on Lake Michigan — the opportunity to launch a boat and target lake trout in open water. These windows don’t come often, but when they do, the fishing can be nothing short of incredible.

This is not a trolling program. This is casting and jigging, feeling every thump, and hanging on when a lake trout absolutely crushes your bait. In fact, our first fish hit before the cameras were even fully set up, and the action never slowed down from there. Using Kalin’s Jerk Minnows and heavy spoons like the Kastmaster and MoonShine Shiver Spoon, we stayed on aggressive fish all day long.

Joining us on this unique winter outing were Brett Jolly, Henry Abbott, and John Rytina, making it a memorable day filled with hard strikes, big fish, and the kind of open-water winter fishing most anglers only dream about.