Shows
Montana Outdoor PodcastMontana’s Wildlife Whisperers: Inside the U of M's Wildlife Biology ProgramSend us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor podcast your host Downrigger Dale has an amazing conversation with two of the preeminent wildlife biology researchers in the Country! They are located right here in Montana ln the University of Montana Wildlife Biology program. This is one of the highest ranked wildlife biology schools in the Country, if not the world. Rigger talked with Dr. Chad Bishop who is the Director of the program at the U of M and Dr. Andrew Whiteley who is a faculty member there at the U of M Wildlife Biology...2025-08-021h 04
Montana Outdoor PodcastThe Real Yellowstone, Tom Opre’s Amazing New Film!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has a fascinating conversation with award winning documentary director Tom Opre. Tom has created amazing films like Killing the Shepard and The Last Keeper. Now he focuses his camera on Montana's farmers, ranchers, wildlife and hunters with his latest film called The Real Yellowstone. Of course, most everyone is familiar with the incredibly popular television series Yellowstone starring Kevin Costner, but those episodes are not real. The Real Yellowstone delves into the real lives of ranching families who find themselves...2025-07-191h 29
Montana Outdoor PodcastOne Thing is For Sure About Our Guest This Week, He is Semper Paratus!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks about something that has been patrolling much of Montana's Waterways for many years but many of you may not even know about it. No, it is not part of the Montana FWP but works with them quite often. It is actually part of the Department of Homeland Security and more specifically part of the United States Coast Guard. Yes, this week Downrigger has a fascinating discussion with Captain Dave Hansen of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Yeah, that's right the...2025-07-121h 01
Montana Outdoor PodcastHot Topics, Big Fish & What’s Next for Montana’s OutdoorsSend us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale takes over the podcast studios and gets us all caught up on the latest outdoor news, Statewide fishing reports and peek at the future topics he will be covering on upcoming podcasts. He thought it would be nice to let the rest of the podcast staff take the 4th of July weekend off, but we are thinking that maybe he just didn't get invited to any 4th of July parties. However, that is probably not that case as we all have never s...2025-07-0534 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastLearn About the Fresno Dam Repair Progress! How Long Will There Be Low Water in Fresno Reservoir? Will Nelson Reservoir be Affected?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Steve Darlinton Project Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation. Rigger and Steve have a fascinating discussion about the state of Freson Dam. You may recall back in December of 2023 Rigger talked with Steve about the precarious state that Fresno Dam was in. It was sinking! In fact, it had sunk ten feet since it had been constructed back in the 1930s. NOT something you want a dam to do! So, Steve and his crew set out to go about the...2025-06-0753 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastMontana’s New Mule Deer Management Plan - Can We Solve Montana’s Mule Deer Issues?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has a very interesting discussion with Brian Wakeling, Game Management Bureau Chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Rigger received emails from a whole lot of you wanting more information about the new Mule Deer Management Plan that Brian and his staff are working on right now. Mule Deer are a VERY popular species to hunt here in Montana and a great deal of hunters and outdoor folks in general have been concerned about the decline in Mule Deer populations in many...2025-05-241h 07
Montana Outdoor PodcastSuccess, Failure and Above All Perseverance! Learn About the Amazing Milk River Project!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has an incredible discussion with Jennifer Patrick, Project Manager of The Milk River Joint Board of Control for the Milk River Project. This project is beyond remarkable. With over a century of successful operation, this engineering feat diverts water from the St. Mary River on the Blackfeet Reservation, flowing through northern Montana and Glacier National Park, and across southern Alberta, Canada. The project is a testament to the intricate canals, siphons, and diversions designed for a seamless flow of water. The Milk...2025-05-1755 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastOrganizing Your Boat and Tackle. Advice From Three of the Top Fishing Pros!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to the Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, one of Fort Peck’s top fishing guides, Don Wilkins and none other than the Salmon Slayer himself Bill Zahradka! The episode title kind of says what this podcast is all about. When you listen to this podcast you will hear some great ideas that will keep you organized and keep your next fishing trip hassle and tangle free! Plus, the Captain, Don and Bill share some very cool organizational ge...2025-05-101h 13
Montana Outdoor PodcastHow to Find and Catch HUGE Kokanee Salmon in Holter and Hauser Reservoirs!Send us a textDo you remember about this time last year when we had Kit and Trevor Johnson here on the Montana Outdoor Podcast? Your host Downrigger Dale and his fishing buddy the Captain talked to them about the great big Kokanee Salmon that they had been catching on Holter and Hauser Reservoir. Many of you wanted to know how they were finding and catching those great big, beautiful Kokanee Salmon so we thought we would run that podcast again for those of you that did not get a chance to hear it or who did...2025-04-261h 12
Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat Fish is Like a Double Bacon Cheeseburger and Why is it Having Such an Effect on Fort Peck Reservoir?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to outdoor reporter, writer and Hunting and Conservation Editor for Outdoor Life, Andrew McKean. Andrew wrote a wonderful article for the 2025 March/April edition of Montana Outdoors Magazine. The title of the article is Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Fins. This fascinating article covers the history and the effect of the introduction of the Cisco into Fort Peck Reservoir over 40 years ago and the effects this amazing forge fish continues to have on the sport fish that live in the Reservoir. Of...2025-04-1252 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastFor the Love of Fishing, Each Other and More!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has a blast talking with Kathy and Jody Goodman. Think about it, how many husband and wives do you see out fishing together? Sure, a lot of couples fish together now and then but you really don't see many that go fishing together a lot. But this couple sure does, and they are living proof that in their case a couple that fishes together stays together. When you listen to this podcast you will have a great time hearing about their first...2025-04-051h 05
Montana Outdoor PodcastFishing Southwest Montana! The Big Hole to the Beaverhead to Clark Canyon Reservoir & Beyond!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Shaun Jeszenka owner of Frontier Anglers. Shaun and his incredible group of guides cover some of the most famous trout waterways in the world! Rivers like the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson and more across Southwest Montana. These are rivers and streams that people from all over the world, who love to fly fish, dream of coming to for a once in a lifetime fly fishing experience. In addition to the rivers and streams in Southwest Montana Shaun and his crew...2025-03-2955 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastLooking For Some Spring Walleye Fishing? Fishing Guide Josh Parrow Has a Great Idea!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Fishing Guide Josh Parrow about fishing for Walleye on Tiber Reservoir this Spring. Tiber is located about an hour or so north of Great Falls Montana. As far as we know Josh is the only one that guides on this legendary Walleye hot spot. In fact, Tiber is the former home of Montana's State Record Walleye and Josh is ready to take you out to find the next State Record which is no doubt out swimming around in Tiber Reservoir...2025-03-221h 02
Montana Outdoor PodcastAre You Ready for the First Walleye Tournament of the Season? This Will Tell You All About It!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with the founder of the now 31st Annual Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Walleye Tournament, Joe Herbold. For those of you that fish the Walleye Tournament Circuit in Montana you'll likely recognize that name. In addition to starting the Tough Guy Tournament, for many years Joe was also the MC of the Super Bowl of Montana Walleye Tournaments, The Montana Governor's Cup. Of course, the Jerry Johnston Memorial Tough Guy Tournament is still very special to Joe and you will hear...2025-03-1556 min
Montana Outdoor Podcast2025 Spring Mack Days Lake Trout Tournament is Almost Here & It Will Show You the Money!!Send us a textThis week your Host Downrigger Dale talks with Mack Days Tournament Manager Cindy Benson and her husband Mike Benson who has fished the Mack Days tourneys for many years! Cindy will give you all the details about this incredible Tournament which gets underway on March 13th and goes through May 10th on Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana. Downrigger referrs to the Mack Days Tournaments as the most unique fishing tournaments you will ever fish in and are the richest Tournaments in Montana and for Lake Trout tournaments, likely the richest in the world...2025-03-081h 20
Montana Outdoor PodcastEver Been to Lake Koocanusa? This Podcast Will Take You There and You Won't Want to Leave!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale takes you way up to the Mountains of Northwest Montana to a lake that stretches for 94 miles all the way across the Canadian border into the Province of British Columbia. The lake was created when the dam was put across the Kootenay River north of Libby Montana. As manmade lakes go Koocanusa is not that old. It was created in 1972 but boy is it ever a special place. Downrigger caught up with Randy Burch the owner of the Koocanusa Resort & Marina. When...2025-03-011h 03
Montana Outdoor PodcastMontana Made Lures, Catching Montana Monsters!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Dave Chichester of Plugit Tackle. Dave talks about how he got into the tackle business when he started making lures for himself when the quality of his favorite lures that he used to buy started going downhill. Course little did he know that would turn into a thriving specialty lure company called Plugit Tackle. Why "Plugit"? Well, when you listen to this Podcast you will learn that Plugit makes wooden plug lures using a bit of s high tech lathe...2025-02-221h 16
Montana Outdoor PodcastMontana’s Best Kept Fishing Secret is Finally Unveiled!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Brian Olson about Region 6's incredible ponds located in Northeast Montana. All across Montana's Hi-Line there is an unbelievable number of ponds that can be found if you know where to look. The amazing thing is they are full of huge fish! And even more amazing is the fact that very few folks fish these wonderful waterbodies! Brian goes through the different species that can be found in these ponds ranging from huge, beautiful Trout, monster Walleye, jumbo Perch, and...2025-02-1546 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastThe Two Sides of Montana Grizzlies Head Coach Bobby HauckSend us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your Host Downrigger Dale sits down with the head football coach of the Montana Grizzlies, Bobby Hauck for an exclusive interview about a side of the Big Sky Conference's most winningest head coach that you have likely never seen or heard from before. Coach Hauck talks about how fishing is therapy to him and can relive the incredible stresses of being a head coach and all that comes with that responsibility. So do you know what kind of fishing Bobby prefers? Does he like river or...2025-02-0857 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastFolks Love This One! Some of Montana's Best Ice Fishing Spots! Held Over for Another Week!Send us a textBy Popular Demand! Held Over for Another Week!This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with outdoorsman Scott Arnold about ice fishing on 3 incredible reservoirs near Helena. Plus, Scott also covers ice fishing out on Georgetown Lake located 48 miles west of Butte near the historic little town of Philipsburg. Scott has ice fished these waterbodies for over 40 years so he knows them better than most folks you will ever meet! Scott gives you a TON of info about where to find and how to catch...2025-02-011h 29
Montana Outdoor PodcastIce Fishing on Canyon Ferry, Holter, Helena Regulating Reservoirs & Georgetown Lake! Scott Arnold Tells Us All About It!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with outdoorsman Scott Arnold about ice fishing on 3 incredible reservoirs near Helena. Plus, Scott also covers ice fishing out on Georgetown Lake located 48 miles west of Butte near the historic little town of Philipsburg. Scott has ice fished these waterbodies for over 40 years so he knows them better than most folks you will ever meet! Scott will give you a TON of information about where to find and how to catch the Kokanee, Walleye, Trout, Ling (aka, Burbot) and Perch that...2025-01-251h 29
Montana Outdoor PodcastLearn All About Ice Fishing in Northwest Montana From Captain Matt McComb!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with another of the top fishing guides in Montana, Captain Matt McComb. This topic is all about ice fishing in NorthWest Montana. Matt literally puts on a Master Class about how you can have great success ice fishing on the 30 plus incredible lakes up in Northwest Montana that are great for ice fishing. Matt gives a list of the best gear to use, including some of his top lures, bait, electronics and...well, the information is just flat amazing. He and...2025-01-181h 14
Montana Outdoor PodcastHear About the Incredible Great Rockies Sportshow! It Will be Here Real Soon. Don't Miss it!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Bill the Producer of one of the most anticipated sports shows of the year, The Great Rockies Sportshow! For the last 25 years this show has been bringing outdoor folks together to learn about the latest fishing, hunting, hiking and camping gear. Plus, the show always has the top experts in the world who teach the latest fishing and hunting techniques. Listen now and find out which experts are coming this year to teach the seminars! Not only that but Bill...2025-01-1153 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastWe Have Something New For You in 2025! A New Website & a Whole Lot More! Hear About it Now!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast we wanted to take some time to celebrate the New Year with a special Sneak Peek into some new things coming soon just for you! Your host Downrigger Dale talks to the Webmaster for MontanaOutdoor.com. Our very own Website Wonder, Hookem Harry, aka Harry Ward. Harry tells us all about the new changes to our website that are active online right now, plus he reveals a few other surprises that will be coming soon. Spoiler Alert! Yes, there is an app for that! When you...2025-01-0440 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastIce Fishing Tackle Ideas From the Legendary Bob Loomis?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Bob Loomis from Mack's Lure, inventors of the world-famous Wedding Ring fishing lure. Bob has been on the podcast before and if you listened before then you know if there is one thing Bob knows it is fishing! Bob got his start 43 years ago at the legendary fishing rod manufacturer G. Loomis Fishing Rods working with family there. Years down the road he moved over to Mack's Lure which is another company that has been a legend in the tackle...2024-12-2152 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastThis Podcast Takes You to a Magical Winter Wonderland Known as West Yellowstone Montana, "aka" Ice Fishing Heaven!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to fishing guide Garrett Ostler of Madison Adventures in West Yellowstone Montana! Often the greater West Yellowstone area is home to the first lakes to freeze and the last to thaw in Montana! In fact, when you listen to this podcast you'll hear Garrett tell the story of the year he started ice fishing right around Halloween and was able to fish on the ice all the way until....you are not going be believe how late into the year he...2024-11-301h 12
Montana Outdoor PodcastDo You Know the Truth About Trapping in Montana?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Ed Hebbe from the Montana Trappers Association to get the truth about trapping in Montana. In this Podcast some VERY important information is delivered that will likely surprise you about trapping. Is trapping really necessary? Some say that trapping is actually important to the survival of wildlife in Montana and other states, is that really true? Is trapping really used for wildlife management and research? Did you know that trappers come from all walks of life and are a huge...2024-11-231h 06
Montana Outdoor PodcastWhy Were the King Salmon in Eastern Montana So Big This Year & How Many of Their Eggs Were Collected Recently?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Heath Headley, FWP Fisheries Biologist for Fort Peck Reservoir in Northeast Montana. When you listen to this podcast you will hear Rigger and Heath cover the Chinook, or King Salmon, egg collection effort that recently was completed as well as several other things about the mighty Kings of Fort Peck. In fact, one of the questions that Rigger was dying to get an answer to was why were the King Salmon that were caught in the reservoir this year so...2024-11-091h 08
Montana Outdoor PodcastWondering What the Hunting is Like in FWP Region 2 in West-Central Montana? The Answer to That and Many Other Questions are in This Podcast!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale spent an information packed hour with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Wildlife Manager for Region 2, Liz Bradley. Liz and Rigger covered it all from where to find the Elk, Mulies and Whitetail Deer to the best spots to bag some Grouse, Waterfowl and yes even, though rare for the area, the elusive Pronghorn. Liz even covered some great ideas on where to find Black Bears, Mountain Lions and more! Rigger got all the questions he could think of answered, including things like...2024-11-0455 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastWant to Know What the Hunting is Like in Southeast Montana? Listen to This Podcast and Find Out!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale got together with Brett Dorak, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Wildlife Manager for Region 7 in Southeast Montana. Rigger and Brett had a great conversation about ALL the hunting opportunities you can find there in Southeast Montana, and boy are there a lot of them. They went through all the usual big game favorites like Elk, Mule and Whitetail Deer and Antelope or more appropriately known as Pronghorn but they also covered several other things you may not know are in Region 7 as...2024-10-261h 17
Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat Will the Hunting be Like in Northwest Montana? Listen to This Podcast and Find Out!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale continues our series on where to find the game you are looking for this 2024 hunting season. This time he had an incredible conversation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Wildlife Manager, Neil Anderson. Neil spilled the beans on where to find the Elk, Deer, Black Bear, Wolf, Upland Game Bird, Waterfowl and everything else you can hunt in FWP Region 1! If you hunt in Region 1 in Northwest Montana, have ever even thought of hunting there or maybe just wondered what all kind...2024-10-191h 27
Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat Will the Hunting be Like in FWP Region 4 in North Central Montana? This Podcast Has the Answers!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Montana FWP Wildlife Manager Cory Loecker to find out what the hunting will be like in North Central Montana Region 4. Cory and Rigger covered that region inside and out and Cory gave information on how healthy the Elk, Deer and Antelope herds are as well as where the best places are to find them. Spoiler Alert: Things are looking pretty darn good for those! But Cory dished out even more! He went over the outlook for success if you want...2024-10-121h 18
Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat is the Hunting Like This Year in Southwest Montana, Region 3? This Podcast has the Answers!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale traveled to the FWP Region 3 Headquarters in Bozeman and sat down with Wildlife Manager Warren Hansen and Information & Education Manager Morgan Jacobsen. They went through all the hunting opportunities in Southwest Montana. As Rigger put it; “Wow! I did not realize just how amazing Montana Region 3 really is! There is A LOT of game out there to hunt and Warren and Morgan really know their stuff!”. When you listen you will learn about how healthy the Elk, Deer and Antelope herds are and...2024-10-051h 49
Montana Outdoor PodcastExplore FWP Region 6 For the Best Hunting Opportunities for Elk, Deer, Pronghorn, Birds and More!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale continues his series about all the hunting opportunities across Montana. This week he talks with Region 6 Wildlife Manager Scott Thompson to find out where the best places are to find Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetails, Antelope, Turkeys, Pheasants, Waterfowl and more! Scott gives all kinds of detailed information about all those things and more. In fact, Rigger and Scott got into a great conversation about landowner participation in the block management program in Region 6 and boy you have to listen to the podcast...2024-09-281h 12
Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat is the Hunting going to be Like in Montana Region 5? This Podcast Has All the Answers For You!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with FWP Region 5 Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd about what the hunting opportunities will look like this year in his region. Matt and Rigger take a deep dive into Region 5 to discover which hunting districts in the region have the best hunting opportunities for Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Antelope, Waterfowl, Upland Game Birds including Pheasants and Turkeys and more! When you listen to the podcast you will find out all kinds of super useful information about animal population sizes throughout the...2024-09-211h 10
Montana Outdoor PodcastDo You Believe in Magic? We Didn’t Either. That is Until We Met Tom Kobza of TKI CNC. He Can Make Your Boat, Snowmobile, Motorcycle or Just About Anything Else….Magical!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Tom Kobza owner of TKI CNC. Ever since poor old Downrigger has talked with Tom he has been wondering around with his mouth open in a constant state of amazement. Once we got him to snap out of it for a moment his first words were “Holy sh.. that guy is amazing. Each of the things he told me about that he has invented just made me slap my head and say why couldn’t have I thought of that? I kn...2024-09-141h 03
Montana Outdoor PodcastLearn about Bowhunting in Montana and the Challenges Now and Ahead for One of Montana’s Favorite Ways to Hunt!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Ken Schultz, President of the Montana Bowhunters Association or MBA. Ken and Rigger cover a TON of ground all about bowhunting in the Big Sky Country. Things like, what all does the MBA do for Montana’s bowhunters, the advantages of being a member and what issues the sport is facing now and in the future. Another area that they cover is the incredible popularity of bowhunting in the State and why. For example, do you know how many bowhunters th...2024-09-071h 12
Montana Outdoor PodcastDo You Want to be Able to Call Bull Elk in Like a True Master? Shawn Plakke Gives Us Another Master Class!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale sits down with former hunting guide and all-around amazing archery hunter and elk caller Shawn Plakke. Some of you may recall when Shawn was on the Podcast with Rigger last year. This year he gives us even more incredible advice and instruction on archery elk hunting. Things like when to use cow calls and bull calls, how to understand what the different calls you hear mean and so much more. When you listen to the Podcast you will also hear Shawn actually...2024-08-311h 17
Montana Outdoor PodcastWant to Catch Those Big King Salmon in Fort Peck Lake? Two Montana Tackle Manufacturers Have the Inside Scoop on How to Do That!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to the owners of two different Montana fishing tackle manufacturers, Gary Rueb of Blackjaw Flies and Dr Don Sawdey of 406 Tackle Company and boy did they give some awesome information! If there was ever a time to go after those huge King Salmon in Fort Peck Reservoir now is the time to do it. According to the reports we have been hearing on the Montana Outdoor Radio Show and MontanaOutdoor.com the big ones are...2024-08-241h 39
Montana Outdoor PodcastDo You Have the Fishes of Montana App on Your Phone? What is it and How Does it Work? Learn About it and a Whole Lot More from Christopher Guy, Ph.D.Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Dr. Christopher Guy, Assistant Leader of the Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit and Affiliate Professor at Montana State University. Chris is one of the creators of the Fishes of Montana App. This is a great App that everyone who loves to fish or just wants to learn more about the fish we have in Montana should have on their phone. It truly is a wealth of information, and the best part is it is super user friendly and describes the...2024-08-1057 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastMeet Ross Tate! Ross Gives a Masterclass on How to Find & Catch One of the Hardest Fighting & Best Tasting Fish in Flathead Lake, The Lake Whitefish!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Ross Tate one of the best Lake Whitefish, aka, Lake Superior Whitefish, fisherman on Flathead Lake located in Northwest Montana. If you want to learn how to find and catch one of the hardest fighting fish in Montana, you HAVE TO listen to this week’s podcast. Ross was a wealth of information giving great advice on where to go on the lake, what to look for on your fish finder and even what rod, reel, line and lures work th...2024-08-0353 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastThe Montana Outdoor Podcast Discovers The Thompson Chain of Lakes In Northwest MontanaSend us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with FWP Fisheries Biologist Brian Stephens about an incredible chain of lakes in Northwest Montana. These lakes are stunning in appearance and cover approximately 3,000 acres and stretch over 20 miles along Highway 2, halfway between Kalispell and Libby. This includes an extensive State Park that includes shoreline access to 18 lakes including McGregor Lake, Little McGregor Lake, Lower Thompson Lake, Middle Thompson Lake, Upper Thompson Lake, Horseshoe Lake and Loon Lake. Depending on which lake you fish you will find all kinds of different...2024-07-2755 min
Montana Outdoor PodcastThe Montana Outdoor Podcast Goes in Search of the Facts About Noxon Rapids Reservoir and the Health of its Fish!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Fisheries Biologist for Region 1, Travis Rehm. They cover pretty much everything there is to know about Noxon Rapids Reservoir and the fish that call it home. Did you know just how diverse the fish population is in Noxon Rapids Reservoir and the fact that it is one of the only places west of the Continental Divide in Montana that you can catch Walleye? Not only that but you can catch as many...2024-07-061h 03
Montana Outdoor PodcastMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Fisheries Biologist Nathan Jaksha Tells Us All About Canyon Ferry Reservoir and the Fish That Live There!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast FWP Fisheries Biologist Nathan Jaksha talks with your host Downrigger Dale about Canyon Ferry Reservoir and the fish that we all love to chase after in it. Nathan is new to the Montana FWP and Canyon Ferry Reservoir. What did steps did he take to learn all about the reservoir, and will he be making big changes to how the fish are managed there? How does he feel about how healthy the fish are in Canyon Ferry Reservoir? When Downrigger asked him why the Walleye in...2024-06-2953 minMontana Outdoor PodcastThe Montana Outdoor Podcast Came Across a Real Cool Way to Live & Store Your Outdoor Toys! Just Wait Until You Hear About This!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale has a great conversation with Ryan Medlinger owner of Reliable Steel Erectors. Ryan and his amazing team of builders construct steel buildings that are taking Montana by storm! These buildings are without a doubt the hottest trend in the way to live the outdoor life in a budget friendly and incredibly comfortable way and uses your land in the most efficient way you have ever seen, and is, well, really, really cool! You may have heard of the new...2024-06-2255 minMontana Outdoor PodcastDon Wilkins, Great Fisherman, Awesome Guide, and He Teaches with Technology and Oh So Much More!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast we continued our series about learning waterways and species of fish that are new to you by hiring a fishing guide. Your host Downrigger Dale sat down with fishing guide Don Wilkins of 56 Fishing Guide Service for an amazing discussion about learning fishing techniques with fishing technology and oh so much more. Don guides on Fort Peck Reservoir and though he is fairly new to guiding he is hardly new to fishing; he’s been doing it his whole life. Rigger got to know Do...2024-06-151h 09Montana Outdoor PodcastWalleye, Smallies, Pike, Lakers and King Salmon Oh My! Learn Where to Find Them and How to Catch Them from Fishing Guide Scott Collinsworth of Fort Peck Marina!!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale and the Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show sat down with Fort Peck Fishing Guide, Scott Collinsworth. Scott and his wife Jess are also the owners of Fort Peck Marina on the incredible Fort Peck Reservoir. One of the many topics that Rigger and the Captain talked with Scott about is the idea of someone that is not familiar with such a massive lake like Fort Peck, using a Fishing Guide like Scott to learn...2024-06-081h 21Montana Outdoor PodcastThe Waterways of Western Montana! Few Know Them Better Than Neal Cote’ of Bite Me Flies and He Tells Us All About Them!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Neal Cote’ of pikewhisperer.com and Bite Me Flies. Neal is an amazing Fly Fishermen, Custom Fly Tyer and a great teacher of fishermen. Believe us, if he can teach ole Downrigger a bunch, he can teach anyone. Neal really went all out in sharing his knowledge in this podcast, from covering the rivers and streams to the hidden lakes that few go to all around Western Montana. And fly fishing is not his on...2024-06-011h 04Montana Outdoor PodcastWe Went to a Lure Manufacturer That Specializes in Catching Kokanee for Answers on How to Catch the HUGE ONES and Boy Did We Get Some Great Ideas!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talked to Bob Loomis of Mack’s Lure Company about ideas on how catch HUGE Kokanee and he hit the jackpot when it comes to information. Bob has been in the fishing business for 42 years, first manufacturing fishing rods and now at the legendary Mack’s Lure Company. They have been making incredible Kokanee, Chinook, Trout and Walleye Lures for 55 years! In fact, one of the lures, they created is likely one of THE most popular and effective lures ever...2024-05-2559 minMontana Outdoor PodcastChris from Big Sky Fishing Charters Tells Us Where the Fish are and How to Catch Them!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Chris Mischke of Big Sky Fishing Charters about learning from his fishing guides who are located all across Montana. And when we say all across Montana, we mean it! When you listen you will learn about about where and how to fish in northwest Montana in lakes like Flathead, the Thompson Chain of Lakes, the Flathead River, and list goes on and on. It does not stop in Northwest Montana though; Big Sky Fishing Charters has guides...2024-05-181h 03Montana Outdoor PodcastFisheries Biologist Heath Headley Talks About the Recent Walleye Egg Collection on Fort Peck, The Health of Montana’s Walleye Population and a Whole Lot More!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale had a great conversation with Montana FWP Fisheries Biologist Heath Headley about Walleye in Fort Peck Reservoir and beyond. If you love to fish for Walleye, want to learn about them or have just been curious about how in the heck the FWP can collect 83 million eggs from Walleye in Fort Peck then this Podcast is for you! Heath explains all kinds of things in this fascinating podcast, like what they do with all those eggs, and where all...2024-05-1158 minMontana Outdoor PodcastHUGE Kokanee Salmon! Held Over for Another Week! Due to Popular Demand!Send us a textWell, this is a new one for us! Listeners have blown up The Montana Outdoor Podcast site, so we have held last week’s podcast over for yet another week! Thanks to all of you that shared this podcast so much that we just had to keep it going so everyone can keep listening and learning from the incredible discussion that your host Downrigger Dale and the Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show had with Kit and Trevor Johnson of Kit’s Tackle Outfitters. Thin...2024-05-041h 12Montana Outdoor PodcastKit’s Tackle Outfitters Will Tell You Where the HUGE Kokanee Salmon are in Holter and Hauser Reservoirs and How to Catch Them!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale and the Captain of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show talk to Kit and Trevor Johnson about finding AND catching huge Kokanee Salmon in Holter and Hauser Reservoirs. You might recall when Rigger talked to FWP Fisheries Biologist Adam Strainer on the Podcast (click here if you want to hear that podcast from a year ago) about the mysterious disappearance and eventual return of Kokanee Salmon to Holter and Hauser, but we had no idea...2024-04-271h 12Montana Outdoor PodcastThe Wizard of the Waterways is Back With 2024 Boat Tech!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to none other than the Wizard of the Waterways, Matt Cowen, from Mon-Dak Marine. This time the Wizard is back with all new Tech for your boat. There is so much incredibly cool electronics out right now you just HAVE to listen to this Podcast! Matt covers so many fascinating ideas for boat electronics it will blow your mind. For example, have you ever struggled to follow a set contour on the bottom of the lake while watching...2024-04-2055 minMontana Outdoor PodcastHow to Find the Right Boat for You! Bretz RV & Marine Joined the Podcast with Some Ideas to Help with That!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Collin Griffiths with Bretz RV & Marine joined your host Downrigger Dale for a great discussion as we continued our series “How to Find the Right Boat for You”. Rigger and Collin covered a tremendous amount of ground, or should we say water covering all kinds of ideas and tips that will help you in your quest to find that boat you have always wanted. Collin from Bretz pointed out that this is a very important decision, not just because boats can be a very...2024-04-1352 minMontana Outdoor PodcastIf You Listen to This Week’s Podcast With Chris From Townsend Marine You’ll be able to Cut Through the Boating B.S.!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale had a great conversation with Chris McFadden, Owner of Townsend Marine. Chris is another perfect person to help Rigger continue his series on “How to Find the Right Boat for You”. When you listen to this podcast, you will hear Chris give all kinds of great advice like, make sure you learn about the people that work at the dealership before you go in. Have they been in the boating business for while? Do people you know, and trust recommend them...2024-04-061h 04Montana Outdoor PodcastHow to Find the Right Boat for You, Matt From Mon-Dak has Answers!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host, Downrigger Dale sat down with the owner of Mon-Dak Marine, Mat Cowen. You might recall last year when Matt participated in out series about “How to Find the Right Boat for You” Matt gave some incredible information that was, well, wizard like! Which is how he got the nickname, the Wizard of the Waterways. Not sure if he likes that name Rigger gave him but it kinda stuck. This year on this installment of, “How to Find the Right Boat for You”, Matt o...2024-03-301h 12Montana Outdoor PodcastHow to Find the Right Boat for You! Perhaps a Warrior Might be the One?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale starts our annual series on “How to Find the Right Boat for You!”. Last year this series was a huge hit and if this episode of the Montana Outdoor Podcast is any indication it looks like this year’s series is going to be even better! Downrigger kicked off the first instalment of the series with Kent Andersen of Warrior Boats. Warrior is a boat manufacturer located 97 miles northwest of Minneapolis in Melrose, Minnesota. Warrior makes some of the finest...2024-03-2358 minMontana Outdoor PodcastSpring Mack Days Fishing Tournament! Imagine Getting Paid for Every Lake Trout You Catch! Yes, That’s Possible! And it Can Add Up to a Whole Lot of Money!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to CSKT Fisheries Specialist, Cindy Benson and one of the top anglers in past Spring Mack Days Tournaments, Jason Mahlen. Jason has won the tournament many times! You will be blown away by how much cash Jason Mahlen as made fishing in the Mack Days tournaments. Spoiler Alert: the total amount is in the SIX FIGURES! Yeah, this tournament, which starts on March 14th and runs through May 11th, has something for everyone, f...2024-03-091h 19Montana Outdoor PodcastFrom Ice On to Ice Off and Beyond Brian Olson Helps You Find ‘em and Catch ‘em!Send us a textOne of the most popular fishing reports on the Montana Outdoor Radio Show every Saturday morning is the Brian Olson Report. Brian always has great information about fishing on Fresno and Nelson Reservoirs as well as the Milk and the Missouri Rivers. This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale caught up with Brian Olson and talked to him about ice fishing on those reservoirs, how to approach going after the fish in them as well as in the Milk and Missouri Rivers once the ice is off and...2024-03-0255 minMontana Outdoor PodcastDo You Have Questions About the Upcoming Hunting License Application Deadlines or the Changes to Hunters Ed Requirements or Other Things? This Episode has the Answers!Send us a textYeah, it is almost the start of a new license year for the Montana Outdoors. In less than a week it will be time to get a new fishing license and conservation license and then just like that the clock starts to ticking! Yeah, the deadline season is about to begin. The time of the year when you have start thinking about applying for special permits and licenses. It’s that time when parents must start planning on when their kids that have not taken hunter education will get enrolled to take it. Wh...2024-02-2458 minMontana Outdoor PodcastGlendive Montana Gets Locked and Loaded!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Andy Mansoor, CEO of Brixtel Defense along with two other key executives of the Company Jimmy Slaughter and James McCoy. Those gentlemen represent Brixtel Defense an ammunition company that is spending 125 million dollars to build an ammunition manufacturing plant in Glendive Montana! You may recall if you listened a few weeks back to the Montana Outdoor Podcast when Rigger talked to Governor Greg Gianforte about Montana’s outdoor economy, he brought up Brixtel Defense and talked about them set...2024-02-1753 minMontana Outdoor PodcastYou are About to be Guided Through the Woods Like You Have Never Been Before!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Cory Medlinger of Superior Hardwoods of Montana to find out about one of the most unique wood products companies in the world! If you are a fan of the podcast or the Montana Outdoor Radio Show you have no doubt heard Cory talk about Superior Hardwoods of Montana a company that his dad started back in 1977. Now you will learn the whole story of how this incredible company started and how it has evolved into providing folks...2024-02-1053 minMontana Outdoor PodcastAre You an Outdoors Woman? Do You Want to Become One? Do You Know Someone That Would or Should Become One? Do You Just Want to Learn a New Outdoor Skill?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale had an awesome conversation with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks’ BOW Coordinator, Kylie Kembel. Kylie told Rigger all about the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Of course, with Downrigger being a father of 9 daughters this is a program that is near and dear to his heart! If you have never heard of this program or maybe you have but have never heard about the Montana FWP’s version of it, you for sure need to listen to this podcast! And g...2024-02-0353 minMontana Outdoor PodcastJosh Parrow is Making it Happen on the Hi-Line! Hear what is going on up on Montana's Hi-Line!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host, Downrigger Dale caught up with a guy who has been VERY busy. We are talking about Josh Parrow of Havre Montana. You probably have heard Josh a time or two on the Montana Outdoor Radio Show give a report from Montana’s Hi-Line or you may have seen him out on the Walleye Circuit or maybe even out on a stretch of railroad track repairing a train engine. Yeah, the guy stays busy for sure. In fact, he and his wonderful wi...2024-01-2749 minMontana Outdoor PodcastWhat is the Long-Term Weather Forecast Going to be for Montana? Are We Ever Going to Get the Snowpack We Need?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Matthew Rosencrans in the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center. Matthew is the Climate Testbed Director in the Climate Prediction Center and knows a great deal about predicting the weather. In fact, he used to be one of the weather forecasters for the United States Airforce! Over the last few years, the National Weather Services Prediction Team has increased their average accuracy a great deal. So, on average how accurate are they? Listen now and find...2024-01-2046 minMontana Outdoor PodcastA Conversation with Montana’s Outdoor Governor, Greg Gianforte! What’s Next for Montana’s Outdoors in 2024?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host, Downrigger Dale has a conversation with Montana Governor, Greg Gianforte. Rigger and the Governor get into all kinds of topics about Montana’s great outdoors. Things like: What is the overall outlook for Montana’s Outdoors for 2024? What About Montana’s outdoor economy, which is a huge part of our overall economy, will it keep growing? Can Montana’s population continue to grow without ruining the things that has made it the best place in the world to live? You can get...2024-01-1340 minMontana Outdoor PodcastListen to the Top 5 Countdown Podcast! Find Out Which Montana Outdoor Podcast Was the Most Listened to Podcast in 2023!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Manny Clark sits in for Downrigger Dale and counts down the top five podcasts for 2023. There were 51 podcasts dropped in 2023 all of which had tons and tons of listeners. But as always, there were some that of course had more listeners than others. So which ones were the top five podcasts for all of 2023? Which one do you think was the most listened to podcast of all? Was it when Downrigger and the Captain did the podcast out on the Slayer’s bo...2024-01-061h 02Montana Outdoor PodcastFresno Dam - Montana’s Incredible Sinking Dam! How Far Has It Sank? What is the Plan to Fix it? How Dangerous is it?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Bureau of Reclamation Project Manager Steve Darlinton about the huge projects he is managing that will, among many things, fix the Fresno Dam located just about 15 miles Northwest of Havre, Montana. Fresno Dam was built in the mid 1930’s and since then it has been slowly sinking! Not something you want a dam to do! Especially when you have the towns of Havre and Chinook just downstream from the Dam. How far has it sunk and how da...2023-12-3057 minMontana Outdoor PodcastLearn All About Montana’s Elk Shoulder Seasons Do You Understand Them? Time to Clear Up the Confusion!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Brian Wakeling the Game Management Bureau Chief for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Brian knows everything there is to know about Montana’s Elk Shoulder Seasons. He and Rigger had a VERY interesting discussion about these sometimes confusing and controversial Elk Hunting Seasons. Once you listen to this you may never look at Elk Shoulders Seasons the same. In fact, there is a much better way of understanding them once you stop looking at...2023-12-1659 minMontana Outdoor PodcastWhat is Wrong with Montana’s Mule Deer?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast you host Downrigger Dale talks to the Regional Director of the Montana Mule Deer Foundation, Chris Fortune. Rigger and Chris got into a fascinating and at times alarming discussion about the decline of the Mule Deer population in Montana. They cover all kinds of reasons that are contributing to this decline like; the loss of key Mule Deer habitat, the number of CWD cases that have been hitting the population, and the growing population of the Mule Deer’s...2023-12-091h 01Montana Outdoor PodcastDepending on Who You Talk to, the Recent Court Ruling on Shortening the Wolf Trapping Season Seems to be a Bit Misguided or is it? Listen Here and See What You Think!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Ed Hebbe, Communications Director of the Montana Trappers Association about Federal Judge Donald Molloy’s order to shorten Montana’s wolf trapping season. One of the main reasons for his decision was because wolf trapping could harm or kill grizzly bears. Do wolf traps really present a danger to grizzly bears? Be sure to listen and find out! Rigger asked that question and many others to Mr. Hebbe and his answers may just surprise you! One...2023-12-021h 05Montana Outdoor PodcastCould You Survive if You Were Dropped Off Just over 200 Miles from the Arctic Circle with Only 10 Basic Items, no Food and LEFT ALONE?!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to the Season 6 winner of the History Channel’s popular TV reality series, “Alone”. You must hear Jordan Jonas’s story of how he not only survived but won the incredible challenge. You will hear how Jordan fought off starvation, loneliness, wild animals, and the brutal weather conditions of Canada’s Northwest Territories to claim his spot in outdoor survival history. How did he do it? Well, the amazing life he lived prior to being selected to compete against 9 other incredible individual...2023-11-251h 00Montana Outdoor PodcastMontana’s Upland Gamebirds! How are Their Populations Doing? Where to Find Them? Which One Tastes Better Than You Think? And a Whole Lot More!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast it is all about Montana’s Upland Game Birds. Your podcast host Downrigger Dale talks to Upland Gamebird Specialist Ken Plourde. Ken is based in FWP Region 6 and there is, for sure, a reason the word, “Specialist”, is in his job title. Ken is one of THE most knowledgeable people in the State of Montana when it comes to Upland Gamebirds. When you click here to listen to this week’s podcast you will learn all kinds of things that will for sure come in handy...2023-11-1854 minMontana Outdoor PodcastUnderstanding Montana’s Pheasants! Where is the Best Place to Find Them? What are Good Hunting Techniques? What do Their Population Numbers Look Like Now and in the Future?Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host, Downrigger Dale talks with the Montana Pheasants Forever, State Coordinator, Hunter VanDonsel about Montana’s Pheasants. Besides being the State Coordinator for Pheasants Forever, Hunter is also a biologist and knows a great deal about these amazing birds. When you click here to listen to this week’s podcast you will learn about how well the Pheasant population numbers are doing and what Montana Pheasants Forever is doing to stop their habitat from shrinking and get it back growing again. Why is thei...2023-11-1154 minMontana Outdoor PodcastBlack Butte Copper Mine, Is it Right for Montana’s Outdoors? Downrigger Asks Some Tough Questions and Gets Some Surprising Answers!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks to Nancy Schlepp, VP of Communications & Government Relations and Jerry Zieg, Senior Vice President of Black Butte Copper. Rigger had heard all kinds of rumors about this proposed copper mining project near White Sulphur Springs for years, some good and some bad, and then he got emails from listeners asking that he investigate it by going straight to the source with his podcast microphone. So that is just what he did, and boy was he surprised, so much so that he...2023-11-041h 21Montana Outdoor PodcastHunters! Do You Want More Hunting Access to Private Land? Listen to This Week’s Podcast. That Access is Closer to a Reality Than You Think.Send us a textThis week the host of The Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale talks to Ed Beall Owner of Capital Sports and Western and member of the Montana Private Land and Public Wildlife Advisory Committee (PLPW). Rigger and Ed cover a TON of topics about hunter and landowner relations. Ed has been working hard for years now to help get outdoor sportsmen and women more access to private lands across Montana and when you click here to listen to this week’s podcast you will learn th...2023-10-281h 01Montana Outdoor PodcastHow Much do You Know About Montana’s Antelope? Well, you are About to Learn a Whole Lot More!!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, your host, Downrigger Dale talks to FWP Wildlife Manger from Region 6, Scott Thompson. Scott knows a great deal about the wily Speed Goat and Rigger squeezed every bit of that knowledge out of him during this podcast, just for you hunters! So why do you suppose the Antelope populations are down across most of the state? Did you know that there is a bird that regularly hunts Antelope? What is the Antelope’s closest relative? Spoiler alert: It does not even live in North Am...2023-10-211h 04Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat is a Master Hunter? A Hunter That is Very Skilled? That is Knowledgeable? That is an Excellent Shot? You’re Getting Warm but Still Not There! Listen and Find Out!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Host Downrigger Dale talks with Sarah Tilt, Executive Director of One Montana. One Montana is the nonprofit organization that created probably one of the most unique hunter education courses in the world. When you listen to this podcast you will see what we meant by that last statement in just the first few minutes of listening. Downrigger has talked a lot on about hunting access on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, but he has never really found a guest that has cracked the code...2023-10-1457 minMontana Outdoor PodcastWhen You are out Sighting in Your Gun are You Wearing Hearing Protection? If Not, You Could be Ruining One of Your Most Important Hunting Senses!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Downrigger Dale talks to Audiologist Dr Nora Martin and Hearing Instrument Specialist Alyssa Keith, from Vibrant Hearing, about hearing protection for hunters! This is an important podcast that EVERY hunter should listen to…while you still can that is!If you want to be an effective hunter, you need to keep all your senses sharp, and one of the most important of those is your hearing. Good hearing allows you to locate game and is often one of the first se...2023-10-071h 19Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat is it Like to be a Montana Game Warden? Sargent Aaron Berg Talks About Some of His Experiences and the Challenges Wardens Face Every Day in MontanaSend us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale has a fascinating discussion with Montana Game Warden Sargent Aaron Berg. It is hard to believe but there are only about 80 game wardens out patrolling the mountains, meadows, waterways, and prairies of Montana and they have over 147,000 square miles to cover! That is A LOT of ground to cover for those few officers in the field. And they do it with no backup and often very limited communication. All the while knowing that almost everyone they encounter is armed. So...2023-09-301h 20Montana Outdoor PodcastDo You Know That Some Folks That Fish the Mack Days Tournaments on Flathead Lake Can Make 20K, 30K or Maybe More?! Listen here to Learn How to Become One of Them!Send us a textOh, the Montana Outdoor Podcast does not disappoint! This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, your host, Downrigger Dale talks to Mike Benson and Scott Bombard about Falls Mack Days going on now through November 12h on Flathead Lake. Mike and Scott shared an unbelievable amount of information with Rigger all about how to fish Fall Mack Days to get the maximum benefit. They covered it all from trolling to jigging to casting and even fly fishing for these Flathead Monsters! And they did not stop there! They even shared what...2023-09-231h 17Montana Outdoor PodcastHave Found That Bull of a Lifetime Yet? Have You Made the Perfect Plan to Find Him? No? Then This Podcast is for You!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale talks with hunting expert and guide Tayler Michels. Rigger covered a TON of great topics with Tayler that will, without a doubt get you a whole lot closer to sticking the Bull of your dreams. Tayler gives some awesome advice on planning every aspect of your next hunt, from what to pack in with you, to hunt mapping apps, to research tools, to…well you name it! Tayler has helped a lot of hunters find the right spot for that perfect animal they have be...2023-09-161h 09Montana Outdoor PodcastIs the Archery Elk Season Like a Singles Bar Scene!? This Week’s Guest on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Thinks so and He Does Have Some Real Good Reasons Why!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Host Downrigger Dale interviews archery hunting guide and elk hunting expert Shawn Plakke. Shawn explains how hunting the elk rut can be incredibly similar to guys and gals trying to pick each other up at the popular local nightclub. Yeah, it sounds a bit far fetched until you hear what Shawn has to say and then the similarities will jump out at ya and ask you to dance! Listen to this one and you will for sure see what we mean!2023-09-021h 06Montana Outdoor PodcastBig Lake – Big Fish! The Montana Outdoor Podcast Heads to Flathead Lake in Search of Knowledge About Finding & Catching Huge Lake Trout and Lake Whitefish!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Downrigger Dale and Deadeye Denny, aka, the Director of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, headed to Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana! They met up with the new owner of Howe’s Fishing and Mo Fisch Charters, and current owner of Big Sky Fishing Charters, Chris Mischke as well as an old friend of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, Matt McComb of Mo, Mo, Mo Fisch Charters. Chris and Matt took Rigger and The Director out on Chris’s 34-foot fishing boat for a day on t...2023-08-261h 16Montana Outdoor PodcastIs Your Dog in Shape and Ready for the Hunting Season? Need Tips for Training, Nutrition or Anything Else to Get Your Pup Ready? The Dog Man has Answers for You!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale talked to Jeff “The Dog Man” Smith and got some great tips for you and your hunting dog. Jeff has 40 VERY successful years of training hunting dogs under his belt and in this podcast, and he let it all come out! If you hunt with a dog, have ever thought about it or just plain love dogs, you really need to listen to this podcast! In this Podcast the Dog Man tells us how to get your “best friend” ready fo...2023-08-191h 04Montana Outdoor PodcastHave You Always Wanted to Know How to Consistently Catch King Salmon on Fort Peck Reservoir? Listen to This Week’s Podcast! Bill The Salmon Slayer Will Tell You How!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger and The Captain recorded the podcast live on Bill the Salmon Slayer Zahradka’s boat! Finally, the boys were able to not only have Bill tell all of his secrets to catching King Salmon on Fort Peck Reservoir, but he also showed them by catching some Kings while they were recording the podcast! You must listen to this podcast! It will reveal lots of great advice that will put those big kings in your boat. It doesn’t matter if you have never caug...2023-08-121h 27Montana Outdoor PodcastWater Levels are Dropping on Flathead Lake! What is the Cause? Is Someone to Blame? These and Many More Questions Get Answered!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale sits down for a frank discussion with Brian Lipscomb the CEO of Energy Keepers, the company that owns the dam on Flathead Lake. This was a VERY enlightening discussion that provided a whole lot of answers to many of our listeners questions. This is one of those Podcasts that you DO NOT WANT TO MISS!The podcast will also give you a VERY interesting history of the dam on Flathead Lake and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai...2023-08-051h 15Montana Outdoor PodcastWhat’s Going on With the Fish in Montana's Canyon Ferry Reservoir?!Send us a textHost Downrigger Dale was surprised at how big the top weight results were coming out of the recent Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival (click here to view those). So, Downrigger decided to get ahold of FWP Fisheries Biologist for Region 4, Adam Strainer and have him come on this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast. Boy, did they have a fascinating discussion! One of the first things Rigger asked Adam was if he was also surprised by the top weights of the Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival Fishing Tournament. ...2023-07-0146 minMontana Outdoor PodcastIt's Rodeo Time on This Podcast! Hear About Montana's Longest Running Rodeo!Send us a textThis week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale talks to Jeri Delys of the Drummond Rodeo. Give it a listen and see if our host Downrigger Dale can Cowboy Up! Seriously though this is a great podcast that will fill you in on the longest running rodeo in Montana! This event is so historic that the event itself was inducted into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Do you know how many years this incredible rodeo has been going on? Listen to the Podcast to find out. I...2023-06-2455 minMontana Outdoor PodcastBig Bucks with Big Fish For the Big Winners! How Did They Do It?Send us a textMatt Fischer and Ty Hinderager have been fishing in tournaments together for 15 years and have done pretty well competing together but they never had a tournament weekend like they did last week! These two entered the Crooked Creek Walleye Fishing Tournament on Fort Peck Lake in Montana and set a new record for the most weight ever caught in a two day Walleye Tournament in Montana! You aren't gonna believe what the total weight of the 10 Walleye they caught. Give the podcast and listen and find out what it was!2023-05-2748 minMontana Outdoor PodcastMontana’s Outdoors Has a Secret Admirer! Wow! They Have Been Giving Some Awesome Presents! Do You Know Who it is?Send us a textSo, who is Montana’s secret admirer? This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Downrigger Dale decided to find out. I guess you could say he was “shocked” when he found out just who it was. As Rigger put it, “I really was shocked, pardon the pun, to find out that such a big company would do something like that! Not because they had to but just because they wanted to. Mainly they just see it as the right thing to do. I suppose you are still...2023-05-201h 02Montana Outdoor PodcastMysteries Behind Montana's Dam ManagementSend us a textThe Missouri is the longest river in the United States, flowing more than 2,500 miles from its source on the eastern slope of the Rockies near Three Forks, Montana, to its confluence with the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri. What controls all that water is a series of dams and the most important of those are located in Montana. This episode of the the Montana Outdoor Podcast explores how those dams in Montana are managed, especially the granddaddy of them all, the Fort Peck Dam! When the...2023-04-2959 minMontana Outdoor PodcastThe Secret Life of Montana's Walleye!Send us a textIn this episode of the Montana Outdoor Podcast, you will learn all about Montana's Walleye fishery! Maybe we should have called this podcast "Walleye 101" or if we wanted to get a little cheeky, "Mommy Where Do Walleye Come From". But seriously this week we had Fisheries Biologist Heath Headley from FWP Region 6 in Glasgow, Montana on the show and we were able to learn all about Walleye in Fort Peck Reservoir and how Walleye are reared at the Hatcheries in Fort Peck and Miles City and placed into lakes all...2023-04-2250 min