If only every last cast was like this one … Guest Profile Chris Diamond is an excavator operator in the Tampa, Florida area. But when the “Bearded Angler” is not working the heavy equipment, he’s working the heavy fish. Snook, that is, and big ones. Chris has taken to nighttime snook fishing for the big girls in the summertime. So it’s no surprise …

Guest Profile Matt Luna joins us from sunny San Diego, California. Growing up a baseball guy, fishing wasn’t his primary focus. Yet, Matt still loved getting out with his Dad for some fishing in their local SoCal waters whenever they could. After college and competitive baseball ended, Matt got the itch for a different type of competition. Bass tou…

Smallmouth fly fishing at its finest … Guest Profile James Frakes comes to us from Montana. By way of Southern California. By way of Maine. That is, Maine is where James started fishing, and he is a registered Maine guide. For three years he worked in a fly shop and guided in that beautiful state. When the inkling to go back to school hit, an artic…

Sometimes the fish have to win … Guest Profile Don Eady is a native Floridian (an endangered species!), though he has not spent all of his time there. Don’s Army career took him away from his home town of Orlando to places far and wide. But it did not take him away from fishing. Whether it was trout fishing in Germany or bass fishing on the Potomac…

Sometimes combat in close quarters can’t be avoided … Guest Profile Taylor Martin is a boatswain’s mate in the U.S. Navy. Growing up fishing in Florida, it’s no wonder that he loves to be on the water. Taylor was no stranger to redfish, trout, and bonefish from his early Florida days. However, it was on his first assignment in Hawaii where he reall…

This is why we do it … Guest Profile Tell Tale Fisherman® podcast host John Woodson took a break from working and interviewing this week to do one thing – FISH! In this episode, we recap the trip, species landed, and ask your opinion on some potential features we are thinking about for future episodes. Enjoy this short episode recapping my favorite…

This is not your ordinary fishing trip … Guest Profile Another first for the show – interviewing the host of another fishing podcast. Dave Stewart joins us from the Wet Fly Swing fly fishing podcast. Before he picked up the mic, Dave was a life long fly fisherman. His father was a fly fishing guide, so you might say it was ingrained in his DNA. Dav…

If you love something this much, you can’t fail at it … Guest Profile Kyle Jenkins serves in the Coast Guard and is no stranger to the water. His love for fishing began at an early age. While being in the Coast Guard took him away from fishing for a time, he came back to it with a vengance. So much so that he spent two years fishing the Bassmaster …

Just put it on the dinner plate … Guest Profile Sam Sirgo is a petroleum engineer from Texas. When he is not dealing with black gold, he is chasing red gold – redfish, that is. Not to mention all the freshwater fish Texas has to offer. Sam also loves to travel with his trusty fly rod and try new places to fish. He has been to spots all over South A…

Better hold your breath for this one … Guest Profile At long last, Justin Tantog checks off two big boxes for us on the show. He’s from Hawaii (Oahu, to be precise), and he is sharing an epic spearfishing story! As a local, Justin has an incredible insight into the kinds of fishing they do on the island, not to mention all the awesome fish they cat…

Knock knock, who’s there … ? Guest Profile Garrett Gincley comes to us by way of Pennsylvania. A seasoned bass angler on the boat and kayak, it is the kayak that Garrett gravitates to on most outings. So much so that Garrett has taken to the kayak bass fishing trail series. In this episode, Garrett shares his epic day in a KBF event in West Virgini…

Don’t underestimate this fishery, or angler … Guest Profile Jake Doyon is our first guest from the great state of Massachusetts. To be honest, I didn’t know that much about fishing in the Northeast before talking with Jake. But now I do. The amount of species, and the places and ways they have to catch them is impressive. And so too is Jake. His kn…

You could not script it any better … Guest Profile So what would you ask Kevin VanDam if you got the chance? Well, if you host a fishing podcast about people’s most epic day of fishing ever, that question is a no-brainer. Are you ready for the most epic day of tournament fishing ever from the greatest bass tournament fishing angler of all time? We’…

From Kalamazoo to King of the Lake … Guest Profile Kevin VanDam. His bio says that “in the world of professional bass fishing, Kevin VanDam is at the pinnacle and arguably the best in the world.” Well, you’ll get no argument from me. Four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion. Seven-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year. All-time money winner on the Bassma…

This is how you make your last shot count! Guest Profile Joseph Davies is a man of many places. Grew up in Wisconsin, lived in New Zealand, and most recently Utah. But he has wandered to many other fishing holes with his trusty fly rod. Most recently, the fishing hole was in Costa Rica. While a seasoned vet with a 5 wt., a 12 wt. was an entirely ne…

Mississippi Moonlight Sleigh Ride Guest Profile Colin McCain is our first guest from the great state of Mississippi. While “the state kids love to spell” has some great offshore fishing, it’s the inshore critters that keep Colin occupied. Colin chases redfish and spotted sea trout from his favorite fishing platform, his kayak. A seasoned kayak angl…

Always on a mission … Guest Profile Quinn Hollingsworth comes to us from the great state of Georgia. But he comes there by way of Central Florida. Quinn grew up fishing in my neck of the woods for seatrout and redfish in the Mosquito Lagoon. What brings him to Georgia, you ask? Well, Quinn happens to be an Army Ranger out of the 1st Ranger Battalio…

“It’s a tricky game with those guys …” Guest Profile Zach Drazner is a fly fishing guide that hails from parts all over, and has done some serious fishing in all of them. Idaho, Wyoming, Texas, you name it and he has probably fished there (or close to it). His prime target? Carp. Zach is a carp fly fishing expert, and has a ton of experience at it …

Queen of the Lake Guest Profile FLW Costa Series co-angler Rachel Uribe joins us for our 50th episode. Growing up taking family trout fishing trips, Rachel not only developed a love for fishing. She and her brother Joe (also an FLW Costa series pro) learned the sport together. Now the duo travels and practices for tournaments together. You might sa…

Alright, now we really are leaving … Guest Profile Joe Horvath currently hails from Las Vegas, Nevada. But that was not always the case. Joe is a Seattle guy, and grew up fishing the Puget Sound for salmon and dungeness crabs. After work took him to a totally new climate, he had to learn a totally new way to fish. Now he is dialed in on the smallmo…

Let’s make it rain! Guest Profile Joe Rosier is an attorney during the week, and a bait slinger every weekend he gets a chance. You see, Joe gets to fish in the Tampa Bay estuary, where bait abounds. And so do discriminating snook and redfish who love their sardines. Like many who fish those waters, live bait chumming is Joe’s favorite way to catch…

“We were like little pirates out there …” Guest Profile Pat Patterson is a tattoo artist in South Florida. But on his days off he loves to (you guessed it) fish. And boy does he have some great places to fish. These include the Lake Ida system for peacock bass and clown knife fish, and the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge for largemouth bass. But let’s …

“It’s not your typical Bass Tracker by any means …” Guest Profile Mike Hale is our first guest from the Peach State – Georgia. Besides having that great distinction, Mike’s preferred fishing vessel also sets him apart. You see, Mike has gone full throttle into personal watercraft fishing. After a rough day fighting the current in his kayak, Mike th…

“I’m stripping it, stripping it, then BAM!” Guest Profile Chris O’Keefe is a fly fisherman from Boulder, Colorado. At the feet of the Rockies, Chris is in the perfect location to branch out for some alpine trout fishing. Of all the trout species he gets to pursue, it is the Colorado greenback cutthroat he loves the most. A species thought to be ext…

Let’s just see if there is anything under that dock … Guest Profile Ant Peak is an avid bass angler, soldier, and he grew up in the same home town as host John Woodson. It’s hard to believe things could get much more awesome than that. But they do! You see, Ant got to meet one of his heroes—Ronnie Green, host of A Fishing Story TV show. Then Ronnie…

Fishing, it’s what I do … Guest Profile You just never know who you are going to meet at the boat ramp. If you are in Nevada bass fishing, you just might happen upon Silver Rogers. If that name does not ring a bell, maybe Black Silver or Black Ice do? You see, Silver is a retired rap artist who has toured all over with such artists as Ice T, Foo fi…

Big Bass Bonus In this special bonus episode, FLW Tour Pro Cody Kelley shares two epic big bass stories with us. The first is of his personal best largemouth bass. The second is of his personal best Arkansas River largemouth bass. Cody has a video of himself catching the Arkansas River bass, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

Hey, mind if I take a turn? Guest Profile Our guest this week is FLW Tour Pro Cody Kelley from Conway, Arkansas. An Arkansas native, Cody grew up looking for the next best way to catch more Arkansas bucketmouths. Sometimes that meant studying fishing books from family friends or watching fishing shows. The rest of the time it meant having Mom, Dad,…

Happy wife, happy fishing trip … Guest Profile Mark Dunnam is a police officer in the Tampa, Florida area. When he is not protecting and serving, he is casting and catching in the awesome Tampa Bay fishery. While snook, redfish, and trout are the quarry, it’s the company Mark keeps that is equally as important to him. As it turns out, Mark is one l…

I wonder why the boat ramp is empty? Guest Profile Dustin Murray is a National Guard recruiter who hails from the oldest city in the U.S., St. Augustine. With a rich history, numerous attractions, and beautiful beaches, it is a popular destination for many folks. However, to the avid angler it’s the fishing that’s the big draw. Dustin is all about …

So what do peacocks, clowns, and fishing have in common? Guest Profile Captain Kevin Cannon from Peacock Bass Adventures grew up in Delaware, but decided it was a fisherman’s life he wanted to lead. So he headed south, all the way to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. It was there that he became an offshore fishing captain and learned to catch all of …

Did you bring the gaff? Guest Profile This week Jackson Kennedy joins us from Blythe, California. Jackson is working towards becoming a Federal wildlife officer. He knows and loves the California outdoors well, and is keen to help conserve it. But it should be no surprise that his favorite thing about getting out is getting bit. Jackson is an avid …

Bluefin tuna fishing to the extreme … Guest Profile When it comes to fishing, Justin Lerner gets around. Having grown up in New Jersey, he headed south to the University of Miami where he got to catch and study swordfish. Plus he worked with the Fish and Wildlife Commission where he got further acquainted with all the Florida fish species. Toss in …

It’s about so much more than catching fish … Guest Profile For our Christmas episode, we could not think of any better guest than Jeffrey James from Wisconsin. Pastor. Director of a boys and girls club. And youth mentor. Jeff embodies everything that this season is about. But what makes his work even more special is how he incorporates his passion …

Sometimes mosquito + red is a good thing … Guest Profile Captain Jonathan Moss is the owner and operator of Go Castaway Fishing Charters in Central Florida. Light tackle saltwater fishing for Mosquito Lagoon redfish is his specialty. Capt. Jonathan grew up in Orlando and on the “Space Coast” of Florida. He has always loved saltwater and freshwater …

The view is always better from the top … Guest Profile Hector Quintero works in logistics for an import/export business in McAllen, Texas. But when he is not delivering the goods, he’s chasing the fish. Redfish, that is. You see, Hector’s home water is the Laguna Madre. It’s flats boat heaven, and an awesome inshore fishery for trout and redfish. I…

I love it when the fish come together … Guest Profile Mike McCoy is a professional bass fisherman on the FLW Tour. He grew up in Florida where his passion for bass fishing began at the local golf course ponds. Mike took a bit of a hiatus from fishing while serving in the Marine Corps. However, he now takes the perseverance, focus, and intensity of …

Another legend bows to the king … Guest Profile Don Freschi is the host of the popular television show Sport Fishing on the Fly. A British Columbia, Canada native, Don grew up fishing his home waters with his Dad for salmon and trout. But Don encountered something at the age of 13 that changed his life forever. A fly rod. The first time he saw some…

Friends, fishing, and the Last Frontier… Guest Profile Logan Carlson is a charter boat captain in Ketchikan, Alaska. And a student in dental school in Idaho. Confused? No need to be. Come summertime, Logan heeds the call of the wild and heads to the Last Frontier. You’ll find him guiding folks on the trip of a lifetime for halibut and salmon, to na…

If at first you don’t succeed … Guest Profile Ryan Spuhler is an archivist for a county government in Pennsylvania. Ryan loves to fish the rivers and lakes of Pennsylvania for large and smallmouth bass. As a records keeper, Ryan is always in search of the elusive 20″+ largemouth bass. These are hard to come by in his parts in their heavily fished w…

You might want to take a look at what’s behind you … Guest Profile Mark Naumovitz is a busy guy. Paramedic, realtor, and owner of ReelsAndTackle.com, an online tackle store. Not to mention that he writes for fishing magazines and has been a guest lecturer at many fishing events. And somehow he finds a little time to fish. His favorite fishing vesse…

Fishing is more than life, it’s a lifeline … Guest Profile Our special guest this week is Rachel Vickers. “Early onset, invasive, aggressive, metastatic, stage 3 breast cancer.” Most of us could barely say that mouthful, much less comprehend the impact of that diagnosis. But Rachel got that diagnosis, and at the age of just 30. She went from just h…

Now that’s not what I was expecting … Guest Profile Dan Butler is a Florida transplant that comes to the Sunshine State by way of Iowa and Texas. In Texas, Dan grew up fishing both fresh and salt water. In Iowa where Dan went to college, he took his love for fishing to a new level. He helped start the St. Ambrose University fishing team. Over the n…

Talk about a photo finish … Guest Profile Michel Cardoso is our first guest from Sweeden. He and his professional fishing team, the South End Anglers, have racked up some amazing catches. But Michel’s rise to tournament angler was not a direct one, as he did not come from a family that fished. But after going with friends a time or two, he definite…

If at first you don’t succeed … Guest Profile Pamela Wirth is our first female angler on the Tell Tale Fisherman Podcast. And we could not have picked a better one to start. Mother, mortgage banker, and now extreme kayak fisher. Pam took up kayak angling to help relieve stress from the daily grind. Now she is on the pro staff for several fishing eq…

The best games are the ones that go into extra innings … Guest Profile Captain Adam Lambert is a South Florida native who has taken up residence in Tampa, Florida. With all of the many saltwater species he caught growing up, it is the one he did not that eventually caught him – redfish. Now Captain Adam spends his days taking clients out in Tampa B…

The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat, at the same time … Guest Profile Colby Elsass is a Crystal River, Florida native. And a third generation native at that. The Elsass family is a staple of the Crystal River fishing community. His grandfather founded the landmark Knox Baithouse, and played fishing guide to legendary baseball player Babe…

How many marlin can you hook at once? Let’s find out … Guest Profile Zach Vann is living the dream. From the time he was a child, he just wanted to go offshore fishing. So much so that he begged his dad to take him down to the docks just so they could see the fish that were caught. When Zach graduated high school, he moved to one of the most epic o…

Just when you thought you caught the big one … Guest Profile Rico Cruz is a Michigan guy who now resides in Florida. From the first fish he caught at a summer camp when he was 10 years old, Rico was hooked on bass fishing, and is now working his way through the professional ranks. A member of the Florida Bass Nation circuit, Rico has fished tournam…

A legendary encounter with an old man of the sea … Guest Profile Greg Poland is a charter captain out of Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Many consider this to be the “fishing capital of the world.” So, it goes without saying that Greg has logged some incredible days on the water. But of all his amazing adventures at sea, one stands alone. Greg once…