Favorite Musky TV Show

[DOHKAY]

With all the different shows that feature musky fishing these days, I thought i'd be interesting to hear everyone's opinion on what show is the best. Here is my brake-down:

Musky Hunter- Good show, informative, decent camera shots and they film in a wide variety of locations. But I do get sick of Saric just jumping in the boat with a different guide each week (many of whom are really obnoxious, especially if they are from Illinois) and throwing either DCG, Top Raiders or Bull Dogs. Kind of the same show over and over in a different location IMO. And whenever there is a show when they are trolling, I can't watch.

Joe Bucher- I liked this show much more when he fished Wisconsin muskies. Granted they were all of the high 30 to low 40 inch variety, but those lakes looked awesome and he was typically fishing high pressured fish. Now all he does is fish LOTW with Petros. I don't have anything against Petros, but every show is now the exact same thing. Lets watch these two guys throwing Bucher's version of a DCG or a Top Raider at rocky shorelines and hooking a couple nice muskies per episode. Camera work is pretty poor also. Quickly becoming my least favorite.

Keyes Outdoors- These guys are fun to watch, Mike goes nuts every time a muskie hits the net, so you have to like that. They fish some pretty cool spots, and whenever Hamernick is in the boat, there's bound to be a pig caught. The tournament episodes get boring though, I could do without them. They don't get to informative on the how's and why's, but they do throw a variety of baits and seem like pretty cool guys. They do a decent job with the camera also.

Simply Fishing- Can't find it with a search light these days, but I did catch an episode on ESPN 2

when he was smallie fishing, zzzz... The only thing worse than watching Mehsikomer bass fish is watching Mehsikomer yelling at his net man. Bad camera work, zero amount of useful information given. And pretty much only fishes Canadian waters with top water baits. He has some good moments when they catch a top water tike on film, but aside from that, below average show for me.

Pete Maina's Show- Seen it once, so can't really comment. It's just hardly ever on at good times.

Hunt For Big Fish- Larry Dahlberg has had some unreal episodes of muskie fishing. Just last week, I'm sure some of you saw, he was boating muskies without using any hooks. Just a harness on a sucker. He is very informative, good camera work, catches big fish in metro waters, just wish he'd do a little more muskie fishing instead of all the South American river fishing.

Lindners Angling Edge- When these guys muskie fish, it's the best show out there. They have dominated the field with exceptional camera work. They use every bait imaginable, and very insightful. You can actually learn stuff watching these guys. They fish in a wide variety of locations, including small rivers, local lakes, and Canadian shield lakes. Tell you all the how's and why's. And seem like really cool guys to fish with. You can tell that Jim Lindner loves to musky fish, I wish Al would sling for muskies more often though. By far my favorite of the shows listed is this one.

In conclusion I would have to rank these shows in order:

1-Lindners

2-Keyes

3-Musky Hunter

4-Hunt for Big Fish

5-Bucher

6-Simply Fishing

7-Pete Maina's show (could be higher, just never able to watch it)

I'm probably forgetting a couple shows, maybe one of you can add to my list. What do you think?

[RK]

Hiya -

A co-worker and I were just talking about this the other day. He doesn't fish muskies but loves watching muskie shows on TV.

Me personally... I've been on several shows over the years (want to ruin a perfectly good fishing trip in every way possible? Bring a TV camera...), know pretty much everyone on your list personally, have been friends with some of them for a couple decades... and I cannot stand watching muskie fishing on TV. I can take it for about 15 seconds. I watch Larry's show when he's off doing something weird (anyone see the episode a little while back when his guide got flattened by an electric eel! Wow...), and I can watch the Lindner's shows once in a while just to admire their camera work. (Part of my issue with some of the others is that their camera and audio quality is so dreadful). But other than that...

If I watch fishing shows, it's saltwater stuff because it's something I don't do much and some of the stuff they do is pretty fascinating.

But muskie fishing on TV... It's like sex vs. pornography. I'd rather do it than look at it

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[tgruenke]

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You can see a lot of outdoor shows. Since I have just started fishing for musky I have watched a few Angling Edge episodes and The Next Bite. Both have given great tips on were and how to catch muskies.

[kustmoboy]

That electric eel thing was crazy on Hunt for Big Fish. You knew that wasn't going to end well.

[brad coin]

I like watching Bill Dance because it makes me feel smart,,,knowing that the Bass guys actually 'think' the bloopers are real

[DOHKAY]

Ha! That Bill Dance blooper real is the dumbest thing ever. It's funny how staged it is. The rubber snake out of the tree is insultingly bad. Some of them like when he crushes his knee into the hitch aren't bad, but come on...

RK-

Some of those river fishing episodes with Larry are cool. Something I'd like to do someday. But I can't agree with your saltwater take. Bone fishing/Red fishing looks fun, but other than that, no thanks.

[cbrooks]

I really like the "Next Bite" whenever I'm able to catch it, that show times are in a bad spot. Keyes is cool and so is Dahlbergs show but I can't watch "musky hunter" anymore.

[Musky Buck]

Original poster you have the list to perfection and for the reasons you stated. I get a big kick out of James Lindner. Yeah, how'd ya like to be Bob's netman, and no doubt about a season full of LOTW with Buch and Spency.

[scsavre]

I like the list as well. You have to add in the show with Joe Gillespi, he usually has Pete Mania with him on musky trips. It is hilarious the first couple times you watch it, gets reall annoying after that though. The guy cant stop yelling and touching the people in the boat. But dont forget all the times he crams a Johnsville Brat down his throat. By the way Pete Mainia is a boat Hippie, the stuff he wears out there is pretty funny.

Linders are the best. Best camers, audio narration, everything. And they teach people stuff. I like their Smallie episodes though. That is what gets me excited to fish.

[Musky Buck]

Is it Joe or John Savre ? Gillespi that is. You are right, Pete and his flailing hair, but he don't look right wearing a hat. Gillespi is almost as shaky a net man as James, just ask Texaroo meaning Pete's dad. I think James and his boat control I hit best water first you mop up maybe he doesn't get a lot of netting practice. jk There's the badfish outdoor crew that I think do some musky action shows. Aaron Johnson outdoors dabbles a bit on Charter with the musky. Seems fairly rare to see a show that's done in the heat of the summer, if it is it seems to be an after dark, a lot of them I think come after labor day to ice up as kids are back in school, lakes are quieter, pressure is lower, cabins getting boared up, geese opens,bow soon after, etc. because they'll say heavily pressured waters, but don't see hardly anyone out or it's edited.

[scsavre]

Dads John, uncles Joe, Savre that is. As far as Gillespi, its one of those names. Gotta love that hat and the socks pulled up to his knees with shorts on. I dont believe id be able to pull off such a thing.

Ah, geese opener, and duck. Gotta love it. Shoot a few in the morning, then muskie fish all day. Gotta love listening to all the ducks laughing at you while you cast. Ooopps off topic.

[JimBuck]

Larry Dahlberg I find to be the most educational. I like his attention to detail and ability to adjust his approach to just about anything that swims. I love his atypical techniques like fishing suckers on just a harness and no hooks. He's the one I'd be most envious of just due to the fact that he travels all over the globe chasing big fish. Even if he is fishing Peacocks in the amazon, there are still things that can be applied all across the board on many different species.

The Keyes Outdoors Guys are also high on my list but for different reasons. I like there enthusiasm for fishing muskie and enjoy the fact that they do most of their own filming. I also like that they have episodes of just tough fishing. I find it more interesting to watch shows where guys occasionally struggle to put fish in the net instead of boating fish every episode. It's easier to relate as a viewer.

Angling Edge is another dandy although Al's not much of a muskie nut. The camera work along with the info. is quite well done.

John Gillespi needs a cage installed on his boat to fish from and just be periodically fed johnsonville brats,beer and cigs. I'll admit, he's pretty entertaining, especially when he gets under peoples skin or creates those awkward moments on camera.

[MikeEiden]

I'm more into informative musky shows/videos than just action so I tend to gravitate towards those more so. I like Musky Hunter for the fact they pick a topic and try and cover the best they can throughout the day. Ya it gets annoying at times with the repation.

I don't get TNB but watch all the previous episodes on their HSOforum. That show in general does a really good job at covering all the "How to's" of that particular trip. Pete explains things well and he and his guests are pretty entertaining.

Keyes outdoors feels 'closer to home' for me. Maybe its the rough camera shots or how they act but reminds me of some people I fish with and brings back memories.

Lindners have always done a good job about covering a topic and applying. Good shows and applaud the great messages at the end of the show.

I used to watch Bob M. when I was younger but over the years I just don't care for the sound of his voice. He's tries to hard to be a salesman and how he treats some of his guests really turned me off. Sorry but JMHO.

Bucher is alright but I have a hard time watching 25 minutes of smallies to get to the few minutes of muskies. And as most stated its been mostly him and Spence up on LOTW. Nothing against either of them. Both are great fisherman.

John G... well its all been said. As for getting under peoples skin did anyone catch the muskie episode up on Eagle lake with Steve H? John lost a fish on the 8 and actually asked if Steve was mad at him for loosing that fish.... Steve just sat stewing up front.. funny stuff.

[DeBo101]

None of the muskie shows have really stood out for me this year. Herbie's big figure 8 fish on musky hunter was the best footage on that show for the year. I haven't had VS until recently (DirectTv) and the next bite continues to be a least favorite show of mine. Anybody else think the camera work is frantic and annoying to watch? Reminds me of cloverfield for musky fishing.

The lindners always put out a quality product. I still enjoy the infish segments for most everything. The musky segments usually have Doug J or Gord Pyzer so ya gotta like that. Hunt for Big Fish is awesome all the time I think. Lots of cool exotic locations and when larry is fishing nearby waters we usually get to see some exceptional fish.

This year the best musky segments were from totally unexpected shows. Butch Furtmans show captured some pretty cool footage from cliff lake. Walleyes and trout getting eaten by skis. Neat stuff.

Top honors goes to Back Roads with daniel lee martin. I happened to catch the episode last year from crow lake in ontario. Had some good footage with ronnestrand. This year they had a two parter with some PHENOMINAL figure 8 footage boatside. If you guys can find it I suggest you watch. Crystal clear water and sunshine makes for some great shots. Makes me wonder why anyone would even consider shooting musky show at night.

[brad coin]

Keyes is a good show,,but they need to quit naming lakes/locations their on ,,weve seen the pressure increase on a certain body because of this

[50inchpig]

brad, what lake is that?

kidding - i agree with ya, funny they never name the lake when they fish with hoppe though.....

[cjac]

Keyes even showed a map of 'tonka and the neckdown area they were fishing on the Upper West Lake a couple years ago..... not cool.

I miss Virgil Ward's show, the guy invented the Beetle Spin, what a pioneer.

[RK]

I miss Virgil Ward's show, the guy invented the Beetle Spin, what a pioneer.

"Remember - they always hit on the fall..."

Man, the "World of Virgil Ward" theme song is so stuck n my head right now...

Beetle spins still work too

[cjac]

Originally Posted By: cjac

I miss Virgil Ward's show, the guy invented the Beetle Spin, what a pioneer.

Beetle spins still work too

Dude, shush up and keep whistlin' that theme song....."From the lakes of northern Canada, to the Gulf of Mexico, Wherever fish are biting...."

Beetle Spins are my go-to "kid" lure, as kids always want to cast like the big guys. I like to put a Beetle Spin tipped with an inch of crawler on for my young nephews and nieces to throw off the dock. Always a hit! Plus, only one light hook if things go amiss....More species caught than I can name.....

For the adult crowd, with the fast-approaching open water season, a Beetle Spin is my favorite on my little 6' Avid 'L' action rod with a Mitchell 310 Gold series rod and 4lb mono.

Fun stuff, sorry to digress in the muskie forum, but I've got the open water itch!

[DOHKAY]

I hear all the concerns about certain lakes getting exposed by TV shows. But a bigger problem is guides taking clients to a hot lake, and in-turn those clients revisiting the lake with a buddy or two. It snowballs from there. There's one lake in particular, that I won't mention, that is experiencing this right now. Within a couple years it will be as well known as Miltona. But lets face it, there is zero way to avoid a "secret lake" getting exposed. Too many musky fishermen, not enough lakes. That's a whole other issue... I'm not blaming the guides, it's there job to put clients on fish. I guess my point is that I woulnd't complain about Keyes displaying an area of Tonka that they are focusing on because there are probably 100+ different guys that already know about it.

[scsavre]

Yah, I am OK with Keyes giving a few lakes names. Seems like they do it the most when they are in Wisconsin anyway. In MN they just say central MN etc. Usually they are on lakes that we all know about also.

Dohkay, I hear you about the traveling guide thing. That topic has been beaten around pretty good already elsewhere though.

[DOHKAY]

I think you have a pretty good idea what lake I'm talking about also. All the big name guides have been out there the past year or two, so you can only imagine the public launch filling to capacity with musky guys sooner than later.

[scsavre]

Yah that launch is going to be full no matter what is going out there. Really not much a guy can do about all the traveling guides hitting it. Its all part of the game. Id rather it be locals hitting the water instead of these guys traveling up with their guides. But again nothing I can do about it. The lake has taken a beating, and the fishing has fallen off now too. The cycle continues. I dont struggle to find fish. I am just finding a lot of fish that dont have the same health as what they used to.

I think this year will be the busiest and then people will realize they missed the bite. Then move on...

I will be up there right at ice out with my musky net scooping up all the trash i can find in the water. I wonder if those traveling guides will.....

Ah well, do what you can. I know I will/.

[cbrooks]

Thats to bad to hear a lake that gets pounded that bad. I guess I know a couple lakes that have been fished pretty hard by traveling guides.

[SJMyers32]

Hey Sarve your one guy I havent met who is a musky nut in the area I live. I see your posts on here all the time! Hit me up [email protected] Ive met some great guys from these forums, and when you come up Ill help you pick up trash! Would be fun to go out one night and beat up the fish!