The Muskie Hunks Podcast

E89 - BAM BAM Muskies with Brady Martz

This week the Hunks are joined by a very, very special guest Brady Martz, owner of Bam Bam Bait Co. and accomplished local angler! We get a deep dive into Brady’s background, how he got started both fishing and making baits. The guys talk fishing, hunting, but no football, definitely no football. Brady gives us the lowdown on his bait, as well as what folks can expect to see at both the NY Musky Expo and Muskie Max, where Brady will have booths. Give it a listen and give Brady a follow!

E88 - Tournament Talk, Recent Fish Stories, ”Blackstone’d” Sausages, Legendary Folding Tables and a Broken Musky Curse

After another two week hiatus, the hunks are back to discuss fishing in the MI Chapter 69 BIG Baller tournament, the MI Three Rivers Chapter 16 Lake Arthur tournament, Donnie's Lil Muskies Jacket and his recent iPhone sacrifice to Pymie Muskies , Nate's chaotic recent excursion with Net Boy, and a wide variety of tangents and laughs all the way through. Nick still has not been fishing in case you were wondering. 

E87 - A Very Hunky Season Update

Hunks Roundtable - This week the Hunks are on their own, which as you can expect takes some twists and turns and tangents galore! We talk a little season update for those that have been fishing, including Ryan putting the hammer down recently aboard the Nauti Girl, including getting his beautiful wife Dee her fish Muskie! The talk delves into how parenthood changes your fishing habits, and life in general, and how to try to keep things in perspective during the tough years with young kids.

E86 - Chasing Cabbage Dragons with Kyle Friedges

After missing a week, the Hunks are back with a special guest, Kyle Friedges, who moonlights as Cabbage Dragon Media on the YouTube machine. We have a great discussion that covers all topics, from Kyle’s roots in Minnesota, his experiences fishing with his grandfather on the Canadian Shield, particular his connection to Eagle Lake. We hear about how he got started with the YouTube channel, how it has grown “organically” and how the video aspect of things can sometimes take the fun out of fishing. Hear about his destination trips to Eagle and LOTW, handling heartbreak on the water with your boat partner, and also his experiences at the past 2 Musky Battles. Also, hear about how Busch Light Peach has become the Beer of 10,000 casts on Kyle’s boat! Give it a listen!”

E85 - Westside Connection - Tigers n’at

This week the Hunks are joined by return guest/friend of the pod, Ryan Elizondo, as well as his fiancée Lynn Hotchkiss and their good friend Nick Granato. Ryan and Lynn talk about how they met and how Lynn has proven herself as a strong and confident Muskie angler in recent years, and the positive influence that strong female anglers can have in the industry. Nick Granato tells us about the state of the Tiger Muskie fishery out in Utah, where he fishes out of the Salt Lake City area. Nick talks about the stocking program, how the DNR decides where to stock them, and we talk about some of the basic biological, ecological and recreational reasonings behind stocking tiger Muskies in western lakes and reservoirs. Ryan, Lynn and Nick then tell us about their Muskies Inc Chapter tournament, which was held on Nick’s home waters in Utah, and the *3 Muskieteers* took home a big win. As always, there are many random spin-off discussions that you won’t want to miss!

E84 - Squatchin’ with Bigfoot Baits

This week a couple of the Hunks sit down with Ethan Greathouse, an exciting young bait-maker from the wilds of West Virginia. Hear his story; from how he got started fishing, to building Muskie baits, to the Hunks exposing a little secret of his during the interview! We had fun and it’s nice to see that the future of musky bait-making is in good hands!

E83 - A Three Hour Tour with Matt Gunkel and LLUNGEN LURES

In this episode we take the "Three Hour Tour" with Matt Gunkel and THE LLUNGEN LURES. We spend some time getting to know Matt better, the history of LLUNGEN LURES and we get into some really awesome discussions about baits, tactics , boats , musky trips and so much more. Donnie does give away the top secret fish catching bait in Ohio while Nick, Ryan and Owen all place LLUNGEN orders right afterwards. This was a really fun and informative episode talking to a really awesome human in Matt Gunkel. If you guys haven't yet, check out LLUNGEN LURES! 

https://www.llungenlures.com/

E82 - A Very Hunky Nip Trip Recap

In this episode, Owen, Nick and Donnie recap the hunks recent week long Lake Nipissing fishing trip. Hear the epic tale of Owen feeding the wildlife meatballs, the man named Lou, Kellen taking a 7/0 hook to the hand, hunks catching a few muskies and then a 50 minute argument on what a successful trip means to us. 

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E81 - Tales of Lake St. Clair, Nate Buds Nip Trip and Owen Joins TEAM TRACKER

In this episode, Ryan awakens from hibernation and tells tales from aboard Leo's Ranger from a recent trip to Lake St. Clair. Nate Bud gets called up from the miners and recaps his family Lake Nipissing outing with Big Dave and company. Finally Owen outlines how to acquire assets that are not liabilities and eventually talks about joining team tracker. Congratulations Owen on buying a new boat!!!! We end the discussion on trying to determine the greatest musky lure of all time , discussing yinzers versus yunzers, all while staying out of Na-Na's Yucca Plants.

E80 - Lake Nipissing Trip Prep Big Hunky Style

In this episode Owen runs the show with Donnie, Nick, Nate Bud and special guest Kellen Campbell. This episode is dedicated to planning for the annual Nip trip. The boys talk gear prep, bait selection, tell recent and old stories and more. Lake Nipissing is land of giants, and this episode gives you perspective on how average weekend warriors plan to put muskies in the bag. 

E79 - Breaking Dahn the Canadian Shield with Glenn McDonald and 54 or Bust

Returning Guest, Glenn McDonald of 54 or Bust joins the Hunks to pick up where they left off during their last conversation, namely the Canadian Shield and tips and tactics for anyone making a trip up north.

https://www.facebook.com/54orbust

https://www.youtube.com/@54orbust

https://www.instagram.com/54orbust/

 

E78 - Ted Lasso-ing Muskies with George ”McMusky” McGrady

This week the hunks are joined by a local legend in the making, George McGrady.  We get the lowdown on how he got started, some tournament talk, preferred baits and fishing styles, and we hear the story of his George unintentionally kick-started both Owen’s and Tom’s bait making careers, which includes a great first impression of Owen. George is someone that allot of guys here in PA lookup too, super chill, super cool and one hell of a Musky fisherman!

E77 - Muskies on Tap in a Frosty Muskie Hunks Mug

Hunks and Muskies On Tap - In this episode the boys from the "Muskies on Tap" podcast drop by to tell us a little bit about their new podcast, fishing the PMTT, living the young guide life and more. Gus, Max and Brian are three muskie addicted young sticks that bring allot to the podcast table. For anyone that hasn't listened to the Muskies on Tap Podcast, check these guys out, they are allot of fun and very informative!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/muskies-on-tap/id1686314916

https://www.instagram.com/muskiesontap/

 

E76 - Breaking Down Barriers with Muskie Queen Katia Rivers, President Chapter 69, Muskies Inc.

In this episode we have the pleasure of talking to the two time Muskies Inc Women's division champion, the President of New York's Chapter 69 Muskies Inc., the Muskie Queen of the northeast, the Salmon Slayer, Katia Rivers. Katia gives us a few project updates from Chapter 69, we talk current and future fishing trips and some news about the New York Muskie Expo. Katia is super passionate about Muskies, Muskie Fishing and working with anglers in the great state of New York to support the stocking, the fishery and all things Muskie. This was truly a pleasure for us to hang out and talk Muskies with Katia. Katia, thanks for everything, you rock! 

E75 - Dusting Off the Podcast Gear with Andy Zomcik

Tales Of Sketchy River Runs, First Boats, Lego KillDozer, THE Raging Ape, Livewell Upper Deckers and Good Jokes with Andy Zomcik.

In this episode, we have one of the three fathers of the Musky podcast Andy Zomcik onboard to talk musky fishing.  Andy tells stories about his first boat, sketchy river runs, references the great KillDozer all while fitting in a story about the late Raging Ape.  Andy talks about the great FAT AZ podcast and shares a few of his favorite memories. Of course, Owen finds out which epoxy Andy uses. Overall, this was a crazy fun podcast filled with stories and lots of laughs. Special thank you to Andy Zomcik for dusting off the podcast gear and spending three hours to BS with us!

#FATAZMuskyProducts #FATAZMuskyPodcast #StorytimewithAndy

E74 - Fly Slappin, Big Pikes Catchin, First Musky Netting, Rattle Snake Wrangling BS Session

In this BS session, we talk recent hunkie events. Donnie recaps his outer banks trip and his fly slappin experience with Scott Grassi, Tom talks about his big Deep Creek Pikes, Ryan recaps the Chapter 16 Muskies Inc. youth outing and Nick gets into the skills required to wrangle a rattle snake in the hills of Pennsylvania. 

E73 - Three Rivers Chapter 16 MI Pymatuning Tournament Recap - Hooks in thumbs, a sunburned butt-crack and 4 shocked Musky fisherman holding envelopes full of money

In this episode, we recap the recent Pymatuning tournament held by Three Rivers Chapter 16 of Muskies Inc. We tell the tale of an awesome weekend of musky fishing and how one team brought it all home for Hunks verse. Lots of stories one of which involves a hook in the thumb, broken equipment, what it looks like to bang bottom overly hard,  a third place finish, a sunburned butt crack,  and four shocked musky fisherman holding envelopes full of money. 

Andy Luchovick memorial tournament results
73 people signed up. 25 fish were turned in.
1st Cody Fye & Ryan Read 106.75 pts 32.25" 30.25 and 43.75"
2nd George McGrady & Brian Phillips 99.25 pts 32.5, 34.5, 32.25"
3rd Josh Hawk & Tyler Bailey 75.25 pts 39.5 & 35.75"
Congratulations to those who placed and Thanks to everyone for supporting the club
Next tournament, Chapter 16 vs Chapter 69 @ Chautauqua Lake Showdown June 24th
Signup online @ www.nymusky.com
or register the morning of from 6 to 6:45 am at the Lakewood Boat Launch.
More details to follow closer to the event.

www.nymusky.com

or register the morning of from 6 to 6:45 am at the Lakewood Boat Launch.

More details to follow closer to the event.

E72 - Trollin Leo Lures with Todd Leopardi

In this episode,  Todd Leopardi, owner and creator of THE Leo Lures out of Ellwood City Pennsylvania comes on to talk Musky fishing. We get into Todd's fishing history, first muskies, lure building and more. We got some family stories, another special guest drops by and tales of the American side of St. Clair were told. We finally get to talk about the lure lineup, recent fish caught and more, all while Ryan fan boys out for 2 hours and 34 minutes. 

E71 - First Annual Hunks Spring Fling Recap

In this episode, all hands on deck to recap the first ever Hunks Spring Fling Musky Invitational. Owen and Big O's Bucktails hosted the event that allowed us to fish for 3 full days on our PA lake of choice. Several guest fly and drive in from Minnesota and Indiana. We recap the experience , the fishing and the food. We also recap the best of Nate Bud and for the first time in Hunks history we release these tracks publicly. Shenanigans, Muskies, Nate Bud's angelic voice and a night out at THE BEAR INN, what more could you ask for in this 2 hour recap. Shoutout to Tyler Andrews, Dave from Minnesota and Joe and Jake Batic for coming into PA to hang out with a bunch of bums like us! Special thanks to Owen for hosting and taking care of all of us like the great dad that he is! 

E70 - Three’s Company BBQ

In this three-man episode, we start off by talking some spring musky. We chat about some weird opinions and concepts, some basics of what we usually do and what we look for, and where to go from here. We talk about what exactly constitutes “spring” in different parts of the musky world, particularly those with year-round seasons. We transition into a little trolling motor talk. Follow the BBQ smoke cloud...