Paul Bunyan Country Outdoors

America's Ice Fishing Contest, a virtual nationwide hardwater tourney, is coming up next Saturday and the Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake is coming up the following Saturday. We check in with Chris Dense on America's Ice Fishing Contest and Andrew Jay about the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Get the details on today's podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and C...

The weather has definitely turned and there are very few boats on the water these days. If you see a boat on the lake, it's probably a musky angler...and there's a pretty good chance it's Kevin Cochran. He's got a couple weeks of muskie fishing left and he's having success. We talk fall bites, staying warm and staying alive. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy No...

Many folks fished longer than anticipated due to a very nice fall. But winter's here for real and it seems likely that it'll be only hard core muskie hunters from here until hard water (or December 1st...whichever comes first). Ray's Sport & Marine's Service Manager Justin Spaude has winterization tips if you haven't buttoned down the hatches quite yet. In addition, Steve Scepaniak discusses w...

Mandy Uhrich's got a story to tell. So pull up a chair and enjoy this tale of a three year quest for the buck that just wouldn't be found...until now. If you've ever wondered why people are drawn to the hunt, this story explains it all. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Former BSU Beaver Football star Brice Vollbrecht is better known these days as A DNR Conservation Officer in the Bemidji area. He joins the show and discusses BSU-UMD football, hunting and fishing regulations and safe practices for deer hunting and early ice fishing. Plus why he chose the law enforcement field. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Duane Peterson has been enjoying the fall walleye bite and has all the details. He also discusses a strong fishing season and shares his insights. It's always a treat to hear from the all time greats and especially one that knows Paul Bunyan Country as well as anyone. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Scott Mackenthun is the Hutchinson Area Fisheries Supervisor as well as a well known outdoor writer, so we have a lot to talk about! He discusses southern Minnesota fishing, including flathead cats and Minnesota River fishing. Plus, we discuss more panfish changes on the way, an exciting out of state hunting and fishing trips and a ton of other topics. Great stuff on today's podcast! See Privacy P...

Brent Knutson and his fiancee Shawna Erdmann won the Minnesota Tournament Trail Championship a few weeks ago on Lake of the Woods. Brent joined the show to tell the championship tale and discuss how the more regional MN Tournament Trail has a number of Husband-wife, boyfriend-girlfriend teams competing and how he and Shawna pulled off the title. He also discusses the hot bites in the area right no...

The single biggest project this year from the DNR's Northwest Regional Wildlife crew is containing CWD in Beltrami County. Much has been discussed and written about it, including right here on Paul Bunyan Country. But with hunting season coming, we take a look at what's been accomplished and what's expected of hunter's this season and beyond. There's also a ton of other hunting seasons underway or...

Steve Ballou has been running the Cystic Fibrosis Walleye Classic for 20 years. It started when he ran Break On The Lake Resort and has continued even after he sold the resort. The Ballou's had two children who had CF: Their son who died at age 17, and their 34 year old daughter, a living testament of the progress that has been made in the battle against CF. We discuss CF, the CF Foundation, tourn...

As always, we wrap up our 20 week daily foray into the world of Paul Bunyan Country fishing with what we call "The State Of The Fishery". Bemidji's New Area Fisheries Supervisor Edie Evarts joined Kev to talk about everything that's happening on and in the water. They look at fishing pressure, harvest success, concerns, AIS, drought, you name it. It's all covered along with a preview of what the D...

Steve Mattson is back on the show to talk Grand Rapids area fishing. All potential fishing topics are covered, plus a little hunting talk and how unfair it is that the shortest season of the year has so much good stuff to do! Plus, Brainerd Area Fisheries Supervisor Marc Bacigalupi is in once again with this year's final Lake (or in this case Lakes) of the Week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19...

Isaiah Hahn of You Bet Fishing Guide Service has been on the water all summer and still making time for fishing even though his "real" job--teaching--is underway once again. Isaiah is a musky nut and he discusses the season so far and what's to come, plus everything else going on in the Park Rapids area. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

The Frank Schneider Jr. Memorial Musky Tournament has come and gone for another year and Tournament Director Peter Janik joins the show one more time to recap the event. We get the winners, the numbers and all other relevant stats. Plus, Dr. Andrew Hafs of Bemidji State University's Aquatic Biology Program discusses how often an average fish falls for our bait in his or her life. See Privacy Polic...

Bear season is under way in Minnesota and the early success rates have been good. Matt Breuer of North Country Guide Service joins the show to discuss early successes with clients. Plus we discuss other seasons, the right size to hunt and shocking never before seen photos of Sasquatch...or is it someone else? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://...

Adam Rasmussen of Sturgeon Bay, WI came over to Pelican Lake in Orr for a Champions Tour Event and shattered the bass record by reeling in 98 bass weighing over 247 pounds in one day. It was an amazing day and it may never be topped. LIsten to all the details from Adam, plus we head to the Park Rapids area for our Lake of the Week. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...

Keith Tuma and partner Andy Walls claimed a recent Bass tourney on Woman and were named Minnesota B.A.S.S. Nation Team of the Year. That puts the Tuma-Walls tandem in the Bassmasters National Team Championship. He talks about that tourney circuit and his upcoming Bassmaster Opens, plus Brainerd Lakes Bass. Meanwhile, Bemidji State's Dr. Andrew Hafs, our resident Aquatic Biologist, discusses the gr...

Some people turn everything into a binary choice...either/or. Either you go fishing or you go hunting. Then there's Mandy Uhrich. She goes fishing AND hunting. So she's very busy. We talk all things outdoors with one of the best ambassadors for getting out of the house in the nation. We talk hot fish bites (many), current and upcoming hunting seasons and how she plans to divvy up her time. She als...

As we head into the long Labor Day weeekend, we unofficially wrap up summer with a couple of excellent anglers and guides. We cover all kinds of subjects with Chuck Hasse of Leisure Outdoor Adventures, including Leech Lake walleyes (a little slow), bass (not slow), zebra mussels, cold weather wear, and not the Twins. Plus, Steve Scepaniak talks about a strong pike bite on Mille Lacs and the improv...

Carl Adams of Timberline Sport & Convenience in Blackduck joins the show to talk fishing. The bite on Blackduck has slowed, but it was a very good summer. It's been hit and miss on Red, and Lake of the Woods? Well, it's Lake of the Woods. Plus, we preview the hunting seasons and talk about the challenge of a sporting goods store getting ammo. And it's Lake of the Week day. Andy Thompson of the...

The Bemidji Chapter of Ducks Unlimited has its annual banquet Thursday, September 9th and it's a big one...the 50th Annual! New Regional Director Dalton Rosin and former Director Scottie Anderson (and new National Non-Traditional Revenue Director) talk about the event and all things duck. Then, Dr. Andy Hafs of Bemidji State University discussed why weather affects fish. See Privacy Policy at http...

Many, many times we've talked with members of the Peterson family on Fishin' Paul Bunyan Country. There are several good reasons why: #1. They're great anglers; #2. They're great people; #3. They love fishing and know how to talk about it. #4. They keep winning tournaments. This time around, it was Great Uncle John Peterson teaming up with Great Nephew Jace. We've got them both in the studio to ta...

Nate Blasing of S&W Guide Service in the Brainerd Lakes area joins the show to talk late August fishing. He discusses trying to find walleyes during the dog days and what fish are the best to go after now. Plus, we hear from the runners up and champions (Tait & Ty Sennett) of the Professional Musky Tournament Trail qualifier this past weekend on The Bemidji & Cass Lake chains. See Priv...

Mike Frisch stops by to get us caught up with the Alexandria Lakes Area scene. We talk hot bites and tough bites, he discusses the overall view of what's going on long and short term and also gets us caught up on his many ventures including his TV show "Fishing The Midwest", his podcast, The School Of Fish and his website. Plus, Peter Janik updates us on the Frank Schneider Jr. Memorial Musky Tour...

After more than a year, the Canadian border is once again open and Jeff Andersen of Leisure Outdoor Adventures made the trip north to catch some Lake of the Woods muskies. He also discusses the bite on Paul Bunyan Country lakes with the PMTT this weekend and the Frank Schneider Jr. Memorial Musky Tournament coming in September. Plus, Doug Schultz of the Walker Area Fisheries Office has this week's...