Tackle and Tacos - A Fishing Podcast

This week we're sitting down with Bob Downey, a pro bass angler out of Minnesota who's built a career on doing the boring things right, over and over again. If you've ever wondered why some anglers seem to catch fish no matter the conditions while the rest of us feel like we're rolling dice every time we hit the water — this episode is for you. Bob breaks down what consistency actually looks like...

Sometimes a fishing derby doesn't go the way you planned. Actually, sometimes nothing goes the way you planned — especially when you're running an Evinrude that decides to play Russian roulette with your confidence. Worthless isn't really a strong enough word for that motor. We're diving into two days of the Chippewa Flowage solo derby, and yeah, there's some real frustration baked into this one....

You know that feeling? You signed up. The event is here. And you just realized... you never got on the water to practice. At all. Zero prep. So we're breaking this down and simply asking: Is showing up unprepared gonna ruin a 2-day derby, or is the real challenge just between your ears? Do I need to find stuff, go to places I've been before, or just fish loose and free and new? We're diving into w...

Episode 151 is one of those conversations that just flows. Captain Andrew Full of Full Fishing Guide Service out of Western New York joins the show for the 3rd time, and it didn't take long before we were deep into the stuff that actually matters — baits, big bass, and the kind of honest talk you don't always get on a fishing podcast. Andrew breaks down his approach to guiding for giants on Lake E...

There's a lot to be said for showing up with a plan — but sometimes the fish have a different one. In this episode, we're breaking down a killer topwater frog fishing session that turned into a masterclass in staying flexible on the water. When the spots dried up and the bites went quiet, adapting on the fly made all the difference. Don't get too married to your spots or your techniques — the fish...

This week on Tackle & Tacos, we sit down with Matt Johnson — co-founder and CEO of Omnia Fishing. Matt is one of the most interesting minds in the fishing industry, and if you haven't dug into what Omnia is building, you're missing out. We break down the Omnia app and mapping platform, how it's changing the way anglers find gear and plan their time on the water, and where the tech is headed. We al...

Jake Bagwell — better known as Fishing with JB — joins the show for a conversation that covers everything from the art of losing fish to the obsession with Megabass that serious anglers know all too well. Jake breaks down what his content is really about, how he built one of the most-watched fishing channels on the internet, and what's actually driving 80 million views a month. We dig into the soc...

Jordan heads into Shell Lake in Washburn County completely blind — never set eyes on the water before launching. The good news? A full box inside the first hour. The challenge? Everything after that. In this solo tournament recap, Jordan breaks down the before (zero prep, pure confidence), the during (dangerous winds that had the trolling motor bouncing out of the water all day, finicky smallies o...

Ken Duke has spent decades digging into the roots of bass fishing — the legends, the tournaments, the tackle, and the culture that shaped the sport into what it is today. In this episode, Ken joins us to share some of the most fascinating stories from bass fishing’s past, the iconic figures who defined the game, and why understanding where the sport came from makes you appreciate where it’s headed...

This week on Tackle & Tacos, we’re sitting down with Danny Arbalo — the man behind Brazalo Custom Lures out of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Danny built Brazalo on a simple but powerful idea: make baits that actually perform on the water, not just look good in the package. We dig into the story of how Brazalo got started, how it recently blew up in the best way possible, and where Danny is taking t...

In this solo episode, Jordan takes you along for the full ride — the prep, the grind, and the post-tournament breakdown from a recent bass tournament in Northern Wisconsin. With pre-spawn conditions throwing every angler a curveball, Jordan shares what he found in practice, what adjustments he made on tournament day, and what the results revealed about where the big females were actually hiding. J...

Heath Murphy has forgotten more about bass boats than most people will ever know — and lucky for us, he remembered enough to spend an hour and a half breaking it all down. One of the former top dogs at Gambler Boats and a self-professed rod snob, Heath is now the brains behind Veracity Marine, where he's applying a lifetime obsession with performance and precision to the next chapter of all things...

Tackle & Tacos – Tournament Recap: Lost Grove Lake We went in with a game plan. We left with frozen hands and a 2nd place finish — and honestly, we'd do it all again. Nate and Jordan headed to Lost Grove Lake in Eldridge, Iowa for what turned out to be one of the most brutal tournament days in Tackle & Tacos history. The wind was relentless, the cold was bone-deep, and by the time the scales close...

Tackle & Tacos Fishing Podcast – Tournament Predictions Episode We just wrapped up practice, the rods are still wet — now it's time to make our picks! In this episode, we're breaking down everything we saw on the water during practice and laying out our predictions heading into tournament day. Who's feeling confident? Who's second-guessing themselves? Tune in to find out! We will record the AFTER...

This week on Tackle and Tacos, we're sitting down with Michigan's own Chad "C.Pip" Pipkens — Former Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Current Opens Pro, 6x Bassmaster Classic qualifier, 2x Northern Open Angler of the Year, one of the sharpest smallmouth minds in the game, and easily the strongest angler on Earth as it relates to hair. Chad opens up about life after the Elite Series, what it's really li...

This week on Tackle and Tacos, we sit down with master lure designer Andrew Gardner for a deep dive into the world of Synch Fishing. Andrew pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to design lures that don't just look good — they flat out catch fish. From the origin story behind Synch Fishing to the design process, materials, and the hard lessons learned along the way, this conversation cove...

Tackle and Tacos: A Fishing Podcast Episode 138 – I Want YOUR Help With Jig Fishing Jig fishing has officially taken over my brain 🧠 — and in Episode 138, the tables are turned. Instead of breaking down this technique, I'm coming to YOU, the Tackle and Tacos community, with a simple ask: help me get better at jig fishing. What are your go-to jigs? Cheap finds that punch above their weight? Obscur...

Nate and Jordan discuss - The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing just wrapped up, and we've got THOUGHTS. In this episode, we break down everything that went down at the 2026 Bassmaster Classic — including the insane run by 22-year-old Dylan Nutt, who came in as a B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier and walked out as champion with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 13 ounces. This dude is the real deal, and we're talk...

🎙️ Knoxville or Bust: Our Bassmaster Classic Predictions The Bassmaster Classic is HERE and we're breaking it all down! 🎣 We're throwing out our bold picks, hot takes, and predictions for who's gonna hoist that trophy in Knoxville, Tennessee. Who's your pick to win it all? 🏆 📺 Watch the action live → Bassmaster 🌮 FOLLOW TACKLE & TACOS 🎣 📘 Facebook → Tackle and Tacos 📸 Instagram → @tackleand...

On this episode, we sit down with bass angler Andrew Behnke for a laid-back conversation that covers a little bit of everything—from chasing giant bass to tacos and staying in shape for long days on the water. Andrew shares the story of how he got into fishing, the path that led him into competitive bass angling, and the mindset it takes to keep pushing in the sport. We also dive into his approach...

This episode was a really fun, honest conversation with Larry Melton Jr.—one of the most genuine voices in fishing on YouTube. We covered a ton of ground, from fishing and growing a YouTube channel to bank fishing, being real with your audience, faith, cooking, family, and life beyond the camera. Larry opens up about staying authentic in a world that rewards highlight reels, why fishing from the b...

This episode was a special one. We sat down with Fred Roumbanis, a true West Coast legend and someone we’ve looked up to for a long time. Fred brought the laughs with some absolutely hilarious stories, but he also went deep—sharing hard-earned lessons from a lifetime in fishing and being honest and vulnerable about life off the water. From pro-level insight to real talk about family, pressure, and...

THE 1000 YouTube Subscriber Giveaway is here! First off, here's what we're giving away - a pair of Leupold Bridger Sunglasses, a 20 QT Stealth Gray Grizzly Cooler with a custom made Moldy's Marine Mat on top, a Denali baitcast rod with brand new Shimano Reel, hundreds of dollars in random brand new baits - lures that are Nate, Jordan, and Lola's favorites, some Tackle and Tacos decals, and maybe s...

We wanted to do an episode that's almost like a class. And who better to teach on reels than Trey Harpel. Reel upgrader to all your favorite pros! Bearings, platforms, line, rare reels and more, lets get growing! WARNING - no spinning reel talk allowed in this one! thkustoms.com social - @thkustom PLEASE GIVE US A 5 STAR POSITIVE REVIEW ON WHATEVER PLATFORM YOU'RE ON! TELL A FRIEND. SHARE THE WORD...

In this episode, we sit down with Dave Fishtips—and this is exactly why we love talking to normal, good dudes like Dave. No ego, no hype, just a genuinely authentic, cool guy with great stories and a grounded outlook on life. The conversation flowed easy, the laughs came naturally, and by the end it felt like talking with an old friend. What really surprised us? Dave’s life off the water. He’s a p...