Podcast

Muskies On Tap

Hobbies, Leisure, Nature, Science

Wisconsin northwoods musky Guide, Gus Mantey, his brother Max Mantey and their childhood buddy, Brian Eckle chronicle each week of Gus’s journey as a Musky guide. Hear real time fishing reports, stories from the boat, guest interviews, tournament results, tactics, and the occasional beer recommendation. We hope you enjoy!

https://sugsfishing.com/

Muskies on Tap - a division of Sug's Fishing LLC

Hobbies chart
#186
Episodes
176
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
1 hr 29 min
On air since
2023
Latest episode
4 days ago

Episodes

176 episodes, newest first

  1. E175 - Brian Skaife w/ Angling Anarchy 2.0

    Season 1, Episode 175

    Show notes

    The fellas welcome back Brian Skaife to the pod to chop it up about musky filming. Brian has been running Angling Anarchy on YouTube for over 8 years. If you haven't checked it out yet we highly recommend it! Recently Gus and Brian fished together and part 1 is out with part 2 coming out in just over a week. We chat about film setups. starter options to film, the negatives of social media on filming, the rewarding parts and of course Brian's new Alumacraft rig! tap in!

    Link below for Gus's guide web page, few remaining November dates otherwise 2027 dates will be available soon.

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Cold opener comes from Brian Skaife's doppelganger, Bert Kreischer, in one of his stand up stories about The Machine!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 hr 1 min
  2. E174 - Tourney Talk w/ PMTT Champion Pete Blicharz

    Season 1, Episode 174

    Show notes

    This week the fellas chat with 2x PMTT Championship winner Pete Blicharz on everything tournaments. Pete has an impressive track record of placements and top gun standings in this past decade alone of fishing the trail. We chat about how he and his boat partner Jarod Donar got it done plus many other discussions. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Bruce Buffer intro! iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit's tiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmeeeee!!!!!!

    1 hr 36 min
  3. E173 - Fall Q&A + Big Musky Pre-turnover into Turnover Tactics

    Season 1, Episode 173

    Show notes

    The fellas chop it up on some fall fishing listener Q&A. Turnover is talked about. Fall baits talked about. Sucker rigs talked about. Big fish talked about. Shallow fishing. Brewers dub. Packers dub. Life is good. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Monty Python quote for the week. Probably has been used in the past. Oh well, it's just a classic!

    1 hr 4 min
  4. E172 - Frank Schneider Winner: Mac Hoekstra + Leech Lake + Current Fall Bite

    Season 1, Episode 172

    Show notes

    This week the fellas get on Mac Hoekstra fresh off his W at the Frank Schneider Memorial tourney to chat about how he got it done on Leech. He goes into depth on the transitions of sand, weeds, wind and blades. The combo of these factors helped him win the tourney despite losing many fishing hours from boat mishaps. Just before getting Mac on the line Gus chats on the current bite in the Northwoods of WI on the heat up of the sucker bite, water temps, when turnover will hit and baits to try. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Opener comes from Superbad. McLovin debut.

    1 hr 8 min
  5. E171 - GIANT Vilas Co Musky + Tough Fall Weather Patterns/Tactics

    Season 1, Episode 171

    Show notes

    The fellas hop on for an early fall chop sesh chatting from the biggest bite Gus has ever got to the tough warm up, east winds, and conditions we have faced recently. A MOt episode jam packed with musky fishing information to help you out on the water right now! Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Intro comes from Talladega Nights "That just happened!"

    1 hr 2 min
  6. E170 - Gregg Thomas on LOTW PMTT Championship bite + Northwoods Fall Update

    Season 1, Episode 170

    Show notes

    This week the fellas do a breakdown of the current Northwoods bite and then get Gregg Thomas from Musky Hunter and Road Rules Podcast to run down everything that went down at LOTW last weekend. The PMTT Championship put up some impressive numbers/size of fish and Gregg brings out all the details of how the week and tourney progressed. What worked, should've worked and started to work days after the tourney was over. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Opener comes from Wedding Crashers. MA!!!! THE MEATLOAF!!!!!

    1 hr 46 min
  7. E169 - Doug Wegner 3.0 + LOTW PMTT Championship Preview + GB Muskies (Video Pod)

    Season 1, Episode 169

    Show notes

    This week the fellas get on Doug Wegner for an all out musky special VIDEO pod covering a broad musky range starting with Doug's season on the woods so far to some far out adventures and Green Bay. We dial in a long discussion on musky reels specifically and some sneaky bucktail details. We also want to wish goodluck to all those fishing in the PMTT Championship on LOTW this weekend. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Cold opener comes from The Hangover where the squad gets the wrong Doug back. Luckily the real Doug joins the fellas for the pod this week

    1 hr 43 min
  8. E168 - Michael Hanson on Cool Down Muskies + Bucktail mods

    Season 1, Episode 168

    Show notes

    This week the fellas (Gus and Brian) get Michael Hanson on to catch up on his season and specifically talk about the bite right now and what's coming up... super shallow muskies!!! Great chat on topwater and bucktails tips and mods to get more sound out of them. Always a pleasure having Mike on the pod and reach out to him if you're in the Hayward/Cable area to book a trip with him! Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Intro clip comes from Apocalypse Now about the smell of napalm in the morning. A tribute to Brian's fourth Mt Rushmore pic for Fall things. Intro idea sent in from Travis (danceswithmuskies)

    1 hr 13 min
  9. E167 - Late Summer/Early Fall Bite + Mt Rushmore of Fall

    Season 1, Episode 167

    Show notes

    This week the fellas do a little recap of some recent fishing outings that sums up the current bite going on in the northwoods. We chop it up on some current events along with Gus's recent adventure to MN for an Alumacraft event plus some exciting news on that front! Brian might be getting on Green Bay for some muskies soon, can he pull it off and get a big one? We then cap off this more quick hitter of a pod with the fellas Mt Rushmore of Fall things in a snake draft fashion. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Intro comes from a classic Simpsons bit when Homer took on the role of Mr Burns assistant. "Is it about my cube?"

    1 hr 1 min
  10. E166 - Wabigoon Lake Recap at Bonny Bay Camp

    Season 1, Episode 166

    Show notes

    The fellas recap a fantastic trip to Wabigoon Lake staying at Bonny Bay Camp in Dryden, Ontario. This was the first time any of us here at MOT has musky fished NWO. It was a great week of fish catches, heartbreaks, accommodations, travel, hanging with friends, tough days, wind, weather, and some of the coolest eats we've ever seen in musky fishing! We breakdown basically a day by day playbook on how it all went down. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    https://www.bonnybay.com/

    Opening quote from TPB, Jim knows you or you know Jim. Ties into the Canadian border story told on the pod

    1 hr 51 min
  11. E165 - Wabigoon Breakdown VIDEO Pod

    Season 1, Episode 165

    Show notes

    The band is back together for this one. Gus hops back on with the fellas as they do a full run down of Wabigoon Lake. MOT crew plus Clayton, Jamie and Josh will be staying for 1 week at Bonny Bay Camp in search of some big ol Canadian muskies. In this podcast we do some screen sharing for the fellas top 3 spots they want to check out on the goon. We also do a snake draft on our top 4 baits we're most pumped to be trying next week. Tap in, or better yet open up YouTube and watch, eh!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    The fitting intro comes from Super Troopers 2 at the Canadian border crossing

    1 hr 22 min
  12. E164 - LOTW Muskies w/ Jeremy Barber

    Season 1, Episode 164

    Show notes

    This week we get on Jeremy Barber, musky aficionado of LOTW and many seasons on the PMTT circuit, to chat about Canadian muskies. Jeremy has been on the podcast numerous times during some past PMTT episodes and WI musky expo. For those that have or yet to fish LOTW then this is a pod for you!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    The Other Guys clip - gator

    1 hr 36 min
  13. E163 - The Max & Brian Musky Pod

    Season 1, Episode 163

    Show notes

    Well, this week marks the first ever MOT pod where Gus does not make an appearance. Max and Brian hold down the fort and get ya up to speed on plenty of current events. Max's short Vermilion send, the mega storm that crushed the hometown of Appleton/Menasha, prepping for Canada, AI robo teachers, Papa Mantey guest appearance talking big fish stories, Mount Rushmore, and what's working in the northwoods right now. Tap in to this rollercoaster of a pod!

    Shoot Gus a message if you'd like to book a trip this fall! Still a couple prime openings:

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Intro clip comes from a MOT favorite: Dumb and Dumber. The Sea Bass scam

    1 hr 28 min
  14. E162 - Midsummer chat w/ Austin Wiggerman (WAV Products)

    Season 1, Episode 162

    Show notes

    This week the fellas get Austin Wiggerman on for an update on how his season has gone from start to the recent heat wave that shut down musky fishing in our area for a while. We talk a lot about Lake Kinkaid and Lake Geneva in this one. Big fish stories! Austin also will soon be guiding in Western MN late August/early September so check that out if you want in for making a big fish story of your own! The mega heat has finally left, safe temps are back so get out and get fishin! Tap in

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Cold opener comes from the pilot episode of Seinfeld. Classic. Could be seeing more of these on the openings. So many to use!

    1 hr 14 min
  15. E161 - Future of Muskies in MN w/ Jim Doyle & Keegan McIntosh

    Season 1, Episode 161

    Show notes

    Video podcast on YouTube and Spotify! Masterclass on the future of the MN musky plan brought to you by Jim Doyle, president of the Twin Cities Muskies Inc chapter, along with Keegan McIntosh. Gus, Max and Brian first discuss what's new with the crew and the hot water topic. Then we get right into the nitty gritty of the history, present, and future of the MN long range musky plan stocking plan. We also chat about the importance of fundraising tournaments and Muskies Inc chapters. Now more than ever is a great time to get involved locally with clubs, fundraising tournaments and muskies inc chapters. Tap in!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Frank Schneider Memorial musky tournament info: September 11-13th. Register at http://twincitiesmuskiesinc.org or at Thorne Bros in person by September 7th

    Twin Cities Metro Tiger Derby info: in the FishDonkey app search "Twin Cities Metro Tiger Derby" under the "fish in a tournament tab"

    Contest winner with a great quote from Billy Madison!!! Thanks to all that participated!

    1 hr 55 min
  16. E160 - Eagle River/TLC PMTT Recap + Summer Peak Chop Sesh

    Season 1, Episode 160

    Show notes

    The fellas are back in action with a PMTT recap from the most recent event on the Eagle River and Three Lakes Chain. Gus and Max break down exactly how their tournament went and the tactics to get it done. Hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July!!!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Intro comes from an oldie but a goodie, classic Dodgeball scene with Goodman putting the intimidation factor out there

    1 hr 29 min
  17. E159 - Eagle River/Three Lakes PMTT Preview w/ Ken Trail & Michael Handlogten

    Season 1, Episode 159

    Show notes

    This week we have a chat with 2024 PMTT World Champions Ken Trail and Michael Handlogten about all things tournaments. We discuss their recent tourney success, updates to the tournaments themselves and also what makes musky tournaments truly unique. Grab a brew and tap in! Lots of laughs in this one!

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Cold opener comes from the conditions of the 2015 PMTT narrated by Mike Keyes and also Tim shouting "Let's go musky hunting, WOOOOOOOO"

    1 hr 27 min
  18. E158 - Canadian Opener Talk w/ Nate Andrychuk & Matt Dyment

    Season 1, Episode 158

    Show notes

    Canadian opener for those fishing in the NW area of Ontario will want to tap into this one! Nate and Matt are a huge wealth of knowledge when it comes to LOTW, Lac Seul, and many parts of NW Ontario. We get into some crazy stories you won't want to miss out on! Nate and Matt are currently located at Wiley Point Wilderness Lodge from the Totem Resorts.

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Cold opener comes from an 80s sketch on SCTV called "Great White North". Why is Canadian beer stronger than American beer? And also don't worry we checked in with Nate and Matt if it was alright to use a Bob and Doug McKenzie quote

    1 hr 39 min
  19. E157 - Chop Session: Maybe Our Worst Podcast Yet?

    Season 1, Episode 157

    Show notes

    Is this our worst work yet? Maybe? We will let you decide.

    All jokes aside, the 3 MOT amigos hop on and chop it up on story time, musky fishing the northwoods right now, and Q&A. Solid info sprinkled into this one so tap in!

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    Gus only has a few limited July and August dates left!

    Cold open is fitting today, Spongebob's rough comedy act goes south.. kinda like this weeks pod. Kidding! Or are we?

    1 hr 30 min
  20. E156 - Luke Ronnestrand + MN Musky Opener Preview (Video Pod)

    Season 1, Episode 156

    Show notes

    Listen to or watch (YouTube/Spotify) the fellas chat with Luke Ronnestrand this week about all things Minnesota as we approach their opener this Saturday. Luke is an incredible story teller and we get into some real good ones this episode! Awesome downsizer baits, rods and reel details in this one as well. Tap in!

    Video Podcast available on YouTube & Spotify: https://youtube.com/@muskiesontap?si=-fFPmGIHGcIOvvc_

    https://sugsfishing.com/

    https://www.thornebros.com/

    Cold opener comes from comes from an old season 4 episode of The Simpsons (Gus's favorite season) - "Good ol' rock, nothing beats that!"

    1 hr 52 min