Jun 29, 2026 · 1 hr 19 min · 11 segments
A candid conversation with legendary muskie angler Pete Maina into how muskie fishing has changed over the decades and what's next. This is a straightforward, no-nonsense look at the state of muskie…
Pete MainaGuestJeremy SmithHostAnd there's a lot of things in fisheries right now that I think anglers should be aware of, probably concerned about.
And the catalyst for this conversation was not only some of the advancements that have happened in technology, but a lot of what is happening over in Wisconsin.
So as we're having this conversation, it's the spring of 2026.
Well, the one thing that occurred that kind of got the ball all rolling was at the end of January, it was announced that after 50 years of our muskie opener being at the end of May, they pushed it back to the opener with the walleye season and bass season for, again, 50 years at a time when Pretty much there's total agreement across the board with all of the anglers you talked to that it's been kind of a steady decline in numbers.
But also, I think just an increase in pressure from the aspect of the anglers themselves, the knowledge over the years.
Unfortunately, I guess when you and I look in the mirror in the morning, we see the enemy in a way, too.
I mean, you know, what's that, 20-some years ago now that the GPS maps came out and finding structure, all these different things that have occurred to make it easier.
every year and now with the advances in the technology to forward facing sonar allowing you to literally see the fish, drop lures right on their head and watch their reactions has changed the game another level beyond.
All of it, the side imaging and all of it is added on, the knowledge, the information sharing, all of these different things and then I would say with regard to our topic, our DNR anyway has kind of had the mantra for the last decade of more opportunities.
So you've got all these better anglers, better technology, better tools, all of these different things, and now you're also adding to the seasons.
I think originally our season closed at the end of November, which is basically ice on anyway, but they expanded that for a whole other month.
And there's a lot of things in fisheries right now that I think anglers should be aware of, probably concerned about.
And the catalyst for this conversation was not only some of the advancements that have happened in technology, but a lot of what is happening over in Wisconsin.
So as we're having this conversation, it's the spring of 2026.
Well, the one thing that occurred that kind of got the ball all rolling was at the end of January, it was announced that after 50 years of our muskie opener being at the end of May, they pushed it back to the opener with the walleye season and bass season for, again, 50 years at a time when Pretty much there's total agreement across the board with all of the anglers you talked to that it's been kind of a steady decline in numbers.
But also, I think just an increase in pressure from the aspect of the anglers themselves, the knowledge over the years.
Unfortunately, I guess when you and I look in the mirror in the morning, we see the enemy in a way, too.
I mean, you know, what's that, 20-some years ago now that the GPS maps came out and finding structure, all these different things that have occurred to make it easier.
every year and now with the advances in the technology to forward facing sonar allowing you to literally see the fish, drop lures right on their head and watch their reactions has changed the game another level beyond.
All of it, the side imaging and all of it is added on, the knowledge, the information sharing, all of these different things and then I would say with regard to our topic, our DNR anyway has kind of had the mantra for the last decade of more opportunities.
So you've got all these better anglers, better technology, better tools, all of these different things, and now you're also adding to the seasons.
I think originally our season closed at the end of November, which is basically ice on anyway, but they expanded that for a whole other month.
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