The MeatEater Podcast | The Musky Wars with Larry Ramsell Ep. 568

Steven Rinella talks with Larry Ramsell, Ryan Callaghan, Chester Floyd, Brody Henderson, Seth Morris, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider.
Topics discussed: Books by the reel musky expert; the man at the end of the line; if we didn’t have catch and release for muskies, we’d have fried them all; all muskies all the time; two different species?; the best way to handle a musky; the world record wars; contextualizing and challenging the "musky manifesto"; photometry; how live sonar can educate; standing against spearing and catching through the ice; tiger muskies; and more.
#fueledbynature #meateater
----------------
Check out the gear the MeatEater Crew uses in the field here: store.themeateater.com
Follow us:
Web: www.themeateater.com
Instagram: / meateater
Facebook: / stevenrinellameateater

[@brianmiller5160]

As an avid musky angler from wisconsin and a wannnabe scholar of all things musky I thoroughly enjoyed this episode!

[@tomdorsey6028]

I’m reminded of an advertisement on the In fisherman show years ago. Two guys in a boat hear a lady yelling something from a dock, they move in to see what’s the matter. She screams that a musky ate her Muffy! (Dog or maybe a cat). One of the guys reply’s, What color was he!😂

[@Sabaskong]

That was a dog and it was Larry Dahlberg asking her. Awesome!

[@jonahswitzer31]

I would listen to Larry talk about Muskies till my ears fall off. Hes helped me start my passion for them!

[@bfstackledirect]

Larry supports our kids muskie camps put on by the Youth Conservation Alliance in Hayward, WI. He selflessly guides and mentors countless young anglers and we love him for it!

[@bigscrap84]

I dont usually listen to podcasts about fishing or hunting but this was incredible

[@KD16288]

This might just be my favorite episode I've watched yet.

[@KarenMcTavish]

I love that Dick Pearson was mentioned. Great interview Larry!!

[@Drewski2023]

Very cool! Larry is Old School Wisconsin fisherman. Musky fishing is like hunting, it takes knowledge, ETHICS and perseverance to be successful. Do your homework before fishing (even if you aren’t musky fishing) on how to handle & release a musky properly, what tools you need.

[@ChasinStuds]

I balloon fish for them and I love it like nothing else. Besides hunting, even though you muskie fishing is hunting

[@benderbear8243]

Best Podcast on the internet! thanks guys.

[@Braden460]

Best podcast yet for MeatEater!

[@adamm2127]

As an avid Musky fisherman from Ontario, this was a top notch listen. Thanks Larry!

[@kevinhayter3556]

Glad you guys touched on muskie

[@EarlSChristy]

This is GOLD! I first heard of Larry about 1990 (Musky Hunter Magazine) read some of his writings & this is the 1st time I've ever heard him speak or saw him other than photo's. So proud to hear him truth on FFS aka Livescope=X-box spotlighting for fish. It could well do to freshwater fishing what railroads did to the Buffalo heards without the wonderful benefits that railroads brings to us. True FFS/Livescope technology should be available to fisheries management people & scientist etc for research.

[@brianshort7921]

I just want to say I love the podcast. Greetings from here in Michigan. Thanks for the great content.

[@bachsoutdooradventures]

Thank you so much for Larry on your podcast! There is a lot of knowledge and stories in that man. I feel this episode only skimmed the surface!

[@coachgaryb]

Awesome podcast Larry was so good! Had me smiling and laughing non stop!

[@Verlisify]

HE'S 82 AND THAT SHARP? Impressive

[@logschu]

He should run for president

[@Eric-dr5bj]

Fishing will do that to you

[@kirbybudrow5342]

@@logschu Ramsell Cassellman 2024

[@TheMlerich30]

Nah... he's a grumpy old fart who doesn't want anyone chasing after his favorite fish. These things aren't in at any risk of population loss

[@ChasinStuds]

He's the musky OG

[@philfrasier9822]

Simply awesome!

[@joshfrazier1202]

Chet’s lead weights comment was way too under appreciated! 59:34

[@bachsoutdooradventures]

They were giving him the side eye, like let's pretend we didn't hear that... lol

[@clintblankenship330]

The esteemed Mr. Ramsell is a personal friend of mine, and I couldn't BEGIN to relate some of the history I've heard.

[@bryant.6267]

I don't musky fish, people actually hate them around where I live but I love the outdoors and really like these podcasts with experienced, interesting and passionate people. People like Larry are people we need to listen and learn from if we want the outdoors to continue for generations. This was a great listen.

[@danuber631]

The song at the end is the best! I love fishing lures too!

[@Delmiester]

It had a very Weird-Al feel to it, was pleasantly surprised by it.

[@jakelindahl3052]

Living near the Bone lake he mentioned in northwest Wisconsin. It has become quite the hot topic to local fisherman. I believe the limit now is 1 over 45" or 50" not sure but somewhere in that range. Spearing is allowed amongst the local native tribe and many believe they have been overtaking their limit. However, I do know they report their harvest to the wi dnr. However, that doesn't mean crap(wi dnr is suspect at best)...lol. I just found it interesting that my neck of the woods made it into the episode. Thanks for another great guest and podcast.

[@matthewrammer]

Bone lake = speared out.

[@illmuskyhunter3313]

They have absolutely raped and pillaged the musky fisheries in northern Wisconsin

[@Fingolfin3423]

Tribal spearing has decimated most lakes it takes place on. It's horrible for all parties involved. It's incredibly senseless and ignorant. I don't know how this discussion is in other states, but it's a major problem in Wisconsin. This is one reason lots of musky anglers travel to Minnesota and Canada to pursue larger and "more bountiful" musky.

[@nailbombx2311]

This Podcast came at the perfect time! Ive seen some monsters up here in the Chain of Lakes in Bellaire, Michigan, And have been wanting to have a go at catching a musky! Honestly never even considered the actually handling of the fish, if i get so lucky! Learned alot here, and doing some research now!

[@Muskiehunter4841]

Loved it

[@Dream-season]

Great stuff.

[@zieglla]

We used to go to Lac Seul for northerns & caught a few small muskies. Using barb-less hooks helped in the catch & release

[@deanjohnston4073]

Love your podcast. I’m from Ottawa Canada (eastern Ontario) and we have a great musky location on the Ottawa River where the nation river feeds into it. So many Americans come here annually for the musky. On a side note, if you’re an avid fisherman you need to treat yourself at least once in your lifetime to visit lake of the woods Kenora Ontario!!! It must be at least considered an anglers paradise. Not to mention one of the absolutely most beautiful places on earth.

[@JimBowSlice]

I went on a charter on lake st clair for musky we went all the to the mouth o g the thames river. The captian had this big clear box with fresh flowing water on board and each of the muskie were put in the tank until their fins were no longer red. The musky guys on lake st clair do the most for their species

[@itsmisterbojangles]

Super interesting. Glad I’m home sick today…..

[@Deadwood-fs8vi]

That was Awsome.

[@TrumpisImmortal]

The only person I’ve heard say hammer handle referring to pike besides my dad and grandfather.

[@BottledCourage]

Lord have mercy this dude knows it ALL about Muskies.

[@Midwest-aFishyaNado]

I wish more people would take a video camera and record their musky catches. Then upload the video so I can live thru them for a brief moment... I watch em all. 👍🏼

[@charlie21gunner87]

I once went down to the local dock to find a distraught woman, she was sobbing something fierce. She said her little dog was swimming and was attacked by a large Musky. I knelt down digging through my tackle box asking what color her dog was. After fighting her off I went to the local bait shop to buy a new rod, how ungrateful could a person be?

[@snakeriverscotto]

Straight outta The Great Musky Hunt by In-Fisherman; thank you Larry Dahlberg!

[@charlie21gunner87]

@@snakeriverscotto I've heard the joke before but couldn't remember it, made up some parts lol.

[@StephenDuquette64]

Gotta be one of the best podcasts you guys have done! Larry is a rock star! Such a likeable dude! And Steven Rinella, you weren’t getting anything by him! He has to be the most knowledgeable guy regarding his sport-musky fishing and knowledge of musky! And so much humour! Love your podcast and this has to. E one of the best!! Keep ‘em coming!

[@warneckefarm6812]

In the south Tn , i have a good friend that told me that musky is call a 1000 cast fish

[@craigholland2274]

10,000

[@mattd2672]

There is an old wives tale from west Michigan about the naming of the town Muskegon. One day a traveler was paddling down a river and arrived at a lake. On the shore of this lake was a village and as they paddled they saw an Indian standing on the shore. They called to him asking where they were and the Indian pointed at the lake and said in broken English "musky gone."

[@mtnman6942]

When catch and release was first used for preservation of steelhead, we used to use a hole punch to mark the fishes tail, then we knew if it had been caught before 🎣 🐟😎👍

[@bottomboy1528]

The immediate talk about getting old and having to put a magnifier in your peep makes me feel so seen. Started shooting again last month and noticed it was happening to me too

[@ZackaryDavid801]

Well I feel like an idiot. Definitely going to be more careful handling Muskies from now on. Think the big I pulled in was around 52” at my cottage by Eagle River, definitely not pulling them out of the water again.

[@IfishwithC4]

That was truly and incredible episode. Larry was fantastic to listen too, and his knowledge on the subject combined with his lively humor was a joy to listen/watch.

[@woldoutdoors4479]

I cought a relatively small northern pike 25 ish, with a chipmunk in its belly. I have no doubt the "squirl bait" technique would work.

[@caljerm]

I've seen a muskie take down a seagull and eat it

[@jessefrost6730]

My neighbors cat growing up was named Muskie bc when it was little the father wanted to use it for bait

[@oledahammer8393]

Larry is a treasure in the Musky community. He and some other long time members of that community have disputed those old records for many years. So many things about them don't add up. But I will say this, as a former Fisheries Research Scientist, that given we have had catch-and-release at 90-100% for close to 30 years now on Muskies, and yet not ONE fish has been caught even approaching those fish caught by Spray and Johnson, in spite of the release rate, in spite of better tackle, better electronics, better boats, more remote areas being fished and spite of numerous stocking programs...if it was truly possible for Muskies to reach that length and weight, wouldn't ONE have been caught by now at least approaching one of those old records? Secondly, in spite of all those things mentioned, not ONE fish even remotely close to those sizes has been caught in those same waters the records came from since they were caught in the 1950's! Not ONE even close....I rest my case.

[@bobchipeska6488]

I agree with the old man on everything he says

[@jimjones8552]

Couldn't agree more on the part about fish finders being too advanced now. Especially for musky fishing. How is that even fun when the hunt is done on a screen? Ridiculous

[@patrickhoolihan1015]

Anyone who doesnt think FFS EXPONENTIALLY increases your odds of catching open water muskies, is ignorant. It's a phenomal and extremely informative tool. But, it needs to be used with extreme caution and thus far, peoples egos are winning.

[@jonh7766]

Work in Hayward, just passed the bar they are talking about. Lol

[@ChasinStuds]

Where is larry Dahlberg mention

[@Canniboss420]

imagine all of this conservation for a chain pickerel or pike. the musky culture is odd

[@BigpapamoneymanMVPtypebeat]

Well people do have “this” convo for pike lmao everything from the need of proper handling and sonar destroying both their prey and them from over fishing. It’s just Muskie are bigger and not in as many lakes. People also worry about trophy gar and tarpon. To each their own

[@Fingolfin3423]

Pike are WAY more common than musky. That's the difference, and thus the difference in conservation ethic. Musky are at the top of the food chain in their body of water, meaning that they are the lowest-density fish. That's a key reason they deserve special attention.

[@Canniboss420]

@Fingolfin3423 I think its because musky are the easiest fish to catch and that's why they need conservation? So many videos of boatside eats when people are just messing around

[@stephangruenhagen6877]

@@Canniboss420 so easy to catch? For every boat side catch you probably have 10-20 that turn away.

[@stuffnsuch631]

Why it assumed every muskie fishers goal is monster muskie? Seems to trump the meat aspect of the fish. It feels like the discussion of management is how to make them bigger opposed to stable usage.

[@stephangruenhagen6877]

Pretty hard to have stable usage. In a 1000 acre lake a good goal to have would be to have around 250-500 muskies. One season we boated 21 fish in 8 days. Even if we only kept one fish a day that’s a fairly large impact on population and that’s only 1 boat fishing. Musky populations are very well studied and very accurate. I’m from Minnesota and in many lakes most fish have PIT tags in them and that’s how they estimate the populations. I may eat some walleye or panfish but I don’t over do it. Keep 5 or so blue gills. Anything over 9” goes back. Keep some walleye but anything over 20” goes back. Steve is so far off when it comes to fish genetics.

[@natemiller448]

That was great. Larry reminds me of an old-timer I hang out with. No bullshit.

[@ryanolson2430]

Im eating one if i catch one. My chances are .069%.

[@ChasinStuds]

They TASTE GREAT!! Sorry Larry😂

[@thirdiprodigy3579]

Let's go roll call Ontario! 🇨🇦

[@Coe221]

You should have Niklaus Bauer on for fly fishing pike in Sweden. Great fisherman and very knowledgeable.

[@coltencrittenden3039]

So what happened with the verifier/clarifier and the hog? Looking to get one myself as those pins are getting more blurry by the season. Sure don't want to draw back on a 180" whitetail and miss. :D

[@MorganMckinney-if9jd]

I really enjoyed this episode! I would really like to hear Craig Boddington do a caliber rundown. I don’t think anyone has tested more cartridges than that man. 6.5 on elk? 6.8 western? 26-33 nosler? I feel like that man has shot them all and i would like to know what he feels. I know it’s preference but I don’t think there is a man that has stood behind more rifles than him.

[@alanbuvelot831]

Still on the fence for forward facing sonar . I seen myself guy (s) catching 8 to over 12 in one day out of a small lake. My best is 4. Don't have it particially due to cost. But at 66 could use sometimes use any help possible.

[@alanbuvelot831]

Have probably caught over 500 biggest 52.25 inches over 50 years going after them.

[@Patrician9000]

Let's GOOOOOO

[@BluePiggy97]

hahaha the thumbnail changed into an actual musky!!!!

[@mrfish49el]

You can take a tarpon under 40" out of the water, for bigger tarpon the closest you can do picking one up is beach benching one.

[@Drewski2023]

Pro Guide Pete Mania has great vids on how to safely handle a musky.

[@nachyomoney3598]

💀💀💀Me waiting for new Meat Eater episodes.💀💀💀

[@brainp471]

@1:17:10, I feel like Cal was making a "My Cousin Vinny" reference

[@NeonKue]

I usually hate Pikes cus they ruin my soft plastic frogs while I’m Bassin but I’ll gladly take a 40 inch Musky to make it worth the bite 😅

[@tommyheel2536]

how much is a fish like those record fish eat ?

[@SB-eu3gc]

Is this the gentleman they said they wanted on some time back but they thought he may be too old? I’m so excited and I’m only a moment in!!!! Yea boys!

[@buckruttin2246]

In the U.P. we say "da flowage".

[@justinohlin6603]

Hey did i miss the kids podcast i thougt it was supposed to come out july 5th?

[@elliotdavis4542]

I have been fish since I was a youngster. I still have a hard time handling musky..

[@carybishop2876]

The expert , doesn't mention Indiana for muskie,but we have tiger muskies,and I have caught and released a very nice one here in NE Indiana! To completely skip our state to Kentucky makes no sense to me! I am by no means a expert ,just a fisherman !

[@underdogoutdoors]

It's a privilege to become an older hunter & fisherman.

[@AndrewMoraller]

The right genetics in the right waters.

[@flow7791]

52:30 😄

[@markthatcher9925]

The thing I hate about Musky fishing is that they do not release well. They are extremely fragile compared to their Pike cousins and other sport fish species. I was obsessed for years but rarely target them now because of that. I hate to think about how many I've caught that may not have survived.

[@angelabottineau973]

Definition: The god mode is a type of cheat in video games that makes your character invulnerable and invincible. Change the event: The god mode is a type of using cheats in fishing that makes you invulnerable and invincible.

[@jamesboreson]

Correct me if Im wrong but I believe you boys may have confused the word strain with phenotype.

[@qualityautos2790]

82 and WAY sharper than Biden is at the same age. This guy is a treasure

[@dilligaf0220]

I'm an old fart wearing +1.50 reading glasses, how far along are the Muskie wars? Edit -- OMG that got good real quick.

[@Bryghttt]

The thumbnail picture for this vid seems like some kind of ai generated fish between a salmon and a pike

[@chrismeister2554]

Why does he have a salmon jaw

[@RonaldBarron]

My anxiety went away as soon as I saw your comment. Thank you

[@michaelsaks3610]

I see what you're talking about. But I think it's just a skinny pike photo taken at a funny angle

[@zap2747]

@@michaelsaks3610nah that’s not a real fish bro

[@chrismeister2554]

I came back because I was thinking about it. Check out the Tennessee record musky, he’s got a weird lookin jaw, not quite salmon or trout, if I had to describe it it would be a pug and a musky had a baby but it retained all the fish attributes and the short face of a pug

[@MrThatnativeguy]

Im surprised you guys moved the podcast over to this channel,which only has less than 10,000 subs, meanwhile the main Meateater channel has over 1.4 million im sure the viewership has dropped dramatically

[@TeamRelsonGracieFL]

It could be upping the traffic to this lesser-performing channel…

[@illinidave]

Livescope needs to be banned everywhere

[@williamlavelle7786]

I'm 84 and not a Musky fisherman but it seems to me with all the talk about proper handling of fish and mortaiity, barbless hooks may be a possible answer. I know howls will go op that it would be impossible to catch fish but it would reduce mortality I would think. Right after I wrote this posr barbless was mentioned. Oh well, old fart should listen to whole podcast before posting.

[@ChasinStuds]

Bajajajajaja i live 45 mins from Chautauqua

[@MattPeters-kf1qd]

15 mins in and yall have forgotten ALOT of states with muskie or tiger muskie in em.....like mine in colorado with some record contenders having been caught and released in our state lakes.

[@christhomas5937]

Washington state, Idaho, Oregon may not have Muskies, but Tigers yes.

[@FastHatTrick]

@58:00 I can’t imagine having my life in such correct order to have enough time and energy left over to care so much about something so trivial. IE I wonder what suffers for him to care so much about a Musky War. It’s supposed to be a hobby you enjoy when the important shit is taken care of. WE GOT WEIGHTS IN FISH! smdh Catch a fish, either eat it or enjoy the experience and throw it back…. The entire conversation is about justification of ego instead of enjoyment of fishing.

[@angelabottineau973]

In the digital world that is called cheat codes or team god mode. Amature to proffesional.

[@plastafara1]

I think Steve had a issue with a Larry and he couldn't hide it.

[@lukea2806]

That guy is awesome

[@adammoke8949]

Gord Pyzer know his stuff. Not just Muskie but most fresh water fish

[@mattr724]

Larry more or less confirmed what steve was saying about the musky world being full of elitist gatekeepers. Heaven forbid a *GASP* bass fisherman should handle one of their sacred fish

[@mobohlen]

The environmental impacts on genetics is known as epigenetics!

[@BigpapamoneymanMVPtypebeat]

Lol my grandpa used to use kittens as Muskie bait, reminds me of the chipmunk story at the beginning 😂

[@TrumpisImmortal]

The reason the a “fragile “ they live there whole lives under water and their necks are never supporting their entire weight. Take them out of water and they are flopping around being held by the mouth or gill plate. They are not built for that.

[@therivergiveth]

With the livescope argument, there has to be a line in the sand drawn. The "it's just another tool" argument isn't great, especially that we know AI integration tech is next. Drones aren't allowed for hunting. Same idea

[@buckimmel3159]

Awesome episode. I'm glad you guys listened and got THE MAN to teach the masses. Next guy would be good pyzer. That would put it to bed.

[@kevinwilson8879]

livescope fishing?thermal sites hunting deer?

[@TrumpisImmortal]

This is interesting. My dad has been doing taxidermy since he was 12. He has never been interested in winning trophies but always interested in being the and most accurate. He told me several times that the bigger the fish that he has mounted the more hemorrhaging he would find where the head attaches to the body. After he would skin the fish out he would always tell me if the fish would have live or died (in his opinion) if they would have released it. Lots of big largemouth bass had this also. And he always would say it was how they handled the fish. Never really paid attention to it until I saw this podcast. Guys catch big fish and hold them up by the head for a photograph and they are killing the fish. The weight of that fish being supported by the head only is not good for the fish. Most eventually will end up dead from hemorrhaging. Support the whole fish. Distribute the weight.

[@ChasinStuds]

Livescoping is for ppl who do not know how to read water nor do they know how to fish. Its pathetic

[@SgtSlime365]

I use it to follow weedlines. Not everyone is sharp shooting