Brandon Butler and Buddy Seiner ventured into the coulee with fishing guide Jeff to find beautiful scenery, stunning brown trout, and the Bad Axe River flowing at the bottom. Many fish were brought to hand that morning, but one big brown had other plans.

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. Craig likes fishing for anything that swims, but Pactola lake trout are by far his favorite. Craig’s passion for educating anglers led him to start Hooked on Hardwater, which partners 60 underprivileged boys from the Rapid City Club for Boys with 60 professional ice fishermen from across the country for a day of mentoring, fellowship, ice fishing, and fun. This interview is from a live storytelling event on Main Street Square in Rapid City, SD. Despite the equipment issues and venue noise, we had a great conversation. Enjoy!

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. Craig likes fishing for anything that swims, but Pactola lake trout are by far his favorite. This is one of his favorite stories about fishing with a friend and equipment not up to the task of hauling in a Black Hills laker.

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. Craig likes fishing for anything that swims, but Pactola lake trout are by far his favorite. He created some buzz in the fishing communities when he began referencing a "secret spot" as waypoint 107. Love everything about this story and the message behind it. Enjoy.

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. Craig likes fishing for anything that swims, but Pactola lake trout are by far his favorite. Here he talks about what makes Lake Trout fishing so fantastic for him.

Craig Oyler is a multi-season/multi-species angler who travels across the midwest chasing the next big bite. He started guiding his dad's friends when he was 11-years-old, and new right away that he wanted to fish all the time.

Gregg remembers the largest trout he caught in a tiny Idaho creek.

Shaun Lezotte is a fly fishing guide with Dakota Angler and Outfitter in Rapid City, So. Dak. He has been fly fishing since he was a teenager, but loves traditional fishing methods just as well. We sat down in the comfort of the new fly shop on a busy Jackson Blvd to talk fishing, hunting, significant others, and what the future holds.

Shaun remembers one of his most memorable guide trips from when he first started as a professional fishing education consultant.

The attempt and failure to catch fish in a lake overflowing with monster brook trout

Jim Mollison describes his first time fishing high-country water known as Ice Lake, and the unusual experience they had there.

Steve is a guide on the Bighorn River in Ft. Smith, MT. He discusses the Bighorn River fishery and what makes it so special.

Daryle has many proud moments, but one of his favorite fish is a special brook trout in northwest Nebraska.

Hank Patterson is a larger-than-life character who doesn't give a heck about anyone but himself.  Hank's a beer-drinking, fish catching, lady swooning machine...and he knows it.  That's the character that Travis Swartz gets to play in his videos.  In real life, he's a low-key guy with a past filled with comedy and fishing adventure.  We had a great conversation at the Alex Johnson in Rapid City.  I challenge you not to laugh during the discussion...pretty sure you'll lose.  Good luck!

Dave Hanna, from Rapid City, So. Dak. talks about fishing in Alaska and finding zen on the water.

Jordan reads a story from one of his columns about determination on the ice and how it paid off for him and one of his buds on Henry's Lake in eastern Idaho.

Recorded Live at the 2017 Ice Institute. Dalton remembers his 8 lb rainbow trout caught in Pierre, SD.

Jim Mollison and some of his fishing buddies fished leased land in Colorado. They found big fish, and big stories.

Mike Dvorak has a lot of amazing stories. Some of them are even about fishing. Mike used to dream about catching big cutthroat trout when fishing backcountry lakes with his dad. Many years later, his dream would become reality.

Mike Dvorak is a professional photographer and part-time fishing guide in Minneapolis, MN. He has more adventure stories than most. One of his favorite fishing stories involves a trip to Canada with some new good friends.

Fishing for monkeys is not always fun as a fly angler.