Episode #253 - Ice Fishing Safety and Strategy: Tip-Ups, Moving Fish, and Avoiding Disaster with Matthew Crawford

In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Crawford, a passionate Wisconsin angler who has built a reputation for sharing real-world fishing knowledge, honest experiences, and practical ice fishing tactics.

Matthew walks me through how he went from casually fishing with family to becoming deeply committed to ice fishing during COVID, including the early mistakes that shaped how he fishes today. We talk about why movement is critical on the ice, how to use tip-ups more effectively, and how understanding fish behavior can turn slow days into successful ones.

We also dive into ice safety in a very real way. Matthew shares a firsthand experience of falling through early-season ice and what he learned from it. It's a powerful reminder that ice fishing requires not fear, but respect, preparation, and caution.

This episode is packed with Wisconsin-specific insight, tactical advice for ice anglers, and lessons that apply whether you're brand new to fishing or have been chasing fish for decades.

Links:

• Wisconsin Fishing Club
• Matthew Crawford on YouTube
• Matthew Crawford on Facebook

Timstamps:

00:00 Introduction to Matthew Crawford and His Fishing Journey
02:20 The Evolution of a Fishing Enthusiast
05:17 Exploring Wisconsin's Fishing Hotspots
08:09 The Importance of Movement in Ice Fishing
10:50 Ice Safety Lessons Learned from Experience
17:29 The Reality of Ice Fishing Risks and Precautions
19:56 Understanding Tip-Ups for Northern Pike Fishing
26:13 Choosing the Right Hole Size for Ice Fishing
28:23 Strategies for Fishing New Bodies of Water
32:32 Techniques to Trigger Fish Strikes
37:43 Learning from Experience and Observation

"Episode 252 - Walleye Fishing Tactics That Actually Work with Joe Henry | Reading Water, Finding Fish & Chicagoland Fishing Expo"

In this episode of the HuntFishTravel Podcast, I welcome back Joe Henry, Executive Director of Lake of the Woods Tourism, to talk all things Chicagoland Fishing Expo and walleye fishing tactics that actually work. Joe breaks down the seminars he'll be presenting in Schaumburg, including how to read the water, where walleyes live and why, and how to apply the same tactics across different lakes and regions.

We get into practical strategies like doing your homework before you ever hit the water, identifying high-percentage spots, running a "milk run" on new lakes, and adjusting your approach based on wind, water color, light conditions, and fish behavior. Joe also shares real-world tips on efficiency, boat control, and small adjustments that can make a big difference whether you're fishing shallow or deep.

Along the way, we talk about learning from others, being willing to ask questions no matter your experience level, and how mentorship and community play a huge role in becoming a better angler. From personal fishing stories to the importance of giving back and helping others succeed, this episode is a reminder that fishing isn't just about catching fish, it's about growth, relationships, and time spent on the water.

00:00 Welcome and Expo Overview
01:22 Motivational Kickstart
05:09 Fishing Techniques and Learning Experiences
10:58 The Importance of Continuous Learning
15:37 Upcoming Seminars at the Expo
21:57 Fishing Conditions and Strategies
28:41 Fishing Memories and Family Bonds
29:34 The Importance of Veteran Organizations
31:29 Paid Forward: A Healing Fishing Event for Veterans
33:32 Understanding Veteran Experiences
38:01 The Chicagoland Fishing Expo: What to Expect
44:39 Building Community Through Fishing Events

In this episode of the HuntFishTravel Podcast, I sit down with Amy Siewe, better known as The Python Huntress.

Amy is a professional python hunter working on the front lines of conservation in Florida, helping remove one of the most destructive invasive species in North America. We talk about how she went from real estate broker to full-time python hunter, what it's actually like to hunt massive snakes in the wild, and why this work is so critical to protecting native wildlife in the Everglades.

We dive deep into how Burmese pythons ended up in Florida in the first place, the impact they've had on native mammals and ecosystems, what a real python hunt looks like, from spotlighting roads at night to catching snakes by hand, the largest python Amy has ever caught and a wild story to go with it, and how python hunting ties directly into scientific research and conservation.

This episode is fascinating, intense, occasionally jaw-dropping (I probably said "bananas" way too many times to count), and deeply rooted in responsible conservation. Amy's respect for wildlife and the Everglades comes through loud and clear and I walked away with a whole new understanding of just how serious the python problem really is.

Whether you're a hunter, angler, conservationist, or just someone who loves wild stories from the field, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Learn more or book a hunt: pythonhuntress.com
Follow Amy's adventures: @thepythonhuntress on Instagram and @pythonhuntress on Facebook.

Timestamps:

00:00 – 01:24 – Opening intro & setting the Everglades scene

01:24 – 02:37 – Meet Amy Siewe, The Python Huntress

02:37 – 04:05 – How Amy became a professional python hunter

04:05 – 05:48 – From thrill-seeking to conservation mission

05:48 – 07:16 – How Burmese pythons invaded Florida

07:16 – 08:47 – Population explosion & lack of predators

08:47 – 10:22 – How big pythons get (and how dangerous they could be)

10:22 – 12:18 – What pythons eat & ecosystem collapse

12:18 – 14:17 – Why the Everglades are the perfect python habitat

14:17 – 15:55 – How python hunts actually work

15:55 – 16:18 – Catching pythons by hand

16:18 – 17:30 – Spotting snakes at night

17:30 – 24:46 – The 17-foot, 110-pound python story

24:46 – 26:39 – Why live capture is necessary

26:39 – 29:07 – Research, data, and working with biologists

29:07 – 30:44 – Hair-raising moments in the field

30:44 – 31:39 – Licensing, legality, and invasive species rules

31:39 – 33:29 – Ethics, conservation, and respecting wildlife

33:29 – 35:25 – Booking a hunt & following Amy online

35:25 – 36:03 – Final thoughts & wrap-up