 |
 |
 |
In The Episode
In this episode of the On The Water Podcast, we sit down with Captain Joe Fonzie, a 26-year Lake Erie guide known as the saltiest freshwater captain in the game. From 100-fish days to 6+ pound smallmouth, Joe breaks down what makes Lake Erie one of the best fisheries in the country — and how it’s evolved over the years with gobies, zebra mussels, and changing water conditions. We get into: Why are smallmouth the hardest-fighting freshwater fish How gobies changed the size of Erie bass forever The truth about forward-facing sonar vs old-school drifting Why casting downwind beats spot-locking for big fish The explosion of the walleye population (30–50 fish mornings) Seasonal patterns for targeting trophy smallmouth Tournament stories, 13-foot waves, and chasing 9-pound bass Plus, some classic guide stories, musky encounters, and why Joe still prefers keeping things old-school, no website, no fluff, just results. If you’re serious about freshwater fishing, especially smallmouth or walleye, this episode is loaded with real, on-the-water insight.
• Follow Captain Joe on Instagram
This episode is presented by Huk Gear
Supported by:
USE CODE OTWP26 for 20% OFF Pro-Cure!
