All Speakers

Truly a grass roots success story – From successfully competing in club competition, to earning a spot on the Idaho State Team, to making it to the federation championship, securing a tour card by winning the whole thing and twice now, B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year (2017 & 2022). After winning the Federation Nation National Championship he’s accumulated 31 top 10 finishes including six wins on the Bassmaster Elite Trails. He’s advanced to the Classic 11 times including a second place finish on Grand Lake in 2013.

Brandon is an approachable “star” and an outstanding ambassador to the sport.

Since then, Oliver has become a familiar face in the bass scene and is renowned for catching monster fish of many species with a specialty in double digit largemouth and 5+lb smallmouth bass. To learn more about Oliver and his fishing adventures visit www.YouTube.com/OliverNgy or his website, www.bigbassdreams.com.

He won his first boat at 26-years old, Is a 5-time Bassmaster Elite Series champion (Mississippi River, Okeechobee, Fla., Oneida, NY, Grapevine and Amistad – both in Texas), 10-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, and has earned over $3 million in career tournament winnings.  Twice he’s earned a Century Belt and entry into the Bassmaster Elite Series Century Club for breaking 100-pounds in a four-day event

 Many don’t know that Ish is originally from the mid-west.  His dad got him fishing when he was still in diapers and he pursued all species, “anything that would bite”, in Michigan. After moving to the West Coast, they targeted both fresh and saltwater. Ish’s first job, at 14-years-old, was at Hi’s Tackle Box in San Francisco and that was where his tournament life began with a club called The Bassholes. Nine years later, he qualified for the B.A.S.S. Top-150 (the B.A.S.S. circuit that preceded the Bassmaster Elite Series).  In 2006, Ish won the first-ever Bassmaster Elite Series event ever held. It was the first-event to award the winner $100,000.

 Ish prefers flipping, topwater, and frogging and is a true HAWG chaser.  When he’s not fishing?  He says “I’m always fishing.  I like to fish for anything. Carp, bluegill, crappie; as long as I’m fishing I’m happy”  He added, “I Love it.  For me it’s the purest thing in the world.”

Once he was old enough his competitive nature lured him to tournaments where he became
well known for consistent top finishes, many Championship appearances and 1st place finishes across Southern Ontario.

His growing passion for Smallmouth bass transitioned his angling skills from inland to the Great lakes and has never looked back. Now with over 15 years of experience on the Big Ponds he
spends his time targeting trophy Smallmouths, particularly in the Spring and Fall months where he guides customers to some of the biggest Smallmouth Bass that swim. He’s recorded catches of several
fish over 7lbs and 3 over 8 including his biggest 8.37lb from Lake Ontario. His #questforan8lbsmallmouth has now been changed to #questfora9lbsmallmouth. Nick also started a program teaching new anglers how to fish. Anything from trailering and boating skills to reading electronics, tackle setup and how to locate and catch bass.

Partners
Megabass of America 2014-present
Smith Optics 2014-present
Simms Fishing 2015-present
Daiwa Reels 2018-present
Garmin-2022-present

@IG nickcousvisfishing
@facebook Nick Cousvis
@youtube Nick Cousvis Fishing

Joe has shared fishing techniques, strategies and philosophies with thousands through seminars across the U.S. He has a way of communicating and connecting with audiences, not speaking over their heads, but sharing information in a way that is both understandable and beneficial, yet entertaining.

Professionally, Joe has enjoyed many leadership positions and serves on a variety of boards. His
professional background combined with his many fishing credentials lead him to his current role,
Executive Director of Lake of the Woods Tourism, where in 2022 he earned the Tourism Professional of
the Year award for the state of MN.

Joe works closely with 60 lodging facilities, area guides, and a variety of stakeholders. He is an active
outdoor writer with articles published in dozens of publications. He appears in outdoor TV shows,
produces videos, digital media, social media, and speaks about fishing and the outdoors across the
Midwest.

He has a passion for both Spoon and fly fishing as they are two of the oldest, most traditional methods of presenting artificial lures to fish. Marketing the world famous Eppinger Dardevle spoons has provided many unique adventure travel opportunities and quite literally fed his family for the past 15 years. Fly fishing is his passion feeding his soul with its wonder, and mystique for over 50 years. Spoons and flies are simply favorites, and he believes the most effective delivery systems to the magic world of fishing, using both when pursuing large predatory fish.

Working in the fishing industry as a Marketing Director, outdoor writer and seminar speaker, John enjoys the opportunity of sharing the adventure, magic and camaraderie of a sport that takes him to some of the most beautiful places on earth.

 Steve is co-owner of the University of Esox Musky Schools, conducts numerous musky fishing seminars, and serves as master of ceremonies for the National Championship Musky Open, the largest musky tournament in the world. Each spring, Steve is lead presenter at the first-ever college musky fishing course, at Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

 He is host of Steve Heiting’s Northwoods Musky Report, a weekly radio segment broadcast throughout Wisconsin’s northwoods during the summer on WJJQ Radio, and archived on all podcast formats. He also produces Steve Heiting’s Musky Tips on YouTube and social media.

 Steve has written, edited or contributed to 27 books about musky fishing and has produced five musky fishing DVDs.

Owner and operator of Resolute Sportfishing Charters out of Kenosha, Wi., Capt. Jerry spends over 100 days on the water every season perfecting his presentations to catch more trout and salmon for his customers and staying competitive in salmon tournaments.

Capt. Jerry is the founder of the successful and unique trout and salmon school, “Top 2 Bottom”. This class not only gives classroom instruction to be highly successful, but it also gives the students a chance to put it all to work. The students are taken out on the charter boat “RESOLUTE” and get the opportunity to run the presentations the make Resolute Sportfishing Charters so successful.

Capt. Jerry worked with Jim Grandt and Grandt Rods to develop several custom designed trolling rods just for the demands of battling Lake Michigan trout and salmon.
Capt. Jerry is one of the top seminar speakers on the western side of Lake Michigan, speaking at several of the largest Fishing and Outdoor show in the
Midwest. He is also a popular speaker at many of the sportfishing clubs in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
Capt. Jerry and Resolute Sportfishing Charters is a contributor to many charitable Organizations to include; The Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wisconsin Chapter, and The Oconto River Kids.

He is a seasoned Walleye Tournament Pro for over 3 decades, who has qualified for championships and was named Sportsman of the Year in the In-Fisherman Professional Walleye Trail. 

Bill is a US Coast Master Captain and has a wide list of sponsors that support him on the water. He is a Pro member of the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) and The Walleye Federation. 

Bill helps provide support to numerous 401C3 corporations and charity work throughout the industry.  Those in need include the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Fishing Has No Boundaries, Fishing for Autism, Minnesota Teen Challenge and various Veterans Fishing Programs. Bill also works with the Wisconsin DNR on programs supporting Conservation on a continual basis

He is honored to have been nominated by many industry experts and leaders for the 2023 induction into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame after spending decades in this industry. The list of personal endorsements for his nomination into the Hall of Fame includes U.S. Congressman (MN) Pete Stauber, Rick Rosalina – Show Producer – (OSG) Outdoor Sports Group, Chris Ruckdaschel – Executive Director – Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as other legendary Hall of Famers including Al Lindner, Jim Grandt, Ted Takasaki, Bruce DeShano and Bob Mehsikomer.

Bill also does numerous media broadcasts throughout the year. Back in the day he was a regular with Bob Maciulis on his Chicagoland “Outdoor Notebook” radio program as well as providing articles for his monthly Outdoor Notebook Magazine. More recently he’s been part of Mike Jackson’s “Mike Jackson Outdoors” show which broadcasts in Northern Illinois as well as a far reach in the Upper Midwest. Others include John Myhre’s “Wisconsin Northland Outdoors Radio” program up in Hayward WI that also go on a national podcast, Jay Angel on his “Let’s Talk Fishing” podcasts, Hurricane Jerry Huffar on his “The Fishin’ Hole” program and Carl Bachtel from Channel 3 in Cleveland, Ohio and his ”Inside the Great Outdoors” radio shows. He loves to talk fishing, sportsmanship, and just good conversation with all of them.

 Website

https://billkutkaangling.com

She is also a professional photographer, graphic designer, structural designer, and owner/operator of a successful business that caters to several markets, including the fishing industry. Through her YouTube channel (and other social media channels), sponsorships, and involvement in the fishing community, Violet has been an influential ambassador for the sport of fishing, especially inspiring other women, youth, and amateur anglers in building their confidence, techniques, knowledge, and skills in the sport.

His specialty is river smallmouth. In 2021 he was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall Of Fame. Few guides spend as much quality time with their clients sharing his expertise which makes for a memorable day on the water. Mike has authored 10 fishing books and has been published in many regional and national publications.