In our first episode, I invite MN musky angler and youtube content creator Kyle Friedges to join me.

Kyle operates the youtube channel Beyond the 8.

https://www.youtube.com/@cabbagedragonmedia

We discuss his recent trip to Eagle Lake, the in's and out's of pro staff, guides vs youtubers and the lack of positivity in musky fishing.

We give suggestions on baits that offer hang time for new anglers and even give some mods for the classic Suick.

Hope you enjoy 54 (plus) minutes with... Kyle Friedges.

Our community asked for it, and we got it. A very candid conversation with PhD and professor, Dr Sean Landsman from Carleton University. - We discuss Tiger Musky, warm water, deep water and barotrauma among other topics. Truly enjoyed this one, and if you do as well please leave a comment and we can invite him out again this off season. -

Project Nobel Beast https://www3.carleton.ca/fecpl/pdfs/F...

Brian is a friend, a mentor and one hell of a content creator. Join us in a conversation about Chaos Tackle, Eagle Lake, getting skunked, why we love musky fishing and why video matters.

Find Brian at

https://www.youtube.com/@AnglingAnarchy

Join me as I have a candid conversation with Gus Mantey, operator of Sugs Fishing guide service in WI, and co-host of the Muskies on Tap podcast.

One of the newer, younger musky anglers in North America, him and his brother rose to noterity by taking the PMTT championship by storm. However they continue to back up those credentials with solid fishing year after year.

With a history of working with Joe Bucher, being a podcast host of Not a Musky Podcast, and avid angler and hunter.

https://open.spotify.com/show/4KAOPkMBIEPsf1ISSjX5sw?si=5981ce4649074079

Tyler is an old soul in a young man, and has more years of experience than his age would allow.

We talk about fall fishing, confidence baits, the change from Green Bay to MN metro lakes to landing in International Fall along the Can/USA border.

Join us as we go well into overtime on this one.

Join Jeff and I as we wrap up the season with the best baits, we talk WI musky vs Sunset Country muskies. Tiger muskies. Technology and how to adapt and how tough musky fishing is going to get.

We go in depth on his Musky Academy

https://muskyacademy.com/

Join our conversation with Matt Lenz as we talk about the musky buddy and all the great products from the Net Buddy.

https://thenetbuddy.com/

In this conversation, Glenn McDonald and Adam discuss their shared history in fishing, the evolution of Adam's bait-making journey, and the challenges of balancing life with the demands of a growing bait business. They explore the intricacies of bait design, the importance of paint and aesthetics in lures, and the often-overlooked effectiveness of crankbaits in musky fishing. The dialogue highlights personal anecdotes, insights into the fishing community, and the passion that drives bait builders to innovate and succeed. In this conversation, Glenn McDonald shares his insights on muskie fishing, focusing on techniques, bait preferences, and the importance of learning from experienced anglers. He discusses the challenges faced during the fishing season, the unique ecosystem of Lake of the Woods, and how environmental changes impact fish behavior. The conversation emphasizes the significance of adapting fishing strategies and understanding fish behavior through technology.

https://www.facebook.com/toplinebaits

54 or Bust merch store

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This week we go in-depth with Matt Ridgway of Ridgway Customs LLC

We find out what makes his baits tick and how we can all benefit from using them.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057197840114

Ridgway Customs LLC

https://www.ridgwaycustoms.com/

For branded merch, check out

https://www.54orbust.com

I sit down with one of the cornerstone anglers of the musky industry, Jim Saric.

Famous for his Musky Hunter TV show, owner of Musky Hunter magazine from 1997-2018 and countless seminars and speaking events.

His list of accolade's is long and distinguished.

We talk the sale of musky hunter magazine, the shift from TV broadcasts to youtube and social media.

Where the industry is at, and where it's going.

I ask him if there can ever be another big three like they had at Musky Hunter magazine, Joe Bucher, Steve Heiting and Jim.

Who is the next musky industry spokesperson?

His thoughts on pay wall and subscription based content.

We go deep and I throughly enjoyed this one.

Check this conversation off the bucket list for me.

https://muskyhuntertv.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@MuskyHunterTV

Today we go on a deep dive on leaders and terminal tackle for musky fishing with John Bette or Stealth Tackle.

Find them at

https://www.stealthtackle.net/

For branded 54 or Bust merch

https://54orbust.com/en-cad/

Join me as we talk Sunset Country muskies with friend and mentor, Jeremy Smith.

How he got into the sport, how he manages to stay off social media. His favourite techniques for shield muskies.

Different baits and different colours. We deep dive into suspended crank bait fishing as well.

Plenty to take away from todays episode.

Find Jeremy at

https://www.youtube.com/@LindnerMedia

https://www.facebook.com/LindnersAnglingEdge

Freshwater fishing Hall of Fame, originator of Musky Hunter magazine, Joe Bucher Outdoors lures...

Simply put, in the musky world, LEGEND.

The history of musky fishing will always go throught Musky Hunter magazine, and through Joe Bucher.

Join us for a history lesson, a talk about how to be successful, how crank baits can teach you on the water.

This was bucket list stuff for me, I always aim to pay respect to those that came before us, and without Joe, modern musky fishing might not be what it is today.

https://www.joebucheroutdoors.com/

For 54 or Bust merch use the link for 25% off

https://54orbust.com/promo/54ORBUST

Join us for an exclusive announcement about the future of Boss Shad baits.

https://www.bossshad.com/

Watch the video here

https://www.youtube.com/live/3T82asuZ1Ws?si=zIJuLdh7yV1jM8_n

Steve Heiting is a legendary musky anglers and former editor of Musky Hunter Magazine.

http://www.steveheiting.com/

Heinrich, and partner, Mike Grant were some of the earliest anglers to self film musky fishing. The started Giant Quest on youtube and invented the EZ Cam Post system.

Join our amazing conversation about early video and figuring it out as you went.

https://www.facebook.com/EzCamPost

https://www.youtube.com/@TheGiantQuest

Larry Ramsell is a legendary musky angler and fishing historian.

Today we cover the early, and sometimes dark history of Eagle Lake and whether it can truly produce a 60 pound class, world record fish?

We talk conservation and the who and why we should be saving the industry.

Join us and enjoy.

If you would like to support the podcast and youtube channel, consider donating at

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

or purchase merch

https://54orbust.com/en-cad/products/the-54-or-bust-podcast-underarmour-t

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Find Larry here

https://www.larryramsell.com/

Today we go into the creation story of Red October Baits and how they have become popular.

We discuss the best way to maximize hook up percentage. And why they work so well, despite not looking like much in the water.

Check them out at

https://www.facebook.com/redoctoberbait/

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Check out the following video all about Red October Tubes

https://youtu.be/qiEU9ikKKRM?si=iCGSssNbpgdTKras

Join me as I have a chat with Byron Walker, the host of the annual Nestor Falls Musky Cup.

for more info on the cup,

https://muskycup.2cat.com/

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Or consider joining our patreon for exclusive content and in-depth behind the scenes extras.

patreon.com/54orBust

Today we visit with Brad Ruh, owner of Musky Innovations. We dive down the history path and how it came to be one of the true Hall Of Fame baits in the industry.

-

Find them

https://musky-innovations.myshopify.com/

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Or consider joining our patreon for exclusive content and in-depth behind the scenes extras.

patreon.com/54orBust

Sam is an content creator and musky angler from PA. His channel has been a great inspiration for our channel.

We cover youtube, musky fishing and his history with Eagle Lake, including his industry defining video series from 2024.

We dive into what it means to be a 'pro staff'

find Sam at

https://www.youtube.com/@sgangling

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Or consider joining our patreon for exclusive content and in-depth behind the scenes extras.

patreon.com/54orBust

Note: our internet connection was spotty and the audio has some glitches, but the content is too good not to share.

thanks Glenn

Join me in conversation with musky angler and scientist, Dr Bob Klindworth.

We talk muskies, populations at risk, who are we blaming for the tough fishing, and we go down the FFS lane.

This was a great one.

https://www.facebook.com/bob.klindworth.1

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Or consider joining our patreon for exclusive content and in-depth behind the scenes extras.

patreon.com/54orBust

I finally get a chance to sit and chat with Doug Wegner.

In a lot of ways he created the modern day self-filming craze of musky fishing, his Week on the Woods series set the stage for a new group of musky anglers to take up the sport and buy a gopro.

We talk muskies, memberships and the hard work that goes into the brand that is Doug Wegner Fishing!

https://dougwegnerfishing.com/

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Or consider joining our patreon for exclusive content and in-depth behind the scenes extras.

patreon.com/54orBust

Join Thatcher and I as we breakdown the opening week on LOTW and my home area around Eagle Lake.

We discuss the Drop Tine tubes, how tubes work for everything and we you have to be trying them.

This was one that was a long time in the making, and finally happy to get together with Thatcher for some LOTW talk.

Find Drop Tine Tackle at

https://droptinetackle.com/

💸 Support the ChannelDonate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/54orBust🧢 Shop 54 or Bust Merchhttps://54orbust.ca/

Brad Hoppe and his wife Carrie are the originator of the big flashabou baits, commonly known as the COWGIRL.

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There is more to Brad than just a bucktail, join us in a fascinating conversation as we cover a broad range of topics.

Brad is a true legend of the sport, first ballot HOF type of stuff here folks.

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Check out Musky Mayhem Tackle

https://musky-mayhem-tackle-llc.myshopify.com/

-

Mayhem's 10000 casts

https://www.youtube.com/@mayhems10kcasts

To help support the channel and podcast, consider a donation to

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/glennmcdonald106

Or consider joining our patreon for exclusive content and in-depth behind the scenes extras.

patreon.com/54orBust

When I started the 54 or Bust Podcast, I made a list of people I hoped I might one day get the chance to talk to. Some of them were musky legends. Some were people who shaped the fishing industry in different ways.

Jay Siemens was at the top of that list.

Jay has built a reputation as one of the most respected outdoor filmmakers in the world — blending fishing, cinematography, storytelling, and adventure into some of the most compelling content on YouTube. From the early days of Uncut Angling to building his own production company and YouTube channel, Jay has helped redefine what fishing content can look like.

But at the core of it all, he’s still a Northwestern Ontario angler who loves the same lakes and fisheries many of us grew up on.

In this conversation we dive into:

• The early days filming with Uncut Angling and working with Aaron Wiebe

• How he went from a fishing guide to a full-time filmmaker

• The evolution of fishing media from television to YouTube

• Why storytelling matters more than camera gear

• Filming legendary moments like the Bonesaw musky drone shot

• Behind the scenes of creating cinematic fishing films like A Week in Alaska

• The psychology of musky anglers vs multi-species fishing

• The reality of balancing family life with a career built around travel and fishing

• Why Northwest Ontario continues to produce some of the best anglers in the world

Jay also shares a deeply personal story about a future film he hopes to make about fishing with his grandfather — a reminder that at the end of the day, the stories we tell are about much more than fish.

If you're interested in fishing, filmmaking, or the future of outdoor storytelling, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Follow Jay Siemens

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JaySiemens
Website: https://jaysiemens.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaysiemens

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If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who loves fishing as much as you do.

Tight lines.

#MuskyFishing #JaySiemens #FishingPodcast #54orBust #OutdoorFilmmaking

In this video podcast episode, I sit down with Eric from Blacksheep Musky Tackle to talk about the mindset behind modern musky fishing, bait design, and what it really takes to stay innovative in a constantly evolving scene. We dive into strategy, fall patterns, and the philosophy that drives serious anglers to keep pushing forward — on and off the water. If you’re passionate about muskies, gear development, and the culture surrounding the chase, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the ideas shaping today’s musky world.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573413838941

Blacksheep Musky Tackle on Facebook