Mike and Ted’s Fishing Extravaganza

Join us for a hilarious and heartwarming sit-down with Mike and Ted as they dive into their legendary Fishing Extravaganza events from the 1990s! From wild contests to unforgettable moments on the water, they also share some epic tales from their Alaskan fishing adventures. Whether you’re a die-hard angler or just love a good story, this episode is packed with laughs, nostalgia, and a whole lot of fish talk.

Related: Willamette river bass adventure.

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From Two Broke Fishermen to a 14-Year Tradition

Mike and Ted’s Fishing Extravaganza started as a way to fund their own trip to Admiralty Island, Alaska: charge just enough from a group of buddies to cover the cost, then go have the adventure together. It ran for 14 years, growing from a handful of guys to 70-80 people, complete with sponsors, an auction, theme nights, and a boner hat for whoever pulled the dumbest move of the trip.

The Diamond Lake Years

Old wooden rental boats doubled as icebreakers on opening day, yellow jigs out-produced everyone else’s green frogs until word got out and the tackle shop sold out, and one year’s banquet ended with Diamond Lake’s staff knocking on the door at 3 a.m. asking for their prime rib back. Every story has a “boner hat” moment: the running gag of these trips was as important as the fish.

Why the Stories Matter

Mike and Ted’s advice for newer anglers tracks with everything we preach here: don’t be too proud to ask questions, hire a guide once in a while, and don’t be afraid to share what you know. Spot-burning fears are mostly overblown: “nobody’s going to spot burn for long anyway.”

FAQ: Running a Group Fishing Trip

What made a 1990s group fishing trip sustainable for over a decade?

Charging just enough to cover costs (not for profit), bringing in sponsors for gear and door prizes, and building running traditions, nicknames, awards, theme nights, that gave returning guests a reason to keep coming back every year.

Is it worth hiring a fishing guide if you already know how to fish?

Yes. Even experienced anglers can pick up one technique or local insight from a guide that changes their success rate, since guides fish the same water far more often than a weekend angler can.

Thanks for listening to Mike and Ted reminisce, if you’ve got your own group trip stories, drop them in the comments.