Paw Paw, Bill Joe and Waddell Discuss Whuppins, Shine and Life Lessons

DENVER (May 20, 2026) – Join Host Michael Waddell as he sits down with his father, James Edwin “Paw Paw” Waddell (73) and longtime family friend and mentor Bill Joe “Sammy” Ellison (78) for an inspiring stroll down memory lane. Overcoming a hardscrabble childhood and building a better life through determination, hard work and personal accountability are central themes to this lively conversation between lifelong friends who grew up during difficult times in the rural South. Both Paw Paw and Bill Joe are self-made men with long, hard-earned careers in construction, Paw Paw as a skilled carpenter and homebuilder and Bill Joe as an admired brick and stone mason, and they are our very special guests on The Michael Waddell Podcast, presented by Spandau Arms and in partnership with Folds of Honor, Cigars International and Poncho Outdoors. Learning a skill, working with your hands, and taking pride in the finished product used to be core American values, but it seems that somewhere along the line the tenets of a hard day’s work and the value of making an honest living were lost. However, today many folks are rediscovering the value of skilled trades – good paying jobs that are in demand and, for most, surprisingly satisfying. “We did work hard,” said Bill Joe, “but we always had fun and were laughing all day long.” These two family men still work very hard, so much so that Waddell raises his eyebrows –and gets a little worried – when they join him for chores at Downton Dixie.

In this emotionally rich podcast, Waddell gets to the heart of the matter, with a line of respectful but revealing questions that point to sometimes hard truths about life, making a way for yourself and the discipline and sacrifice that accompany responsibility. The two men Waddell admires most – the guys who taught him about soda crackers and hoop cheese, Vienna sausage and potted meat – his daddy and his ‘black daddy,’ Bill Joe, both had hard upbringings and entered the workforce as teens because of need, family circumstances and a burning desire to improve themselves and their situation.

The Michael Waddell Podcast is produced by Outdoor Sportsman Group and is available widely on Outdoor Channel YouTube, MyOutdoorTV, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and OutdoorChannel.com, to name a few.

For a short period after his mom and dad divorced in 1962, Paw Paw’s family moved to California (where his mother’s family lived) but eventually they returned to the South and sharecropped a small farm in Alabama. By that time, Paw Paw had a step-daddy who was a mean-spirited man. “One night at the supper table down at the old sharecropper’s house,” Paw Paw began, ‘I said ‘No’ to my Momma instead of ‘No, Ma’am,’ and he corrected me… it was my night to go to the dairy barn [early in the morning], and it was cold, so I had two pair of pants on. You didn’t wear your best shoes up there either, because you were gonna get in a mess coming back. Anyway, I got all the cows in, got ‘em fed down, and he says, ‘Hey, boy!” He called me into the milk room. He said, ‘Do you remember last night at the supper table when you said ‘No’ to your Momma instead of ‘No Ma’am?’ I said, ‘Yes, Sir.’ He said, ‘Well, you need to be taught a lesson.’ Look, he beat me… he pulled his belt off and he was whupping me so hard, the ceiling wasn’t but 7’ in that milk room, and he was whupping me so hard he busted a flood light out of the ceiling. …I had two pair of pants on, so it hurt my feelings more than anything. I got back down to the house that morning and walked in the back porch to take my shoes off, and the other kids were getting ready with my Momma and my sister, the oldest, and I kind of broke down. It hurt my feelings and pride more than it did me.” It was years later that Paw Paw learned his Momma and older sister had stood up for him and had been mistreated by his step-dad as well.

“After all was said and done,” continued Paw Paw, “I got behind in school because Momma wanted better for us kids and moved us around several times… I told Sammy [Bill Joe], this is my education right here [holding up his hand] – and his too [pointing to Bill Joe] – but it taught me a lesson, if anything, about how to treat kids, because I didn’t get treated right by my step-parent and never had stuff growing up that most kids have, and I tell folks – I know you’ve heard this [speaking directly to Michael Waddell] – I lived my childhood through you, my kid. I made sure he had the stuff that I never had.”

“But,” continued Paw Paw, “we always say, ‘Don’t make excuses about where you come from.’ We know where we come from. We were just talking earlier about all the famous people who have a lot of money, but you know, they’re no richer in heart than me and Sammy,” Paw Paw concluded.

“I have never got a whuppin’ I didn’t own,” said Bill Joe with a wry smile on his face. “Oh, man I did. But I had got so many whuppins that my brothers would do something and my dear Momma would say, ‘Who did this?’ and I’d tell her I did, because I got immune to them. It didn’t even hurt no more. Momma would say, ‘You ain’t gonna cry?’ My Momma had those big arms. She’d hit you, and then she’d stop and talk to you. I found out when I got grown what she was doing – she stopped [because] she was resting! And then she’d take some alchohol and put it on the welts and she’d say, ‘If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t do this.’ I said, ‘Momma, if you hated me, you’d kill me…’ She kept all of us out of jail. My Dad didn’t whup me that regular, but now he had a good mind; I might get six whuppins at one time, because he’d say, ‘You remember when Momma told you to do this?’ He’d save up. He’d get me for old and new whuppins,” said Bill Joe, with a chuckle.

“When I come up,” started Bill Joe, “I always had something to do. If I was staying at my grandparents or eating at home, you’d get off the school bus, take your good shoes off, put your raggedy shoes on, and get in the field. I’ve been working ever since I was 11 years old…”

“I used to have to go down and feed the hogs,” continued Bill Joe, “work in the garden, [and then] a guy named Fats Domino sang a song, I’m Gonna Be A Wheel Someday. …When I turned about 16½ years old – I wanted to leave home before then – but Mom said, ‘I’ll have you put in farm school because you can’t leave until you get 16,’ and I said, ‘Thank you for the information,’ and when I turned about 16½, out that door I went. I lived with some people; they were nice. I paid some rent to them, and I cooked and cleaned. I’d been cooking since I was 9.”

Both Paw Paw and Bill Joe left home early and met up as laborers on a construction crew. “I’ve always said, ‘If hard work would kill you, I’d been dead long ago,’” said Paw Paw.

“When we started, we both were ‘helpers,’ what I called ‘go-getters,’ said Bill Joe, “and that’s how we met…I love construction because you can take breaks when you get ready, and when it rains the Good Lord gives you a day off and you don’t need a doctor’s excuse. I wouldn’t work inside a plant for nothing. I couldn’t do it.”

When asked about racism in those days, Bill Joe noted that he didn’t really experience it until he left home because poor country folks – whether black or white – seemed to spend more time together and help one another. “I didn’t know anything about racism, black people go in that door and white people go in that door. I said, ‘Hell, I’ve been going through white folks’ doors all my life.’ I didn’t see any sense in it. There used to be a little juke joint there, and we had to go in the backside. But we had so much fun back there, the white people came from up front to be back there with us. We were back there dancin’ and jammin’ baby!”

“When I went to work in Columbus on the construction crew” Paw Paw added, “a guy named Albert Hines, I think he was retired military, but he was a crew leader and I worked on his crew. That black guy taught me how to cut step treads, we worked side to side out there in the hot sun on those concrete slabs, and he taught me how to cut rafters. He taught me more things I know about carpentry than any person, other than my learning as I went. But that black man named Albert Hines – he’s probably gone now – but I give him credit. He took his time and worked with me. It wasn’t but a few years that I worked with him that he moved up to job superintendent, and I went to crew leader. I didn’t have an education, but he taught me how to read blueprints, how to scale and do all this stuff… I couldn’t read or write, but I’d have a roll of plans, and I was only about 18 or 19 years old, and I could lay everything out and come back and frame it, and the older guys were mad at me because I knew more than they did, but Albert taught me.”

When asked what advice they’d like to give folks, Paw Paw said, “I’m a firm believer in work ethic…Teach them [children] how to work.”

“Everybody has a talent,” added Bill Joe. “Sit down and think about what you could be good at, and go to trade school or get with somebody to learn it. …Get off the couch, put the phone down and learn something,” said Bill Joe.

Reflecting on their hard lives, Bill Joe said, “I enjoyed the way I came up. It made me good.”

“I agree,” Paw Paw added. “My raising made me who I am. I learned by the wrong doings to do the right doings,” said Paw Paw.

“I’ve had some incredible guests on the podcast,” said Waddell, “but I think this was the most exciting one for me. When I was 16, my Momma passed away, and it seemed like everybody loved Momma, but I remember, it’s etched in my mind, Bill Joe being a pallbearer toting my Momma.…I get choked up thinking about it. I think about all the crazy division, all the crazy stuff you hear. That’s one reason this story is so important. This is what made me. I didn’t have it as hard as Paw Paw and Bill Joe – the toughest I had it was having to work with them, but I am so thankful for their example, and I think their stories of overcoming hardship and enduring friendship will resonate with a lot of folks.”

The Michael Waddell Podcast releases new episodes every other week.

Waddell’s story began in the backwoods of Booger Bottom, Georgia, where he grew up surrounded by nature, family and a love for the outdoors. A self-proclaimed “rowdy redneck,” his passion for hunting and storytelling led him to win a Realtree turkey-calling contest, which launched his career in the outdoor industry. From guiding and filming hunts to creating hit shows like Realtree Road Trips and Bone Collector, Waddell has become a beloved figure in the outdoor world.

About Outdoor Sportsman Group: Outdoor Sportsman Group is comprised of the world’s foremost media and entertainment brands for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. It includes four leading multichannel networks: Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and GAME & FISH TV, a dynamic new Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel dedicated to sports enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. Additionally, Outdoor Sportsman Group operates Sportsman Channel (Canada) and MOTV, the world’s leading subscription streaming platform created for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. The Group also consists of numerous established publishing assets, including 14 outdoor magazines such as Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, and In-Fisherman, along with 20 top websites. Outdoor Sportsman Group also includes television production operations through Winnercomm. For more information, visit www.outdoorsg.com.

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DENVER (May 19, 2026) – On the latest episode (#30) of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast, Ross Purnell, Editor/Publisher of Fly Fisherman Magazine, sits down with Mayfly Outdoors CEO Jeff Wagner in the spacious Montrose, Colorado, headquarters for Ross, Abel, Renzetti, Dyna-King, Airflo and several other brands. A true native of Sidney, Nebraska, Wagner grew up fishing the area’s small spring creeks for trout as well as the area’s numerous warm-water fisheries for bass, walleye, pike and other species, and he was mentored there by some folks he considers to be among the unsung heroes of fly fishing, guys like Monte Malzahn and Wayne Nelson. Wagner’s first fly fishing combo was a 9’ 5 wt. St. Johns combo from Cabela’s, and he fished local lakes and ponds with poppers for bluegills and bass.

“During the week, especially in the summer, when I wanted to fish, we had a little pond in town that had carp; but otherwise, I would spend a ton of time tying flies and casting,” Wagner explained about how he got his start. “I think that’s really where I learned to cast, actually was out in our cul-de-sac, wishing I was fishing somewhere and couldn’t be at 14 or 15 years old, and I’d spend hours out there beating up fly lines on asphalt, casting and tying flies. It was super windy and, honestly, that’s where I learned to cast,” Wagner admitted.

Listen to the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast, in partnership with Patagonia, G. Loomis, Mayfly Outdoors, TroutRoutes and Cigars International, on Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, and at FlyFisherman.com.

Not surprisingly, Mayfly Outdoors CEO Jeff Wagner got his start at Cabela’s, where he worked for about 15 years, during two different stints, and he worked in retail, first as an associate and later as a product specialist where he was tested on every area of the store. Eventually, he moved to customer service where he handled a hundred calls a day. While Wagner benefitted early on by having access to all of Cabela’s fishing merchandise and resources, there was another unique part of the company’s business that captured his imagination. “I’ve always been a fish nerd. Super nerdy. Aquariums, keeping fish, netting fish and all that. My undergrad was in Fisheries, but even before that started, I worked with a guy named Rob Zimmerman at Cabela’s – we were building retail stores pretty quickly – and he was the one in charge of putting the aquariums in all the retail stores, so I helped do a fair amount of that, managed some of the aquariums, built the aquariums’ life-support systems and installed a bunch of aquariums.”

Wagner left Sidney for a while, finished up a Biology degree, went on to work for the National Park Service doing native fisheries restoration, worked as a guide and helped start a fly fishing shop, got married, and eventually he found himself back in Sidney working for Cabela’s again in merchandise financial planning. He was doing inventory planning and sales planning for a variety of categories and finally became a divisional planning manager. “I helped do a lot of things internally,” he explained, “nerdy business stuff, doing ERP [Enterprise Resource Planning] system implementation , activity based cost implementation, demand forecasting and all sorts of other stuff. I loved it!”

According to Wagner, Cabela’s not only influenced his fly fishing career but also had a bigger influence on fly fishing than people realize. “They helped in making it accessible,” he said, “through the catalog business at the time, and they also did a lot for small businesses in the fishing industry (for example, our fly rod blanks were coming from G. Loomis when they were going through some tough times), and I remember the Cabela’s team helped smaller businesses get started. That was a belief of the Cabela’s Family and they were kind of an incubator for that…”

Wagner has been obsessed with casting ever since he purchased his first Cabela’s fly rod. “I

started casting early on. I was probably about 18-19 years old when I learned about the Federation of Fly Fishers (now Fly Fishers International) and their Certified Instructor program,” Wagner began, “and to me that was a way to pour myself into some kind of an end goal and learn about casting, and that was really a very pivotal thing for me in learning and meeting people in fly fishing. Guys like Tim [Rajeff] were part of that program. I’m definitely introverted, but when it came to a thing like that, I reached out…it was a really cool way to meet those guys. We’d go and just nerd-out casting. I remember going to the International Sportsmens Exhibition, early 2000s, and they had a casting competition called ‘The Best of the West,’ and it was a distance competition, and it was so cool.”

“For about 4 hours the fly fishing pond would be lined with guys like Mel Krieger, Tim and Steve Rajeff, Rick Hartman and Bruce Richards, just watching everyone cast for distance [using consumer gear]… It’s really where a lot of innovation came from…it was all about, ‘What’s my tracking doing? What’s the rod doing? What’s the line speed doing? When do I haul? What’s the acceleration? What’s an acceleration phase look like? What is the max rod load?’ All these different things. So, I started pursuing the Certified Instructor program and then the Master’s Certified Instructor program, and all along the way meeting those guys and spending time with them and teaching classes… Still today, I love the science behind fly casting. I still love the Mel Krieger mantra: ‘Fly casting is the essence of fly fishing.’ I believe it is. What defines fly fishing is the casting component, truly.”

Wagner had the following to say about his background and development as a fly fisher and his leadership role at Mayfly Outdoors: “Coming up the way that I did in fly fishing and meeting all of those people, to me the history, the legacy behind all of it is such a critical element of what it is and something that we need to protect. With Mayfly having brands like Airflo that’s been around for over 40 years and having Renzetti as part of it… We look at it truly as being a steward of a historic thing within fly fishing. Of course, there’s many elements to having a business like that. We want to sell vices and make sure that they’re out there. It also adds a manufacturing component, because they’re very good at Swiss-style machining, small parts that they do, but even bigger than that to me it’s about, ‘How do we honor the legacy that they built and the business that they built and the reputation that they built, so that 15, 20, 30, 40 years from now Renzetti is still alive and that legacy is still living on,’ and then we try to do that with all of the brands that we have because they all have this historical element to them, whether it’s Renzetti or Dyna-King, Ross or Abel. We’re not looking to be a massive collection of brands, but premium, legacy fly fishing brands are something that we hold pretty dear, and we want to make sure we’re good stewards of those brands and make sure we can keep them alive and keep the history behind it moving forward.”

“It’s a fly fishing business in a small town, and we try to make sure we bring forward an ethos and culture, as much as we can, of fishing,” Wagner stated, providing further insight to what makes the Mayfly Outdoors’ team so special, “and the crew here works incredibly hard and is incredibly dedicated… At Mayfly, we’re a B Corp, and I only bring that up because, part of the way we look at business is what’s called a ‘triple bottom line’ – people, profit and planet. …You can’t do anything in business without some kind of profitability. You have to be able to make money in order to support things. But the other part of that is people and planet. Obviously, this business can’t be profitable, can’t be making the things we do, without people. The people here are the number one part of the business that keeps it alive. And then, also the planet side of it, the conservation of it. And that’s not just something we say – you see it in everything that we do. That’s a big part of the reels that we come out with when we do a Native Series; it’s a big part of what people don’t see…as a percentage of revenue, we probably give more to conservation than any other brand.”

This info-packed podcast continues as Wagner fields all Purnell’s questions on a variety of new products and Mayfly initiatives, from the launch of the amazing new Ross Cimarron Creek Reel, which has “open source” pawls you can 3D print at home; to how the company manages to anodize reels in Colorado; to on-going collabs with unbelieveably gifted fish artists Derek DeYoung, Andrea Larko and Casey Underwood; to aluminum and fly line recycling; to a sidebar on Airflo’s TPU material fly lines, line weight and tactical taper choices; and finally to a new project with Abel Reels, Derek DeYoung and Benchmade – all to benefit Project Healing Waters. You won’t to miss a moment of what Mayfly has planned!

“I think that Jeff Wagner just might be the first fly fisherman that I’ve met from the state of Nebraska, but what a pleasure it was to visit with him, learn about his deep fly fishing roots and his amazing journey to Mayfly,” said Fly Fisherman’s Purnell. “We have a lot in common – not the least of which is we’re both fish nerds at heart – and it was wonderful to visit with him at the amazing Mayfly Outdoors complex and to take a deep dive on fly fishing gear and the mechanics and magic of fly casting. You can bet I’m looking forward to making a return trip to Southwest Colorado in the near future!

Available on Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, and at FlyFisherman.com the latest episode of Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast is a must-listen for fly fishing enthusiasts of all levels who want to stay informed.

About Outdoor Sportsman Group: Outdoor Sportsman Group is comprised of the world’s foremost media and entertainment brands for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. It includes three leading multichannel networks: Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network, as well as Sportsman Channel (Canada) and MOTV, the world’s leading subscription streaming platform created for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. The Group also consists of numerous established publishing assets: 14 outdoor magazines including Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 20 top websites. Additionally, Outdoor Sportsman Group includes television production operations, Winnercomm. For more information, visit www.outdoorsg.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com

Live from Orange Lake in Ocala, Florida, with 32 Anglers Competing for Top Prize of $100,000 and Multiple Big Bass Bonuses

DENVER (May 15, 2026) – Streaming live on MLFNOW! from Orange Lake near Ocala, Fla., 32 of the best pro anglers from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour are competing in the seventh-annual Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops, and it’s all available on MyOutdoorTV.com.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the all-star tournament showcases the 32 pros who qualified from the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season competing for a top prize of $100,000 to the winner. Anglers will also be awarded Berkley Big Bass bonuses during the competition, that pay $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of Group A & B Qualifying Rounds; $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round. To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

With an expansive library of thrilling fishing shows, MyOutdoorTV offers unparalleled access to the action-packed world of Major League Fishing, from MLFNOW!Ò Live Streams to Major League Fishing and The Bass Channel and thousands of hours of on demand content. Whether you’re a dedicated angler or simply love the thrill of competitive fishing, this streaming service is your gateway to the world of Major League Fishing. MOTV is Outdoor Sportsman Group’s No. 1 global subscription streaming platform.

About MyOutdoorTV:
MyOutdoorTV is the No. 1 global subscription streaming platform from Outdoor Sportsman Group created just for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. MyOutdoorTV features favorite Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel Canada television shows, exclusive Major League Fishing content, acquired content from around the world, as well as exclusive MyOutdoorTV Originals. MyOutdoorTV is the pre-eminent voice for all outdoor enthusiasts and super serves the outdoor enthusiasts with an expansive acquired library of the best hunting, fishing and shooting programming in long and short form, recipes, tips and tricks, how-to instructional videos, as well as educational and exclusive content focusing on improving success in the field and on the waterways. MyOutdoorTV is powered by the four networks, along with additional exclusive content available from Outdoor Sportsman Group’s established integrated media arm that includes 14 category-leading outdoor magazines, such as: Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 20 top websites. Subscribe at www.MyOutdoorTV.com and watch on the following platforms: Apple iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, Prime Video (US and Canada), Amazon Fire TV, Samsung SmartTV, LG SmartTV, Vizio SmartTV, YouTube TV, Xumo, YouTube Primetime Channels, The Roku Channel, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Comcast, and Cox. MyOutdoorTV is available in 162 markets worldwide. #MYOUTDOORTV.

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DENVER (May 13, 2026) – Firearms News, the trusted authority for firearms enthusiasts for over 80 years, has released its May ’26 issue featuring a cover story by Dr. Will Dabbs on Auto-Ordnance’s M1 Thompson Short-Barreled Rifle. Dabbs provides an in-depth review of this remarkable new rifle, offering readers critical insights and performance analysis. Firearms News is the ultimate source for firearms enthusiasts and is available now at newsstands, including Walmart, Barnes & Noble and other major book retailers.

Vincent L. DeNiro, Editor-in-Chief of Firearms News, shared his thoughts on this must-read magazine: “You can count on every issue to be packed with deep-dive gun reviews along with columns rich with technical analysis of firearms, and we will always include no-compromise Second Amendment coverage.”

Also, inside the May issue of Firearms News:

• Springfield Armory’s Iwo Jima Commemorative Garand: A memory… from Italy! by Pierangelo Tendas
• Maschinenpistole 40 – The Submachine Gun in the Hands of Over a Million Nazis Soldiers in WWII by Leroy Thompson
• Germany’s MG34 (Maschinengewehr 34) – Forerunner of Today’s General Purpose Machine Guns by Leroy Thompson
• The M1919 Browning Air-Cooled Machine Gun by Leroy Thompson
• Carrying Concealed: Packing a WWII-Era Pistol by James Tarr
• Musings From the Ammo Bunker: The Red Army’s 7.62x54R WWII Loads by David M. Fortier, Executive Editor
• Through the Looking Glass: Hi-Lux Optics’ Reproduction U.S.M.C. Sniper Scope: 8X VSC by David M. Fortier, Executive Editor
• In Hushed Tones: The Mysterious Suppressed OSS Pistol of WWII by Patrick Sweeney
• Newsstand: West Virginia’s Machine Gun Litmus Test for States Claiming Second Amendment Allegiance, Ramaswamy’s Ohio Governor Bid and the 2A, Casey Putsch for Ohio Governor: The Real Deal When It Comes to Guns. These stories by Darwin Nercessian and David Codrea.
• Product Showcase: Expanded WWII Special Edition!

Celebrate Firearms News’ 80^th Anniversary and pick up an issue today at newsstands to stay informed. Don’t miss out—subscribe now, save money, and never miss an issue!

About Outdoor Sportsman Group Publishing: As a premier destination for the most avid outdoors enthusiasts, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s publishing division is widely recognized for its strong special-interest multichannel brands, including Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 9 other leading magazines that reach more than 22 million readers. Outdoor Sportsman Group’s network of websites, including BassFan.com, Rifleshooter.com, Outdoorchannel.com, Sportsmanchannel.com and MyOutdoorTV.com, attracts millions of annual unique visitors, and OSG produces hundreds of TV episodes of original branded hunting, sport shooting and fishing programming that airs on Outdoor Sportsman Group’s broadcast entities. Visit http://outdoorsg.com for more information.

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DENVER (May 13, 2026) – The Bowhunter Podcast, in partnership with Poncho Outdoors, recently sat down for an info-packed conversation with Paige Pearce, Bowtech pro shooter, world champion archer and passionate bowhunter. Podcast Host Christian Berg, Associate Publisher/Editor in Chief of Bowhunter Magazine, visited with Pearce to follow up on her recent feature article, “Sharpen Your Edge!” in the magazine’s May/June issue, on sale now. The article focuses on Pearce’s mental training program and how it has contributed to her archery – and bowhunting – success. Before the recording of this podcast, she had just returned from a very closely contested 2026 Archery World Cup Stage 1 event in Puebla, Mexico, and before posting of this podcast she had made history once again on her home turf, breaking a personal best and, for the 11^th time, winning the Female Pro Division of the NFAA’s Marked 3D National Championship held May 1-3 at the Western Classic Trail Shoot in Redding, California.

Pearce certainly is among the most accomplished female compound shooters of all time. She set her first state record at age 10, made the U.S. Archery Team at 13 and turned pro at 15. She has won 12 world titles and countless more tournaments across the field archery, 3D and World Archery formats. Pearce is one of the few archers who makes her entire living shooting her compound bow, and she participates in many different disciplines (both indoor and outdoor), so between various tournaments, seminars and other events, there’s not much room for bowhunting; however, as hard as she works and as much as she loves target archery, she claims to love bowhunting even more.

A California native, Paige Pearce was introduced to DIY, public-land hunting by her parents, and she thrives on the challenge of hunting with the bow and arrow because there are so many unknowns that must be overcome. “I think that’s what makes bowhunting so exciting,” she began. “I love the adrenaline. I’m a competitor by nature. I definitely thrive off of that competition type feeling, but nothing compares to the adrenaline of bowhunting. …There’s so many different factors and stuff you can’t control, and I think that’s what makes it feel so electric.”

When asked about what separates the good archers from the great, and what helped her consistently step onto the podium, she shared the following:

“At the top level, just like any other sport, everyone can shoot a bow. It’s who can do it when it matters most, in the heat of the moment, under pressure, and those are typically the people who will come out on top. Now, there’s always rarities,” Pearce continued, “but in archery, it’s not just a one-hit wonder; it’s about consistency and longevity and so, if you want to be consistently on the podium or at the top of the podium, you must have a mental game. You have to be able to handle that pressure and do it weekend after weekend, format after format. I recognized that early on,” Pearce added. “I was competitive my whole life. I played sports, I did other things, I even played the fiddle competitively. If there was a competition, I wanted to be in it. I very much learned, even through other sports, that there were people who would be so great in practice and then I’d just watch them fail and fail and fail, time and again, when it really mattered the most, when it was time to step up to the plate. So, I dove into the mental training at a very young age. I think I was 10-years-old when I first started that. I was actually at the Vegas Shoot and there was a raffle for one of Lanny Bassham’s books called With Winning In Mind. …I read that book out loud in the car on the way home, and that’s where my journey started.”

With more than two decades of experience in building up her own mental game, Pearce is now sharing what she has learned. She has developed her Insight Mental Programming educational series to help archers improve their own performance. The program includes modules to address specific challenges, such as overcoming target panic, building confidence, beating buck fever and more.

“One of the most important things,” Pearce said, “is you want to have practiced enough and shot enough arrows that every element of your actual shot itself is subconscious. No one is out there swinging a baseball bat thinking about how they’re going to lift their leg and do all this stuff – they just swing; it’s natural to them. If a police officer has to pull a gun on someone, I want an officer who has done that so many times and practiced that routine so that the gun is out of the holster and everything is good. I don’t want some person who has never done it and their gun gets stuck in the holster. The more you do something, the more smooth and repetitive that becomes, because that act is transitioning from your conscious mind running it to the subconsious mind is now running that, which is really the stronger, more fluid part of our mind. So, everything we do in archery, ideally, we will have built into the subconsious so in those moments when there isn’t time to think…the subconscious just kicks in and does it’s job. So, ideally, if bowhunters have practiced enough, at least their shot elements are built into the subconsious. That’s the first step…”

When asked about handling buck fever, Pearce admitted that she still gets nervous. “I still feel the adrenaline hunting; I always will. But, before I’d done all this mental programming, I used to feel it before the shot. I’d see the animal and the adrenaline would spike, and I’d hook my [release] up and I’d see my hand quivering, waiting to draw the bow back; but now I’ve transition to where I can hold that off, I can contain that, I can stay calm, I can stay mentally focused, I can make a good shot and, usually, it’s when my bow fires that then the adrenaline rush hits.”

“I wish that this was something that more people took seriously, and that more people did,” confided Pearce, “because they’d have so much more success. I can honestly attest over my years of bowhunting that when I started the mental training, it wasn’t because of bowhunting, I started the mental side on target, focused primarily on target, but then when I went bowhunting I saw that start to carry over and I was like, ‘Okay, I care so much about bowhunting, you put in so much time, money, effort, all the things, going out of state, getting tags, getting ready for these hunts, that I should also be putting that much mental effort into the hunting success, just like I do the tournament side.’”

“One of the things I love about the archery community,” said Host Christian Berg, “is the willingness of pro archers to share what works with fellow archers, and that extends to bowhunters like myself. Paige Pearce is an incredibly hard-working and successful archer, literally competing at the highest levels, but she loves bowhunting too, and it was wonderful to spend time with her and to learn how having a mental game can help you in the moment of truth on big game.” To learn more about developing your own mental game for archery and bowhunting, visit Paige Pearce’s Insight Mental Programming.

The episode is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Podbean. Watch the full episode here. Additionally, pick up the latest issue of Bowhunter Magazine on newsstands or subscribe.

About Outdoor Sportsman Group Publishing: As a premier destination for the most avid outdoors enthusiasts, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s publishing division is widely recognized for its strong special-interest multichannel brands, including Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 10 other leading magazines that reach more than 22 million readers. Outdoor Sportsman Group’s network of websites, including BassFan.com, Outdoorchannel.com, Sportsmanchannel.com and WFN.com, attracts more than 62 million annual unique visitors, and OSG TV produces hundreds of TV episodes of original branded hunting, sport shooting and fishing programming that airs on Outdoor Sportsman Group’s broadcast entities. Visit http://outdoorsg.com for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com

DENVER (May 11, 2026) – Outdoor Channel invites viewers to enjoy a true “taste” of the outdoors every Monday evening in May during the “Taste Of The Wild” block. Airing from 7-10:30 p.m. ET, this must-see lineup is a treat for the taste buds that’s sure to inspire viewers’ own efforts to make memorable meals of their fish and game in the kitchen, on the grill and smoker, or even over the campfire.

The outstanding “Taste Of The Wild” block of wild game cookery includes:

Fishing the Wild – 7:00 p.m. ET: Every episode of Fishing the Wild, English restaurateur, hunter, adventurous fisherman and Michelin-star honored Chef Mike Robinson and his team of wild fish experts share their skills and techniques to sustainably catch and prepare amazing fish and seafood. This week’s episode, “New York Fly Fishing The Salmon River,” spotlights fly fishing action on the incredible salmon and steelhead fishery that flows into Lake Ontario.

WildFed – 7:30 p.m. ET: Each week, WildFed Host Daniel Vitalis heads into wild places near and far to hunt, fish and forage for foods that once connected people to their communities and their land. Joined by friends, experts and chefs of all kinds, Vitalis shows how the natural bounty of each trip can be transformed into memorable, healthy meals. In this week’s episode, “Open Season: Porcupine, Squirrel, and Woodchuck,” Vitalis hunts in his own Maine backyard for a trio of overlooked wild meats.

MeatEater – 8:00 p.m. ET: Renowned hunter, author, cook and conservationist Steven Rinella has built his reputation on trekking into the world’s most beautiful and remote locals and bringing game meat from field to table. Every episode is an adventure, and in this week’s show, “That’s What Makes it Magic: Coastal Alaska Mixed Bag,” Rinella and his friend Mo Fallon trap shrimp and fish for yelloweye rockfish before climbing into the alpine of a remote, rain-soaked island in search of Sitka blacktails. In true Rinella fashion, along the way the two outdoorsmen talk about life, work, friendship and hunting.

Dead Meat – 8:30 p.m. ET: Each week, join Scott Leysath, one of America’s premier wild game chefs, as he travels to new destinations to see how others harvest and cook some of the least desirable creatures with fur, fins, feathers, spines – and slime! Along the way, he’s sure to meet some very interesting folks whose claim to fame is transforming far-from-the-mainstream critters into delicious table fare, or maybe not. Don’t miss a single episode as Chef Leysath hunts, fishes, traps and grabs animals you might not think of eating, but he does. In this week’s episode, “Boom Chachalacas,” Chef Leysath makes one last attempt at his personal white whale and takes aim at the chachalaca.

Life of Fire – 9:30 p.m. ET: Every week on Life of Fire, legendary pitmaster Pat Martin takes viewers on a food adventure, embedding himself with grillmasters and pitmasters who have mastered the uniquely American tradition of BBQ and sharing those masters’ personal stories and local cooking traditions. In this week’s episode, “South Carolina Ribs,” Martin teams up with friends and fellow pitmasters, Bryan Furman and Dr. Howard Conyers, to explore the rich history of barbecue and moonshine within rural Black communities and showing how they carry that tradition on today by cooking ribs over an open pit.

Duck Camp Dinners – 9:30 p.m. ET: In this first episode of Season 4, “Atchafalaya Kickoff: Crabs, Cats & Teal,” Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois begins in the Bayou State’s Atchafalaya Delta with a new camp and a weekend of work and reward – running crab traps and jug lines and wading through the mud to hunt for teal and mottled ducks – and capping it all off with a porch feast of grilled blue crabs, duck spaghetti and trout. Tune in each week as Chef Bourgeios, a passionate, lifelong hunter, explores waterfowl country and duck-camp culture, and showcases the culinary skills and “generational recipes” that make for unforgettable meals.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Fly Fisherman Magazine Presents: The Shoals, airing right after Duck Camp Dinners on Monday, May 11, at 10:00 p.m. ET. Join the Fly Fisherman crew on a wild exploration chasing sharks and giant trevally on foot in the paradise of St. Brandon Atoll. You can catch The Shoals again on Saturday, May 16, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Catch up on past seasons of many of these shows on MyOutdoorTV, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s number one streaming service. MOTV is available to subscribers on ALL DEVICES, from a big-screen TV at home to a phone in a bass boat or a treestand in the woods. For subscription information, visit MyOutdoorTV.

About Outdoor Channel: Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1994. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com

Live Event on Douglas Lake with Anglers Competing for Top Prize up to $135,000

DENVER (May 8, 2026) – Streaming live on MLFNOW! on MyOutdoorTV from Douglas Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee, a field of up to 150 pro anglers are competing in the 2026 Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 4 Presented by Phoenix Boats. The three-day tournament, hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN features anglers competing for a top prize of up to $135,000. Competitors will take to the water to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.

The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition (May 8-10) from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET. on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.

The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a field of up to 150 professional anglers competing across six tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.8 million and valuable 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla., as well as REDCREST 2027 qualification and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s top circuit.

With an expansive library of thrilling fishing shows, MyOutdoorTV offers unparalleled access to the action-packed world of Major League Fishing, from MLFNOW!Ò Live Streams to the Major League Fishing Channel and thousands of hours of on demand content. Whether you’re a dedicated angler or simply love the thrill of competitive fishing, this streaming service is your gateway to the world of Major League Fishing. MOTV is Outdoor Sportsman Group’s No. 1 global subscription streaming platform.

About MyOutdoorTV (MOTV): MyOutdoorTV is the No. 1 global subscription streaming platform from Outdoor Sportsman Group created just for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. MyOutdoorTV features favorite Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel Canada television shows, exclusive Major League Fishing content, acquired content from around the world, as well as exclusive MyOutdoorTV Originals. MyOutdoorTV is the pre-eminent voice for all outdoor enthusiasts and super serves the outdoor enthusiasts with an expansive acquired library of the best hunting, fishing and shooting programming in long and short form, recipes, tips and tricks, how-to instructional videos, as well as educational and exclusive content focusing on improving success in the field and on the waterways. MyOutdoorTV is powered by the four networks, along with additional exclusive content available from Outdoor Sportsman Group’s established integrated media arm that includes 15 category-leading outdoor magazines, such as: Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 20 top websites.  Subscribe at www.MyOutdoorTV.com and watch on the following platforms: Apple IOS, Android, Roku, Roku Channels, Apple TV, Xbox, Amazon Channels (US and Canada), Amazon Fire TV, Samsung SmartTV, LG SmartTV, Vizio SmartTV, YouTube TV, Xumo, YouTube Primetime Channels, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Comcast, and Cox. MyOutdoorTV is available in 162 markets worldwide. #MYOUTDOORTV. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com

DENVER (May 8, 2026) – Friday nights are all about family drama – the good kind – and lots of inspiration and fun during the “All In The Family” block on GAME & FISH TV, a dynamic new FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) channel powered by Outdoor Sportsman Group. Every Friday in May, don’t miss the four-hour McMillan Marathon followed by two full hours of the captivating, unfiltered docuseries, Kid Rodeo.

Settle in for hours of real-life adventure and heartwarming stories of families meeting life’s every challenge.   

Tune in Fridays for GAME & FISH TV’s “All In The Family” lineup, 6:00 – 11:30 p.m. ET:

McMillan – Now in its 13^th Season, McMillan follows the life of Kansas cowboy and outfitter Tom McMillan, along with his angel-of-a-wife Jacque and young son Gatlin, as well as other family members. McMillan juggles family life and his high-profile clients in this hilariously honest look into the world of one of the country’s most beloved outfitting families. “The only full-time job I have is being me,” confides McMillan in the first episode of this season. “I’m part-time cattleman, part-time farmer, part-time veterinarian, part-time hunter, part-time roper, but the me part is a dad and a husband. So that never changes. There’s a lot of things thrown at me during the day that, I don’t know, I wish I would have gone to a little more schooling instead of the School of Hard Knocks.” Episodes for this season include: “Sand Hill Plums,” “Tom Goes Elk Shopping,” “Back to School and Rodeo Ready,” “Livestock and Pie Crust,” “Tending the Elk Herd,” “Colorado Roping,” “McMillan Family Goes Rodeo,””Gatlin Becomes a Patient Hunter,” “Clients in Camp for a Monster Buck,” “Big Buck Right There,” and there’s so much more. “My work is this place,” says McMillan, “and all the good that goes along with it, so it’s kept me going this long.”

Kid Rodeo – Filmed in interview-style, this compelling docuseries follows the lives of six promising and very talented young rodeo competitors, and it’s told through the voices of the young stars, their parents, their coaches, pastors and other family members. The determined young athletes all want the same thing – to compete and win and make it to the highest level of rodeo – and in this series that’s the Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. Viewers won’t want to miss a single moment as these aspiring rodeo stars give all they’ve got to pursue their dreams of fame and fortune. From competing in the Texas circuit to competing in the bright lights of Las Vegas, these kids experience serious injuries, extreme pressure and for some, a life-changing windfall. “It takes a lot to be a rodeo kid,” admits one Rodeo Mom. “You have to have a lot of discipline. You have to be self-driven. Because the way you practice is the way you’re going to perform. So, if you’re just halfway doing it, then, obviously, when you get in that arena you’re going to just halfway do it, and you’re not going to win.” Season 1 episodes include: “It Ain’t Supposed to be Easy,” “Stepping Stone to Sin City,” “You Don’t Mess with My Boys,” “I Don’t Like Talking About Abilene,” “Drive, Drive, Drive!” “We Need to Call it a Night,” “Party Baby!” and “I Wouldn’t Get Near Me.”

Mother’s Day Weekend: Celebrate Sporting Moms with The Sporting Chef, Winchester Deadly Passion, Driven with Pat and Nicole and Crush with Lee and Tiffany, 5/9 and 5/10.

Memorial Day Weekend: Grill with the best of ‘em during the Holiday BBQ with Hardcore Carnivore and Life of Fire, 5/23 and 5/24.

Drawn from the extensive libraries of Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network and MyOutdoorTV, GAME & FISH TV offers viewers an incredible variety of programming across key outdoor genres. Here’s a sampling of what to watch this month:

• Adventure & Lifestyle at 6:00-11:30 p.m. ET
  Enjoy our Wardens marathon every Saturday.
• Hunting at 6:00-11:30 p.m. ET
  Catch fan-favorites like Bone Collector and Jim Shockey’s Uncharted (Thursdays).
• Fishing 6:00-11:30 p.m. ET
  Tune in for Fishing the Midwest and Jon Thelan’s Destination Fish (Tuesdays).
• Shooting Sports at 10:00-11:30 p.m. ET
  Watch always entertaining episodes of Guns & Ammo and Handguns (Sundays).

Tune in to GAME & FISH TV on The Roku Channel, Prime Video, VIZIO,  Fire TV Channels, Plex, Samsung TV Plus, Truth+, OutdoorChannel.com, GameandFishMag.com, Free Live Sports, LocalNow and MyOutdoorTV with additional outlets coming soon.

Discover GAME & FISH TV today.  For more information, please visit www.gameandfishtv.com.

About Outdoor Sportsman Group: Outdoor Sportsman Group is comprised of the world’s foremost media and entertainment brands for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. It includes four leading multichannel networks: Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and GAME & FISH TV, a dynamic new Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel dedicated to sports enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. Additionally, Outdoor Sportsman Group operates Sportsman Channel (Canada) and MOTV, the world’s leading subscription streaming platform created for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. The Group also consists of numerous established publishing assets, including 14 outdoor magazines such as Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, and In-Fisherman, along with 20 top websites. Outdoor Sportsman Group also includes television production operations through Winnercomm. For more information, visit www.outdoorsg.com.

About GAME & FISH TV:

GAME & FISH TV is a premier FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel dedicated to outdoor and adventure enthusiasts. Celebrating “The Sporting Lifestyle,” the channel delivers a diverse lineup of high-energy, free programming, including live events, adventure stories, hunting action, expert fishing tips, and wild game cooking showcases.

Backed by the extensive resources of Outdoor Sportsman Group, GAME & FISH TV draws from the libraries of Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and MyOutdoorTV to offer top-tier content that captures the spirit of the outdoors. Available on leading platforms such as Roku, VIZIO, Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, Amazon Fire TV, Truth+, Free Live Sports, LocalNow and Plex, with additional outlets constantly expanding, GAME & FISH TV brings the excitement of the great outdoors straight to your screen—at no cost.

For more information, visit www.gameandfishtv.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com

DENVER (May 7, 2026) – Discover amazing angling destinations and live the fishing lifestyle on World Fishing Network every week during “Reel World Sundays” a promo lineup starting at 6 p.m. ET. Every Sunday evening in May, viewers head to Africa – one of the last great places to catch truly big, wild fish – for one extreme fishing adventure after another: Hooked on Africa, Hooked on Travel, Reel Africa, Inside Angling and Wildfly. Then viewers are treated to all-new episodes of fan-favorites Tommy Gomes’ The Fishmonger and Mike Robinson’s Wild Fish Masterclass, two shows guaranteed to inspire fish chefs at home. Lastly, join world-traveling angler Carter Andrews as he shares his unrivaled passion for the fishing lifestyle.

Must-see programs on the “Reel World Sundays” block include:

Hooked on Africa (6:00 p.m. ET): Having spent the last decade filming the dramatic landscapes that define wild Africa, and pursing the incredible array of gamefish that are indigenous to the continent, Hooked on Africa takes the finest destinations and most exhilarating moments from the popular Inside Angling and WildFly fishing series and showcases the wildest fishing to be found in Africa and the Indian Ocean. In this week’s episode, “Semonkong,” the team visits Lesotho and the Semonkong Lodge on the banks of the Maletsunyane River to fish for the wildest trout in Africa.

Hooked on Travel (6:30 p.m. ET): This intrepid bunch will undertake any angling adventure. No fishing ground is too extreme, and they will pick a fight with any fish on the wildest waters. In this week’s episode, “The Skeleton Coast,” the Hooked on Travel team visits the stretch of Namibia’s northern coastline that has claimed more ships and spun more tales of sunken treasure than anywhere else in Southern Africa. Despite inclement conditions, the team discovers a variety of species unique to this apparently barren coastline.

Reel Africa (7:00 p.m. ET): The Reel Africa team is comprised of angling talents from all facets of fishing, and supported by a wealth of knowledge and help from local gurus who fish the African waters every day, their goal is to use whatever tackle and techniques are necessary to showcase the treasure trove of gamefish to be found inland and around Africa. In this week’s episode, “Royal Flush,” the Reel Africa team visits Mozambique’s waters off Beira, a light tackle angler’s paradise.

Inside Angling (7:30 p.m. ET): Africa’s coastline remains one of the last frontiers where big fish roam. Every week the Inside Angling team follows the migration of pelagic species and ventures to remote archipelagos in search of the resident legends. With a fascinating underwater perspective, and using the latest developments in artificial lures, the team reveals the incredible array of species to be found in the Indian Ocean, abiding by the catch-and-release ethos to sustain this amazing fishery. In this week’s episode, “Karoo Gold,” the Inside Angling team travels to South Africa’s great Vanderkloof Dam where they target a variety of fish species.

Wildfly (8:00 p.m. ET): Fish the uncharted waters of Africa each week, from massive lakes to mighty rivers and untamed coastlines to remote atolls. The Wildfly crew of fly fishing fanatics spotlight the diverse species of gamefish that can be found in Africa. The breathtaking scenery and remarkable wildlife makes for captivating viewing. In this week’s Best of Wildfly episode, “Sabi River,” the team heads to Kruger National Park to join a scientific research team’s effort to tag and track the indigenous tiger fish.

The Fishmonger (8:30 p.m. ET): Each episode, join 4^th generation commercial fisherman Tommy Gomes as he journeys along the Atlantic Coast and connects with the men and women who put the best seafood on America’s dinner tables. Gomes joins Michelin star chefs and others who are equally passionate about making the most of their catch. In this month’s first episode, “Run, Mullet Run!” Gomes runs down mullet and Maine lobsters.

Wild Fish Masterclass (9:00 p.m. ET): English restaurateur Mike Robinson is one of the world’s most prominent game chefs, and he co-owns the only pub in Britain with a prestigious Michelin-star. Wild Fish Masterclass is a step-by-step guide to cooking amazing restaurant-style dishes from start to finish. Robinson cooks in easy to follow stages in his development kitchen. With the help of fellow chefs, he also shares the professional methods and tips to help viewers at home elevate their wild fish cooking into truly Michelin-caliber food. On this week’s episode, “Pollack Kiev,” Robinson and Chef Jon Coates prepare Pollack Kiev with Minted peas, Triple-cooked fries and a luxurious Herb Beurre blanc.

Obsession of Carter Andrews (9:30 p.m. ET): With 35 years of experience, Host Carter Andrews is a respected leader in the fishing industry. In each episode, Andrews takes viewers on fishing adventures near and far, and as he shares his obsession, he also explores different cultures, etiquette, effective fishing tackle and techniques, and conservation stories. In the first episode of this month, “Temensis,” Andrews and his wife Heidi fish for monster peacock bass on the Rio Marie, deep in the Amazon jungle.

Catch up on past seasons of many of these shows on MyOutdoorTV, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s number one streaming service. MyOutdoorTV is available to subscribers on ALL DEVICES, from a big-screen TV at home to a phone in a bass boat or a tree stand in the woods. For information about subscribing to MyOutdoorTV, visit MyOutdoorTV.com.

About World Fishing Network: World Fishing Network is North America’s only television network, online and mobile platform dedicated exclusively to fishing and outdoor enthusiasts with programming that covers instruction, tips, tournaments, travel, food, boating, outdoor lifestyle and more. Available to cable, satellite and telco subscribers throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, our lineup includes a selection of the best North American and international series and the most diverse species coverage of any TV channel hosted by some of the top anglers from North America and across the globe. For more information, please visit WorldFishingNetwork.com and follow us at Facebook and Twitter.

About MyOutdoorTV (MOTV): MyOutdoorTV is the No. 1 global subscription streaming platform from Outdoor Sportsman Group created just for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. MOTV features favorite Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel Canada television shows, exclusive Major League Fishing content, acquired content from around the world, as well as exclusive MOTV Originals. MOTV is the pre-eminent voice for all outdoor enthusiasts and super serves the outdoor enthusiasts with an expansive acquired library of the best hunting, fishing and shooting programming in long and short form, recipes, tips and tricks, how-to instructional videos, as well as educational and exclusive content focusing on improving success in the field and on the waterways. MOTV is powered by the four networks, along with additional exclusive content available from Outdoor Sportsman Group’s established integrated media arm that includes 15 category-leading outdoor magazines, such as: Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 20 top websites. Subscribe to MOTV at www.MyOutdoorTV.com and watch on the following platforms: Apple IOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, Amazon Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung SmartTV, LG SmartTV, Vizio SmartTV, YouTube TV, Xumo, YouTube Primetime Channels, Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Comcast, and Cox. MOTV is available in 162 markets worldwide. #MYOUTDOORTV.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com

Original Film Premieres May 9 at 11:00 a.m. & 9:00 p.m. ET on Outdoor Channel

DENVER (May 7, 2026) – Fly Fisherman Magazine recently announced the network premiere of its new, original short film, The Shoals, supported by partners Patagonia, COSTA, G. Loomis, The Fly Shop and Scientific Anglers, and airing on Outdoor Channel May 9 at 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST. A Ben Annibali film, The Shoals follows the travels of Fly Fisherman Magazine Editor/Publisher Ross Purnell as he journeys to remote St. Brandon Atoll in the Indian Ocean in search of the Giant Trevally (GT). The atoll makes for an epic setting for Purnell’s captivating pursuit of the his lifelong dream to catch the Indo-Pacific’s “king of the reef,” and the cinematographic result is stunningly beautiful and absolutely unforgettable.

Outdoor Channel also will air Fly Fisherman’s “The Shoals” on May 10 at 6:00 p.m. ET, on May 11 at 10 p.m. ET and on May 16 at 6:00 p.m. ET.

For “The Shoals” Official Full-Length Film Trailer on YouTube, visit FlyFishermanMagazine.

Documenting this fishing expedition was no small feat as the 30-mile long, 8-mile wide angling paradise lies 270 nautical miles from the governing island nation of Mauritius, which is 1,100 nautical miles from Madagascar in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. The only way to get there is by boat, and it’s a notoriously rough, 30-hour voyage. Through an interesting historical turn of events, the Raphael Fishing Company, Ltd., privately holds over a dozen islands in the archipelago, and along with the St. Brandon Conservation Trust, keeps watch over one of the world’s most remote and amazing flats fishing spots for bonefish, permit and trevally. Also, it should be noted that sailors who had wrecked on “St. Brandon Rocks” in 1662 provided the last record of the flightless dodo bird, which famously was overharvested and went extinct only 80 years after discovery.

“It seems ironic that the last dodos seen alive were part of a dramatic survival story around the isolated and dangerous St. Brandon Atoll,” said Fly Fisherman Editor/Publisher Ross Purnell. “Now, St. Brandon is itself a kind of living, breathing dodo bird. It’s the last of its kind, one of the last great unimpacted, undeveloped and unpopulated atolls in any ocean. The dodos are gone. But today the pristine reef/island/shoal habitat serves as a model for scientists researching what a healthy hawksbill turtle population should look like, how healthy corals thrive and grow, and how a thriving shark population is part of a healthy marine environment. To scientists, St. Brandon Atoll is a blueprint for marine ecosystem recovery.”

While St. Brandon Atoll is a “reference ecosystem” where there has been very little human impact and is infinitely intriguing to marine scientists, for fly fishers able to endure the trip, overcome the tides and winds and manage the hundreds of square miles of sandy lagoons and wadable backreef flats, this is the fishing destination of a lifetime.

Now, thanks to the enterprising team at Fly Fisherman, The Shoals provides viewers with a firsthand look at one of the most incredible ecosystems on the planet, and to see it is to want to preserve it forever. Be sure to tune in May 9 at 11:00 a.m. ET and again at 6:00 p.m. ET on Outdoor Channel.

An accompanying feature article, “The Shoals,” appears in Fly Fisherman’s June-July 2026 issue, on sale May 5.

About Outdoor Sportsman Group Publishing: As a premier destination for the most avid outdoors enthusiasts, Outdoor Sportsman Group’s publishing division is widely recognized for its strong special-interest multichannel brands, including Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, Petersen’s HUNTING, In-Fisherman and 9 other leading magazines that reach more than 22 million readers. Outdoor Sportsman Group’s network of websites, including BassFan.com, Rifleshooter.com, Outdoorchannel.com, Sportsmanchannel.com and MyOutdoorTV.com, attracts millions of annual unique visitors, and OSG produces hundreds of TV episodes of original branded hunting, sport shooting and fishing programming that airs on Outdoor Sportsman Group’s broadcast entities. Visit http://outdoorsg.com for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Outdoor Sportsman Group | OSGPress@outdoorsg.com