AMS Bowfishing Buzz Podcast
Bowfishing Buzz brings you all the current and new information, tactics, strategies, tournament news, interviews, product highlights and funny stories that all revolve around the great sport of bowfishing. Bowfishing is the fastest growing outdoor sport in North America. It's fast paced, exciting, comedic, adrenaline pumping, non stop bowfishing fun. Bowfishing Buzz is your podcast for everything bowfishing.
Matt's 7'2" South Texas Alligator Gar (Ep.125)
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This week, D-Schmidty sits down with Mathew to hear the full story behind an unforgettable South Texas bowfishing adventure with Captain Hunter Barthels of Extreme Bowfishing!
From takeoff to chasing Alligator Gar in the coastal waters alongside Jana Waller Bair of Skull Bound Chronicles, the action starts early. Then the crew heads inland with one goal in mind: find a TRUE GIANT Gator Gar.
On Day 3, it all came together.
Mathew t...
BAA Big 20 Worlds Champions! Harley Gummert Interview 612 Pound Victory (Ep.124)
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🏆 BAA WORLDS CHAMPIONS! Harley Gummert Breaks Down Team Komplete Kahos' 612-Pound Victory | Ep. 124
Description:
The 2026 BAA World Championship is in the books, and Team Komplete Kahos is bringing home another World Title!
This week on the Bowfishing Buzz Podcast, Mathew recaps his trip to Benton, Arkansas, covering everything from the AMS/MegaMouth booth to the massive weigh-ins, incredible stories from teams across the country, and one unforgettable weekend at the BAA Worlds.
Then we...
Road to the BAA Worlds with Parker LaRue (Ep.123)
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Who knew a broken truck could lead to one of the best bowfishing adventures of the year? In Episode 123, we recap an awesome weekend at the Bluegrass Youth Bowfishing Bonanza, and tell the story of how mechanical problems in Kentucky somehow turned into Dennis sticking a 50+ pound spoonbill. Mathew eventually made it back to retrieve the truck (and even found a few fish along the way), and then we sit down with Parker LaRue for everything you need to know before the 2026 BAA Worlds in A...
Bottom Feeders Win. Big 20 Champs Jeb Verhalen & Eric Coggon join the Buzz (Ep.122)
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On this episode of the Bowfishing Buzz, Derrick and Mathew sit down with Jeb Verhalen and Eric Coggon from Team Bottom Feeders, the 2026 AMS Big 20 Champions. After coming close in previous years with a runner-up finish in 2022, 5th place finish in 2023, and a 4th place finish in 2024 Team Bottom Feeders finally sealed the deal and took home the win.
We talk with Jeb and Eric about scouting, takeoff, tournament night decisions, the pressure of weigh-in, and what it felt like to finally hear t...
Big 20 Recap and a Snakehead road trip (Ep.121)
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This week on Bowfishing Buzz, we’re recapping the 15th Annual AMS Big 20 Challenge and breaking down all the results from one of Wisconsin’s biggest bowfishing weekends.
We’ll also talk about Mathew and Julie’s Memorial Day carp beatdown, where they filled the boat with dirt donkeys.
Then we’re looking ahead to the next stretch of road trips. The crew heads to Maryland on June 1st to chase Northern Snakeheads<...
Defending the Crown - 2025 AMS Big 20 Champion Joshua Mertens joins the BB (Ep.120)
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The countdown is on! On this episode of the Bowfishing Buzz Podcast, Derrick and Mathew are officially in Big 20 mode as the 15th Annual AMS Big 20 Challenge is only days away.
Joining the show for a portion of the episode is Joshua Mertens, team captain from last year’s winning team. Joshua talks about what it was like taking home the Big 20 title, the pressure of coming back as defending champs, how his team is pr...
The Time Is Now (Ep.119)
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The fish are moving and things are heating up in Episode 119 of Bowfishing Buzz.
We break down everything you need to know heading into the AMS Big 20 Tournament, including key rule changes, strategy shifts, and why this year could be one of the wildest yet.
We also share one of our favorite listener success stories—Isaac from Minnesota went from struggling to find fish… to stacking carp in one night after applying a few simple tips.
On the water, the...
April Grind, Tournament Time & a D-Koi Situation |Lance Brantley joins BB (Ep.118)
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Spring is waking up and the bowfishing grind is officially ON.
In Episode 118, the boys break down everything you need to know about April bowfishing — where to find fish, how conditions are changing, and why right now might be one of the most underrated times to be on the water.
We’re also talking tournament season prep, as Lance Brantley joins the show to dive into how Team AMS is getting dialed in, what it take...
Storm Chaos & Hall of Fame Legends | Shot Willet Joins BB (Ep117)
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This week on the Bowfishing Buzz Podcast, we’re joined by a true legend of the sport — Ron “Shot” Willet.
Shot has been bowfishing since the 1970’s and has seen the sport evolve from homemade setups to what it is today. From attending youth events and inspiring the next generation, to winning the AMS Big 30, Shot brings stories, laughs, and wisdom that every bowfisher needs to hear.
We also cover:
🌨️ Winter Storm Iona derailing Mat...
The Man Behind the Mega-Rex - The Joey Greenwell Story (Ep.116)
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The man behind G-Rex Bows joins the Buzz.
This week on the Bowfishing Buzz, Mathew and D-Schmidty sit down with Joey Greenwell — the builder, machinist, and bowfishing junkie who turned a crowded basement shop into one of the most respected lever-bow operations in the game.
We rewind the tape to Joey’s early bowfishing days, talk about squeezing machines into a basement workspace, cutting down walls to make room for more lathes, and what it really takes to q...
From One Bottle to Another, The Casey Lee Story (Ep.115)
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This episode hits deep and still brings the laughs. We’re joined by Casey Lee, who opens up about his journey through addiction, bad decisions, jail time, and finally hitting rock bottom—before finding a lifeline in bowfishing. Casey shares how bowfishing gave him purpose again, brought excitement back into his life, and helped him reconnect with what matters most: his kids and his future.
Mathew and D-Schmidty go head-to-head (again) on daytime vs. nighttime bowfishing, break down a brutally cold ice...
Nighttime Bowfishing & a Global Journey-With Chris (Shaggy Dog) Cass (Ep. 114)
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Episode 114 of the Bowfishing Buzz Podcast is absolutely loaded from start to finish.
We cover everything from wallaby’s to koi carp, boating safety and cold-water trivia, an Archery Trade Show recap, and the wild story behind how nighttime bowfishing was finally legalized in Wisconsin.
We’re joined by Chris Cass, better known as Shaggy Dog, founder of the Wisconsin Bowfishing Association. Chris takes us on an incredible journey—from walking the banks at 16 years old st...
MEGA-REX UNLEASHED 🔥 Christmas Chaos, Boat Stories & Bowfishing Bells (Ep. 113)
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🎄🔥 We cranked the Christmas spirit to FULL SEND for our final episode of 2025, and this one’s an absolute heater. We officially unleash the ALL-NEW Mega-Rex bow, then rip through fan questions covering the craziest stuff that happens in the boat, how AMS gear has evolved over the years, and why the EverGlide Safety Slide is non-negotiable on the water.
Things get extra spicy when DJ-Schmidty and MC Mathew go full s...
Save a Walleye, Thank a Bowfisher — Song Premiere + Brody Brossman (Ep. 112)
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Hold onto your bowstrings — Episode 112 is LOADED.
D-Schmidty and Mathew are back from rutcation with stories of bucks, airboats, adrenaline, and… bubble gut in the treestand?
Then we drop big news for 2025:
⭐ The 15th Annual AMS Big 20 dates are officially announced
⭐ The Youth Tournament returns to Kentucky — now called the Bluegrass Bonanza Youth Bowfishing Tournament
You’ll also hear why bowfishers deserve more credit than we get — from conservation...
🎯 The Ultimate Bowfishing Trivia Showdown! (Ep.111)
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Think you know bowfishing? Mathew and D-Schmidty go head-to-head in a trivia battle packed with bragging rights, wrong answers, and plenty of laughs.
We’re also tipping our hats to Parker Larue and crew for snagging the bid to host the 2026 BAA Worlds Bowfishing Championship in Arkansas – huge congrats!
Plus:
🎯 Does scent control really make a difference for deer hunters?
💦 Summersaults off the bowfishing deck (yes… literally) and some unexpected “mooning” moments
🐟 The fish-you-wish that tips the scales at over 500 pounds
🎙️ Virginia Wants Worlds – Christina Hayden’s Chesapeake Challenge (Ep.110)
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On this episode of the Bowfishing Buzz, we’re joined by Christina Hayden as she lays out why Virginia should be your pick to host the 2026 BAA Worlds. From what numbers teams and Big 20 teams can expect, to boundaries, fishable waters, tournament site, time of year, and side pots—Christina makes the case for casting your vote for Virginia and the Chesapeake Challenge.
But that’s not all—this episode is packed with action:
🐍 Species Breakdown: The Northern Snakehead🐊 Kyle Snelgrove’s 12-foot Gator🦅 Mat...Arkansas Wants the Worlds!– with Parker La Rue (Ep. 109)
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This week we’re joined by Parker La Rue from Arkansas, and he’s here to tell us why the Razorback State is throwing down a bid to host the 2026 BAA World Championship.
We’re talking:
🔥 What Numbers and Big 20 teams can expect
🌊 Boundaries and legal waters on the table
📍 The tournament site and time of year
💪 And most importantly—why YOU should cast your vote for Arkansas.
Tune in and hear Parker’s pitch—for Arkansas Worlds 2026
Plus
🎯 Why...
Legends of the Night – Team AMS (Ep. 108)
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USA gear makes all the difference. We joined them for a night on the water, and the action didn’t disappoint—arrows were flying, the fish were huge, and the stories were even bigger. Tune in as we relive the rush, break down their winning strategies, and share what it’s like to chase giants with a team that just can’t stop stacking trophies.
Also in this episode:
• Matt’s 74 lb. bighead
• Bowfishing AirBnB’s
• Kentucky redemption tour
<...Adapt or Die – with Tommy Woods (Ep. 107)
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This one’s a heater! In Episode 107 of Bowfishing Buzz, we break down the chaos and carnage from the BAA Worlds and Cajun 8 tournaments. Then we dial up Tommy Woods, a true legend of the game, to hear how he’s evolving his tactics to stay lethal in today’s bowfishing battleground. Spoiler: he’s not slowing down. Oh, and did we mention fan mail? We reveal some gifts we received from a listener that truly had us cracking up.
Also in this ep...
DJ Schmidty’s in a Dress + Bowfishing History Lesson (Ep. 106)
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In Ep. 106, we recognize that Schmidty is a man of his word, as he rocks a rather revealing dress during the entire podcast. We also break down bowfishing history and truly discover how long bowfishing has been a part of human life. Have you ever heard the song, “Buy You A Drank”, by T-Pain? Well, not this version you haven’t.
Plus!
• Worlds tournament discussion
• One lake tournaments – good or bad?
• Squirrel dogs, rabbit dogs and…carp dogs?
• It’s...
Big Vanilla: The 120 Lb. Bighead Story – with Randy Conover (Ep. 105)
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In episode 105, we give renown bowfishing trophy hunter, Randy Conover, a call. Randy consistently shoots bigheads that tip the scale at over 100 pounds, including a 120-pound white bighead he shot earlier this year. Matt and Derrick also brush up on their bowfishing knowledge with another rendition of “Bowfishing Fact or Fiction”.
Plus!
• How many lbs. of silvers in North America?
• A Minnesota carp that’s older than Mathew
• How many teams are shooting Worlds?
• How to utilize a ladder w...
Lance Brantley Joins Us + We Got in Trouble 😥 (Ep. 104)
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In Ep. 104, we recap our recent bowfishing road trip down to Kentucky, as well as give renowned bowfishing tournament shooter, Lance Brantley, a call so he can tell us about his 2nd place finish at this past weekend’s Muzzy Classic. We also share a serious moment when discussing a situation that happened to us in South Dakota earlier this month.
Plus!
• A paddlefish swam 930 miles
• Lance’s hatred of store front windows
• Fish You Wish & BAA Records
Live from Carptown USA (Ep. 103)
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We are on the water in Carptown USA for Ep. 103. We recap the last four days and dive into detail how the bowfishing has been. Beautiful weather, high temps, and spawning carp to pop up thunderstorms, high winds, falling barometer, 20 degree temp change, and spawning coming to a complete stop. Garrett Drexler is on the deck, does he shoot a carp during the podcast?
Plus:
Schmidty has gas station chicken burrito bubble gutInterview with Garrett DrexlerWisconsin Bowfishing Association wins the 2025 Invasive Species A...Interview w/the CHAMPIONS - Indicarp Charters (Ep. 102)
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We are joined by Joshua Mertens team captain of Indicarp Charters Bowfishing and winners of the 2025 AMS Big 20. With only 4 bowfishing tournaments under his belt Josh dives into his teams scouting, the weather, tournament day, the boat race to his spot tournament night, weigh ins, to lifting the $10,000 first place check.
Plus:
Experience night bowfishing like never before with t...
IT'S AMS BIG 20 WEEK - Are YOU ready!? (Ep. 101)
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It's a special AMS Big 20 podcast! We dive into some of the specifics of the tournament including boat registration, parking, rules, mandatory meeting, take off, and weigh ins. We can't wait to see you all this Saturday for the 14th Annual AMS Big 20.
Plus
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IT’S EPISODE 💯 BABY! Interviews w/ AMS Crew, + Landon Conley & Giveaways (Ep. 100)
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Celebrate Episode 100 with us this week! We give away all kinds of gift cards, apparel, and gear! We also interview all the staff here at AMS, talk with Landon Conley, the 2024 Youth Bowfisher of the Year, AND play all the video submissions we received in the last week. Matt also shocks the world with yet ANOTHER bowfishing song that he heard while driving back from a night on the water. Get ready, the Roche A Cri River Rat has come out with a new bowfishing...
Hall of Famers and Bowfishing Rockstars!🤘🏻 – with Jody Bigalke (Ep. 99)
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This week, Matt and Derrick are joined IN PERSON by Jody Bigalke. We discuss his recent induction into the BAA Hall of Fame and the emotions that came with it. Jody also discusses tournament tactics and how the sport has changed over the course of his bowfishing career. Derrick also plays a song that he heard on the radio last week – Bowfishing Rockstars.
PLUS!
• In-depth breakdown of all the AMS Points
• How to prepare for the spawn
• Matt and Derr...
Bowfishing Q&A - Answering YOUR Questions! 🤔 (Ep. 98)
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This week, Matt and Derrick tackle questions submitted by YOU, our listeners. These questions are very well stated by our listeners, and they cover a lot of the “touchy subjects” when it comes to bowfishing. We also dive into early season bowfishing tactics, discuss the TANK of a common carp we shot last week, and what we think the next “breakthrough” will be in the bowfishing world. Derrick also gets surprised with a fantastic gift from Jeff Neiball.
PLUS!
Part 2 African & South American Bowfishing Adventures 🌍 – with Steve Kobrine (Ep. 97)
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Now, the rest of the story. Part 2 of Steve Kobrine's Amazon bowfishing adventures and stories. Steve covers a wide variety of topics, including shooting dozens of fish in the piranha infested waters of the Amazon, describing a harrowing 22-mile boat ride in a 30-foot canoe in the darkness of the jungle, eating Electric Eel, Vampire Fish, and Peacock Bass. Some stories get shared in this episode that truly leave Matt and Derrick speechless. Buckle up, get ready, for the conclusion - Steve Kobrine Part 2.
African & South American Bowfishing Adventures 🌍 – with Steve Kobrine (Ep. 96)
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This week we are joined by possibly the most well-traveled bowfishermen in the history of the sport. Steve covers a wide variety of topics, including shooting dozens of fish in the piranha infested waters of the Amazon, describing a harrowing 22-mile boat ride in a 30-foot canoe in the darkness of the jungle, and shooting African big game at 170 yards with his bow. Some stories get shared in this episode that truly leave Matt and Derrick speechless. Buckle up, get ready, this is one for...
Like a hot knife(fish) through butter 🔪 – plus Haylie Slater (Ep. 95)
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This week, we do a species breakdown on one of the newest and most invasive species in the United States, the clown knifefish. We also call Haylie Slater, located down in Texas, and she gives us a breakdown on an amazing event that she has been hosting for a couple years now. Matt and Derrick also discuss their recent travels to Dallas and Phoenix.
PLUS!
• Schmidty gets kicked out of a fancy restaurant!?
• A crazed wild woman at the airport...
The Obsession Grows Stronger! 💪🏻 – with Clayton Meyer (Ep. 94)
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We are joined this week by the Owner of The Obsession Outdoors bowfishing guide service, Clayton Meyer. He is located in Bagdad, Kentucky and seems to have been destined to guiding since he was 14 years old. We also discuss the 2025 ATA show, new products for 2025, Matt and Derrick’s ice fishing extravaganza and the loss of a Wisconsin Sports Legend.
PLUS!
How to get stuck at a boat rampThe famous "One Finger Miracle" Clayton's bowfishing paradise lodgeA yearlong bowfishing tournament? E-FISH-N-SEE Bowfishing Lights...Bowfishing Resolutions and Top Moments from 2024 (Ep. 93)
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With 2024 wrapping up its time to hear some of your 2025 Bowfishing Resolutions. We give our top 3 resolutions and top 3 moments from 2024. Happy New Year everyone.
Plus
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E-FISH-N-SEE Bowfishing Lights
Experience night bowfishing like n...
2024 Year in review with Tommy Woods, Dennis Redden, and Lance Brantley (Ep. 92)
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We are joined by Tommy Woods (Team TKO), Dennis Redden (Redden Outfitters), and Lance Brantley (Team On Track) as we discuss the 2024 bowfishing season, bucket list fish, if you only had one day to bowfish what's that date, location and species, and the upcoming 2025 BAA Worlds Bowfishing Championship. Mathew tells us about his crazy archery success on a buck that was to close.
Plus
Experience night bowfishing like never before wi...
The Bowfishing Bloodline - Owners of AMS, Jeff and Cindy Braun - (Ep. 91)
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We sit down with the owners of AMS Bowfishing and take a look back to the very beginning and how it all started. Cindy's father, Jack Lasee, had a vision back in the 70's and Cindy followed that vision to what is now known as AMS Bowfishing. We discuss Cindy and Jeff dating in high school, building retrievers in their small apartment, how they managed a family with an expanding business, floating down the Black River in canoes, bowfishing for sharks and crocodiles, and everything...
Wisconsin vs Alabama 2025 BAA Worlds Bid (Ep.90)
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Its Wisconsin vs Alabama to see who will host the 2025 BAA Worlds Bowfishing Championship. We are joined by Noah Kreilkramp and Mitch Pfohl of Wisconsin and Michael Cather and Peyton Travers of Alabama. They lay out all the tournament details and information why you should vote either Wisconsin or Alabama. Voting opens the first week of October on the Bowfishing Association of Americas website. https://bowfishingassociation.com
Plus:
Space Shuttles and Chasing Gators! - Grayson Padrick of Central Florida Trophy Hunts (Ep.89)
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It's alligator season and we are joined by Grayson Padrick with Central Florida Trophy Hunts. Grayson gives us a rundown on their alligator guide service and how they put their clients on gators. Mathew shares stories from his past 5 gator hunts.
PLUS!
Experience night bowfishing like never before with the E-FISH-N-SEE® Bowfishing Light
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280 Team Tournaments and Gasbergoo!? 😲 – with Randy Woodward (Ep. 88)
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In this episode, Matt, and Derrick call bowfishing pioneer, Randy Woodward. Randy has paved the way for thousands of bowfishers during his bowfishing tenure. Matt also gets creative and shows Derrick a song he recently heard. (I'm there to Bowfish)
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Mathew Went Down to Georgia - Bowfishing Trivia! ⭐ (Ep. 87)
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In this episode, Matt and Derrick compile a list of bowfishing trivia questions to ask each other. We also discuss the upcoming Cajun 8, and Derrick sings a song NOBODY has ever heard before.😉
PLUS!
Experience night bowfishing like never before with the E-FISH-N-SEE® Bowfishing Light
NDesigns
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The Billion Dollar Fish Problem. Silver Carp Species Breakdown (Ep. 86)
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In this episode, we discuss the absolute destruction that silver carp have caused in United States waterways, and how they are able to get away with it. We also get a phone call from a friend who’s on a bowfishing journey. 😉
PLUS!
• What is broadcast spawning?
• Best places to bowfish in mid-summer
• The BILLION dollar invasive specie problem
• World record silver carp
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