Hunting for Glory EP 9 – Anthony Zimmer: Musky Teeth, Blood-Soaked Boats & The Grind of Guiding скачать в хорошем качестве

Hunting for Glory EP 9 – Anthony Zimmer: Musky Teeth, Blood-Soaked Boats & The Grind of Guiding

Guest: Anthony Zimmer (Unlimited Guide Service) Episode Summary: Billy and Richard sit down with Anthony Zimmer, owner of Unlimited Guide Service out of Lake County, Illinois, for an episode packed with wild fishing stories, conservation talk, and the realities of running a professional guide service. Anthony's been guiding for four years now, specializing in both hard water (ice fishing) and open water. He started as a tournament walleye fisherman, but as he puts it: "I'm a degenerative gambler. Tournament fishing is just a form of gambling." When he got married, his wife told him to find something to make money, so he turned his passion into a business - taking people fishing and passing on his love of the sport. The episode centers around two legendary musky stories with Richard. The first was Richard's first musky - a small upper-30s fish caught trolling on Bluff Lake. But the SECOND one? That's the story. It was leading up to Father's Day a couple years ago when Richard's wife Kelly reached out to Anthony to get Rich out on the water. Anthony brought his daughter Lily, Rich brought Titus, and they headed out for bucktail musky fishing. 30 minutes in, Anthony's teaching Rich about the importance of the figure-eight (making a figure-eight motion with your lure right next to the boat). Rich normally does one figure-eight, but for some reason did two. Out of the depths of hell, a massive musky came from under the boat and crushed the all-black cowgirl bucktail. Richard's screaming "MUSKY!" Anthony's fumbling with the net, his daughter's yelling, and chaos ensues. They get the fish in the net - it's BIG. 47-47.5 inches. Here's where it gets gnarly. Anthony's got his hand in the fish's gill plate trying to get the hook out (it took it deep). Before he can ask for pliers, the fish opens its mouth and goes nuts. Anthony reaches in with his other hand to open the fish's mouth - and the musky chomps down on BOTH hands. Both thumbs. Through the gill plate. Blood everywhere. Anthony's bleeding profusely, asking Rich for help. Rich - the professional fighter who gives and takes beatings for a living - shook his head: "Not a chance." Anthony's 11-year-old daughter Lily had to help get his hands out of the fish's mouth. Meanwhile, Rich is STILL in the back of the boat setting up for his Instagram photo, talking to his followers live while Anthony's blood is everywhere. Lily starts crying because her dad is spewing blood. Rich gives Titus's hoodie to Anthony to stop the bleeding. Anthony's like "you're ruining the hoodie!" Rich: "I don't need the hoodie." And Rich is STILL in the back of the boat waiting for the fish photo. Anthony wraps his hands, gets the fish to Rich, they get the picture, release the fish. Final damage: 14 stitches in one hand, 12 in the other, plus a musky tooth embedded in his right thumb that had to be surgically removed. Oh, and Rich asked for a measuring stick while Anthony was bleeding. Anthony's response: "Go fuck yourself." The conversation shifts to Anthony's guide service philosophy. He doesn't do it for money - he does it because he loves seeing the smile on people's faces when they catch fish. Too many guides are in it for the wrong reasons, just for the money grab. Anthony's heart falls with panfishing - constant action, big gills and crappies. He loves perch fishing in Green Bay (caught a 17-inch perch this year - massive). They discuss conservation and the reality of Illinois/Wisconsin stocking programs. Anthony explains that without proper lake surveys, the DNR is basically making educated guesses about where to stock fish. He helped restart the "Walleyes for Tomorrow" program on Lake Geneva - they net fish pre-spawn, milk them, hatch the eggs, and put 3-5 million fry back in the lake. Lake studies showed 20-30% of recaptured fish came from that program. Anthony breaks down the difference between walleyes and saugers (saugers are smaller, meaner fighters - a 15-16 inch sauger fights like a 22-23 inch walleye). He guides the Illinois River for sauger/walleye in March - days where you can catch 60-70-80 fish. The bags keep getting bigger every year. The episode wraps with talk of bow fishing for carp, Asian carp on the Illinois River, and the challenges of being a legal, insured guide in Illinois. There's no checklist - you piece it together by talking to other guides. Anthony wants the state to create a proper checklist so everyone who wants to guide legally can do it right. Plus: They've knocked people's teeth out in the boat from Lake Michigan waves, survived 5-6 foot waves while salmon fishing, and Anthony runs a carp bow fishing boat (had to find insurance in Kentucky because no one in Illinois will insure bow fishing from boats - but they'll insure firearms). 🔔 Subscribe to join the hunt for glory. 👍 Like, comment, and share to support the journey. #HuntingForGlory #Podcast #MMA #Hunting #Fishing #MuayThai #outdoors