Nick Williams brings you the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report; a local, no-nonsense fishing report built for anglers who fish one of the most unique river systems in the country. Covering everything from the marshes along the Causeway to the quiet backwaters around Miller’s Ferry, the show breaks down what’s biting, where it’s happening, and how people are catching fish right now. From bass, crappie, and bream in muddy backwaters to specks and reds pushing upriver with the tides, this podcast delivers honest, on-the-water insight for anglers who know the line between salt and freshwater is always moving.

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers the first hints of fall in the Delta, kayak tournament fishing, creek bream, crappie, hog hunting, and old-school ways to enjoy the water. Nick Williams opens the show with a late-summer update as mornings finally start to feel a little more bearable, then checks in with Justin Dunnam of Eight Mile Drifter after his two-day Saltwater Fin Addicts tournament.Justin breaks down how he put together a strong inshore slam from the kayak, including redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. He talks through fishing marsh islands, current-swept creek mouths, industrial canal structure, dock lights, topwater baits, twitch baits, and bottom-hopped soft plastics. He also discusses how flounder numbers seem to be improving, why kayak motors can make a major difference during long tournament days, and why he’s starting to think harder about adding one to his own setup.Then Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors with Darren joins the show for a late-summer Delta report focused on bream, small bass, creek fishing, oddball natural baits, and the coming shift toward fall hunting. Darren explains why he’s been finding more fish back in cooler creeks and side branches rather than out in the middle of the Delta, and he shares a fun old-school bait conversation covering roaches, maggots, wasp larvae, tadpoles, mulberries, green sunfish, goggle-eye, and catfish around bird roosts. The episode closes with a practical discussion on early-season hog hunting, keeping meat cool in warm weather, river camping, taking kids outdoors, and why sometimes the simplest creek-bank adventures are still the best ones.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064120386748" rel="nofollow">Southern Cypress Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Kayak Slams, Creek Bream, and Early Fall in the Delta

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers late-summer crappie, kayak fishing, upcoming tournaments, and the storytelling work behind Mobile Baykeeper’s Currents magazine. Nick Williams opens the show with a reminder that pop-up thunderstorms are still a serious concern for anglers, especially anyone running small boats across open water during late-afternoon summer storms.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dippioutdoors" rel="nofollow">Dip McMillian with Dippi Outdoors</a> kicks things off with a recap of the Dippie Outdoors kids fishing tournament at Hubbard’s Landing, where nearly 140 kids showed up, plenty of fish hit the scales, and every child went home with a rod and reel, gift bag, and bonus prize. Dip also breaks down the current crappie bite, explaining why anglers need to cover water, fish multiple depths, and keep moving until they find active fish. Even with water temperatures still in the 90s, fish have been caught anywhere from two feet to eight feet of water, with some holding on structure and others roaming. He also previews Dippie Outdoors’ upcoming youth hunting season, including dove hunts, deer hunts, pheasant hunts, and more opportunities to get kids outdoors.Then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Eightmile_Drifter" rel="nofollow">Justin “Eight Mile Drifter” Dunnam</a> joins the show to talk kayak fishing, fall tournaments, and getting back on the water after a busy summer. Justin discusses upcoming Mobtown Kayak Bass Fishing and Saltwater Fin Addicts tournaments, then digs into creek crappie tactics, small soft plastics, deep bends, slack water, treetops, and how to find fish without electronics. He and Nick also talk through kayak rigging, tackle storage, tethering gear, keeping rods angled down around limbs, and why older, lighter kayaks still make a lot of sense for tight creeks, swamps, and backwater Delta fishing.To close it out, Nick talks with <a href="https://mobilebaykeeper.org/" rel="nofollow">Caine O’Rear of Mobile Baykeeper</a> about Currents magazine and the value of telling stories from the Mobile Bay and Mobile-Tensaw Delta watershed. Caine shares his background as a writer and editor, including his time with American Songwriter in Nashville, and talks about returning to Mobile, reconnecting with the water, and helping Mobile Baykeeper publish stories that blend conservation, culture, fishing, history, and local voices. The conversation highlights why print storytelling still matters, how Currents gives readers a deeper look at the people and places tied to Coastal Alabama’s waterways, and why anglers have an important role in shaping the future of the Delta.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064120386748" rel="nofollow">Southern Cypress Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Kids Fishing, Creek Crappie, and Delta Storytelling

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers dog-days Delta fishing, from shrimp-driven bass action to shallow-water bowfin in extreme heat. Nick Williams opens the show with a late-summer update as heat advisories continue across the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, but small signs of fall begin showing up with rice, deer movement, teal thoughts, and cooler mornings hopefully not too far away.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE_aeffYOuezJeepaJteniQ" rel="nofollow">Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors with Darren</a> kicks things off with a bass and mixed inshore report from the lower Delta and Mobile River side. Darren explains how bass are starting to stack up around points, wood, root balls, laydowns, grass edges, and current breaks as shrimp push into the system. He breaks down how he’s using DOA Shrimp, purple worms, and other soft plastics to pick off fish from key pieces of cover, and why he moves quickly instead of fishing long stretches of bank. Darren also talks through brackish-water opportunities for redfish, croakers, hardheads, speckled trout, flounder, and mixed freshwater-saltwater action from the Mobile River to Weeks Bay and Magnolia River.Then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdKlvAlriSqY7MrdYx9eZmg" rel="nofollow">Dave Middleton of BassCatLilDave</a> joins the show with a strong bowfin report after winning a local grinnel tournament near Hubbard’s Landing. Dave explains how he and his partner found more than 20 bowfin feeding in shallow, hot, low-oxygen water off Stiggins Lake, including an eight-and-a-half-pound tournament winner caught in just a foot of water. He breaks down why scented worms, crawfish spray, hard hooksets, bubbles, shallow sloughs, and stealthy boat positioning can all matter when targeting bowfin in August. The episode closes with a reminder that even when the summer bass bite slows down, bowfin, gar, redfish, and other tough Delta species can still give anglers a reason to get out and fish.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064120386748" rel="nofollow">Southern Cypress Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Shrimp-Fed Bass and Shallow-Water Bowfin

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers tough late-summer heat, shallow crappie, a strong catfish tournament showing, and the first signs of the Causeway bite setting up for fall. Nick Williams opens the show with a look at brutal August conditions, recent bluegill fishing, and how the heat has changed the bite across parts of the Delta.Dip McMillian of Dippie Outdoors kicks things off with a crappie and catfish report from the upper Delta. Dip explains that even with water temperatures pushing into the 90s, crappie are not necessarily buried deep. Recent tournament fish were still caught in four to eight feet of water around structure, though the bite has become less aggressive. He recommends slowing down, downsizing, using live minnows, and trying small-profile jigs like ATX Flattails or small hair jigs when fish are following but not committing. Dip also recaps the recent benefit crappie and catfish tournament, where catfish anglers brought in big blues and flatheads on trotlines, limb lines, noodles, and even rod and reel. He closes with an update on the upcoming Dippie Outdoors Kids Fishing Tournament at Hubbard’s Landing, including free entry for kids, food, prizes, rods and reels, kayaks, coolers, and a lifetime fishing license giveaway.Then Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing LLC joins the show for a Causeway and lower Delta report. Patric explains how late August and early fall start opening up opportunities for redfish, flounder, trout, bass, drum, sheepshead, and other mixed-bag fishing around the grass, ditches, cuts, bays, and creek mouths. He talks through how to tell buffalo from redfish, why one visible redfish along a grass edge may point to more fish lying on shell nearby, and how popping corks, paddle tails, live shrimp, fresh dead shrimp, and soft plastics can all come into play. Patric also breaks down how ribbon grass, clamshells, salinity, potholes, and lower Delta cuts like North Pass, Devil’s Cut, and Turtle Ditch can help anglers find productive mixed freshwater and saltwater action as the season turns.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Late-Summer Crappie, Big Blues, and the Fall Causeway Setup

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers late-summer creek fishing, old-school Causeway memories, punching grass mats, and the arrival of more inshore tackle and live shrimp farther up the Delta. Darren Shirah of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Reeltimeoutdoorswithdarren" rel="nofollow">Reel Time Outdoors with Darren</a> kicks things off with a mixed report from the creeks, rivers, and lower Delta. Darren talks about catching bass early before the heat shuts things down, switching over to crickets and slip corks for bream later in the morning, and seeing redfish and shrimp pushing farther north than usual around Baya Canot. He and Nick also dig into old Causeway wade-fishing stories, how the lower Delta has changed as bays and cuts have filled in, nutria, hogs, early-season hunting, limb lines, jug fishing, and why fall and winter remain Darren’s favorite times to fish and hunt.Then Dave Middleton of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@basscatlildave" rel="nofollow">basscatlildave</a> joins the show for a detailed look at punching heavy grass and weed mats for Delta bass. Dave explains how to use big tungsten weights, short creature baits, 50-pound braid, snelled hooks, heavy rods, rattles, and a slow, methodical approach to reach fish hiding under hyacinths, eelgrass, lily pads, and other matted vegetation. He breaks down how those mats create shade and ambush cover, why fish may bite on the fall or right under the canopy, and how the same technique can produce bass, goggle-eye, redfish, and other Delta surprises.To close it out, Josh Gunter of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Steele-Creek-Bait-Tackle-61573839689365/" rel="nofollow">Steele Creek Bait &amp; Tackle</a> gives an update from the shop and explains why he and April have expanded into more inshore tackle and live shrimp. Josh talks through customer demand for popping corks, DOA shrimp, Vudu Shrimp, Fishbites Dirty Boxers, Southern Salt Grunts, H&amp;H redfish spinner blades, Matrix Shad, Cocahoe Minnows, crab gear, and locally requested tackle. He also explains how salinity, shrimp availability, customer reports, and river conditions shape what they stock, and why the next several weeks should keep getting better for speckled trout, white trout, redfish, crabs, and other brackish-water opportunities in the Delta.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Late-Summer Delta Fishing from Creeks to the Causeway

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This special episode of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report takes a closer look at fish consumption advisories, mercury, PFAS, and what anglers should know before eating fish from local waterways. Nick Williams is joined by Cassie Bates and Morgan Bishop of <a href="https://mobilebaykeeper.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjwj7HTBhBiEiwA8s35Oqluq1UjV5rctxHDA7Fr6k59galMWcJ9NIgJBACRMKDhNLmfPnTEAxoC910QAvD_BwE" rel="nofollow">Mobile Baykeeper</a> to talk through how Alabama’s fish consumption advisories are created, who collects and publishes the data, and why those advisories matter for anglers who regularly eat bass, catfish, crappie, redfish, speckled trout, and other local fish.Morgan and Cassie explain how mercury and PFAS can build up in fish over time, especially in larger, older predator species, and why long-term exposure is the main health concern. They also discuss why many waterways in Coastal Alabama carry “do not eat” or limited-consumption advisories, how sample sizes and testing gaps can leave anglers with unanswered questions, and why a lack of an advisory does not necessarily mean a waterway has been tested and cleared. The conversation also covers practical ways to reduce risk, including eating smaller fish, skinning fillets, trimming fat, choosing cooking methods that let fat drain away, and paying attention to which species and waterways are listed in state advisories.The episode closes with a broader discussion of where mercury and PFAS come from in the first place. Cassie and Morgan also share how Mobile Baykeeper is working to push for more fish tissue testing, better public data, stronger pollution reduction efforts, and more help from local anglers who want to support healthier waterways and safer fish for Coastal Alabama communities.Link to 2026 Fish Consumption Advisories: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/tox/assets/2026_fishadvisory.pdfLink to ADEM Report with Granular Fish Tissue Data: <a href="https://adem.alabama.gov/water/water-quality/water-quality-reports" rel="nofollow">https://adem.alabama.gov/water/water-quality/water-quality-reports</a>SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Can You Safely Eat Fish from the Delta?

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers a clearing-water summer pattern, topwater bass at Big Creek Lake, and a strong youth crappie bite on the upper Tensaw. Matt Frazier kicks things off with a Big Creek Lake report, where bass are schooling hard on shad, crappie are still biting, and catfish are showing up in a big way. Matt explains how the schooling bass are blowing up on top during calm, brutally hot conditions, making long-casting topwater baits like Zara Spooks, banana-style baits, and Skitter Walks good choices when anglers can get within range. He also talks about crappie holding in 10 to 20 feet of water, the lake’s reopening, kayak access, the challenges of fishing big open water in summer heat and wind, and why the day before a storm can be a good time to go.Then Dip McMillan of Dippi Outdoors joins the show with a strong upper Tensaw crappie report. Dip breaks down how he’s been putting kids on fish with slip corks and minnows around submerged logs and structure in 7 to 10 feet of water. He explains how the fish are holding tight to big logs near creek mouths and submerged cover, then coming up to eat minnows set a couple feet above them. Dip also gives an update on the upcoming benefit crappie and catfish tournament for the Dippi Outdoors Kids Tournament, the main youth tournament on August 22, lifetime fishing license giveaways, and the fall hunting events he’s already preparing for, including dove hunts and youth outdoor opportunities.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Topwater Blowups, Slip Corks, and Summer Structure Fishing

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers improving water conditions, the return of redfish around the Causeway, summertime bass tactics, and old-school creek fishing. Nick Williams opens the show by noting that the water is finally starting to clear up after weeks of heat, rain, and high water, making the bite feel a little more promising across the Delta.Brenton Grace of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064120386748" rel="nofollow">Southern Cypress Bait &amp; Tackle</a> kicks things off with a Causeway report, explaining how the flounder bite slowed after the rain but should improve as the water settles. He also reports that redfish are starting to show back up around the Blakely and Apalachee sides, especially on flats, points, and areas near deeper water. Brenton breaks down how he’s catching slot-sized reds on simple Carolina rigs with dead shrimp, why kahle hooks have become his go-to, and how bait, edges, shallow flats, crabs, and improving water clarity all factor into the current pattern. He also gives an update from the shop, including shrimp, bull minnows, frozen bait, tackle, and the expectation that late summer and fall fishing will only get better as trout, redfish, and other species move farther into the rivers.Then Darren Shirah of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE_aeffYOuezJeepaJteniQ" rel="nofollow">Reel Time Outdoors with Darren</a> joins the show with a mixed freshwater and brackish-water report. Darren talks about taking his grandkids to Chickasaw Creek, where dead shrimp on Carolina rigs produced slot redfish, big bull croakers, hardheads, and plenty of action for young anglers. He also breaks down his recent bass fishing, including a strong Ribbit frog bite, swim jigs, and his confidence in a simple Texas-rigged purple worm around creeks, wood, and Delta cover. Darren and Nick also talk about beetle spins, jigger pole fishing, pork eel and pork leech-style baits, bass feeding on small blue crabs, eating croakers, grilled fish, fish consumption questions, and why old-school tactics still deserve a place in the modern Delta angler’s toolbox.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoutwellBaitandTackle/" rel="nofollow">Boutwell Bait and Tackle</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a><a href="https://millenniummarine.com/" rel="nofollow">Millennium Marine</a>

Clearing Water, Causeway Reds, and Old-School Bass Tactics

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report looks at what happens when summer heat, falling river levels, and saltwater intrusion start changing the fishing across the Delta. Josh Gunter of Steele Creek Bait &amp; Tackle and Mt. Vernon Bait &amp; Tackle joins the show to break down why saltwater pushing into the lower Delta is not always a bad thing. Josh explains how salinity can bring in redfish, speckled trout, flounder, white trout, blue crabs, gafftops, and other coastal species, while also changing where freshwater anglers should look for bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. He covers how to read hydrographs, use online salinity maps, watch river levels, understand tidal influence, and adjust your approach once the lower Delta turns brackish. Josh also talks about popping corks, live shrimp, freelining, bait care, keeping bait alive in extreme heat, and why anglers should not overlook the late-summer and early-fall fishing that opens up when freshwater and saltwater patterns overlap.Then Justin Dunnam of the Eight Mile Drifter YouTube Channel joins the show for a detailed kayak-fishing conversation. Justin walks through how he got started in kayak fishing, why he eventually settled on the Jackson Kilroy, and why a lightweight, paddle-friendly sit-inside kayak makes sense for creeks, swamps, rivers, and protected backwaters. He and Nick discuss sit-inside versus sit-on-top kayaks, pedal drives, motors, paddles, anchoring systems, anchor trolleys, brush grabbers, kayak carts, fishing in wind, and how to use a kayak to reach everything from swamp bass and bluegill to catfish, flounder, and redfish. It’s a practical summer episode for anglers trying to adapt to hot weather, changing salinity, and the unique mix of freshwater and saltwater opportunities that make the Mobile-Tensaw Delta such a special fishery.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Saltwater Intrusion, Live Shrimp, and Kayak Fishing the Delta

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report starts with a short but useful Fourth of July fishing report from Dip McMillan, then shifts into a special re-aired conversation on one of the most fascinating native fish in the Mobile Basin: the Gulf sturgeon. Dip breaks down how he’s finding crappie in hot, high-summer conditions, including why side scan is key, how fish are holding around grass mats, logs, and structure in 4 to 8 feet of water, and why anglers should check their line, safety gear, registration, water, electrolytes, and shade before heading out during the holiday heat. Then Nick Williams and Rowell Guevara revisit a conversation with author and biologist R. Scott Duncan, who explains the biology, history, decline, and possible future of Gulf sturgeon in Alabama waters. Duncan covers how sturgeon once supported Native American and commercial fisheries, how the caviar trade wiped out many populations, why dams on the Alabama River cut fish off from historic spawning grounds, and how fish passage, dam removal, habitat protection, and better river management could help restore sturgeon and other migratory fish to the Mobile River Basin.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Hot-Water Crappie and the Mystery of Gulf Sturgeon

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report takes a break from the usual bite-by-bite report to dig into one of the best ways to reach overlooked water in South Alabama: canoe fishing. Host Nick Williams and Peter Jordan talk through summer topwater bass, skinny-water access, night fishing, and why canoes deserve another look from anglers who want to get away from crowded boat ramps and heavy kayak setups. Peter breaks down the advantages of modern canoes, including lighter weight, better carrying capacity, easier car-topping, shallow draft, tandem and solo options, and the ability to fish, hunt, camp, or explore places that larger boats and many kayaks simply can’t reach. They also compare canoe materials, paddle styles, stability, family use, duck hunting, redfish access, creek floats, and how newer boats from brands like Esquif have changed what many anglers expect from a canoe. The episode also previews the upcoming canoe demo day at <a href="https://www.communityflysupply.com/" rel="nofollow">Community Fly Supply</a> in Gulf Shores, where listeners can try boats and paddles, learn basic canoe strokes, and see how canoe fishing can open up new water across the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the Causeway, local creeks, and beyond.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Canoe Fishing, Skinny Water, and Finding Unpressured Fish

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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers summertime bass tactics, topwater frog fishing, and the natural side of the Delta as June settles in. Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors with Darren kicks things off with a report on high water, stained conditions, and how the bream and bass have been adjusting. Darren explains why bream have been tighter to the bank, how he’s been catching quality Delta bass on Ribbit frogs and swim jigs, and why shade, low-hanging limbs, palmettos, off-bank trees, and repeated passes through productive water can all matter once the summer heat sets in. He also gets into frog color, rod setup, braid size, hook choice, and why bass may bite better later in the morning than many anglers expect. Then John-Michael Chappelle of Chappelle Excursions joins the show to talk about the Delta’s summer wildlife, from blooming American lotus, pickerelweed, water lilies, spatterdock, buttonbush, and spider lilies to whistling ducks, alligators, lizards, and the bird life around Gailliard Island. SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Ribbit Frogs, Lotus Blooms, and Life in the Delta

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/12/18/3f0378ba-2233-48bf-8b4b-d1d54403426f_mtdfr_episode_21_.mp3

This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers high-water crappie tactics on the Mobile River side of the Delta and a deep dive into one of the Delta’s most underrated sport fish: the bowfin, or grinnel. Josh Gunter checks in live from the water while pre-fishing for the Delta Crappie Trail tournament out of Mount Vernon, explaining how high water changes the game, why current is the biggest thing to avoid, and how white crappie can still be caught in stained water if anglers find slack areas with bait, depth, and structure. Then Dave Middleton, also known through his YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/basscatlildave" rel="nofollow">basscatlildave</a>, joins the show to talk about a lifetime of fishing the Delta and why he’s become a fan of targeting grinnel on purpose. Dave breaks down where he finds them, why hot, still summer days can be prime time, how he fishes worms and big spinnerbaits, why bright colors and bottom disturbance matter in muddy water, and how to target grinnel around laydowns, first drops, grass lines, and backwater areas. It’s a fun mix of tournament crappie talk, muddy-water strategy, local Delta experience, and a reminder that sometimes the so-called “trash fish” are some of the hardest-fighting fish in the system. SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

High-Water Crappie and Summer Grinnel Tactics

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/4/17/3cb4e8d1-c876-46b5-84e4-ee5232cbe315_mtdfr_episode_20.mp3

This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers two very different but timely patterns: hot-weather panfish in the Delta and deep-water crappie on Big Creek Lake. Shannon Wood kicks things off with a report on the bluegill and goggle-eye bite as the Delta settles out from heavy rain and high water. He talks through how water level, bank height, Mayfly hatches, and full-moon timing may affect the bream bite, plus why he’s been finding goggle-eye tight to the bank on black Beetle Spins. Shannon also previews the upcoming panfish tournament out of Cliff’s Landing and explains why local bait shops like Boutwell’s Bait &amp; Tackle and Steel Creek Bait &amp; Tackle matter so much to the fishing community. Then Matt Frazier joins the show with a Big Creek Lake report, breaking down how he’s been catching crappie and spotted bass from a kayak since the lake partially reopened. Matt explains how he fishes deep structure in 30 to 40 feet of clear water, how he pours his own soft plastics, why Big Creek is still a strong option when the rivers are muddy, and what anglers need to know about the current access situation, rental boats, kayak use, bank fishing, and the ongoing push to reopen more of the lake.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="http://pages.easternmetal.com/greatdays" rel="nofollow">Eastern Metal Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Finding Bream Beds, Goggle-Eye, and Deep-Water Crappie

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/28/21/7d75ba26-0b68-49b8-99b6-feb13600623a_mtdfr_kayla_boyd.mp3

This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report starts with Justin Dunham breaking down a timely flounder pattern for anglers dealing with rain, high water, and blown-out freshwater systems. Instead of fighting muddy rivers, Justin explains how he’s been sliding into smaller coastal bayous and protected creeks where the rain has less impact, then targeting flounder along flooded marsh grass, grassy points, current seams, and subtle drop-offs. He gets into lure choice, jighead size, hook sharpness, hookup tips, why flounder often group up in small areas, and how kayak anglers can use quiet positioning and parallel casts to work high-percentage grass lines. The second half of the show shifts from fishing tactics to habitat with Dr. Kayla Boyd of Mobile Baykeeper, who explains why oysters matter far beyond the dinner plate. Kayla walks through the decline of Mobile Bay’s oyster population, how oysters filter water, protect marsh shorelines, create fish habitat, support species like sheepshead, and help stabilize the whole estuary. She also explains Mobile Baykeeper’s Oyster Keeper program, how citizen science and local knowledge are helping guide restoration work, and how anglers, waterfront homeowners, and volunteers can help rebuild oyster reefs across the bay.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="http://pages.easternmetal.com/greatdays" rel="nofollow">Eastern Metal Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Flounder in the Flooded Grass and Oysters in the Bay

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/20/20/e1b77bca-1d0e-499a-92e6-782a6f604533_mtdfr_episode_18_draft.mp3

This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers a little bit of everything happening across the Delta, from a strong crappie bite around Hubbard’s Landing to bream finally pulling up in more predictable places. Dip McMillian of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dippioutdoors" rel="nofollow">Dippi Outdoors</a> joins the show after picking up his first tournament win and explains how stained water, structure, side scan, and the “Dippi Tensaw Special” helped him find quality crappie when other anglers might have struggled. Darren Shirah of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Reeltimeoutdoorswithdarren" rel="nofollow">Reel Time Outdoors with Darren</a> checks in with a bass and bream report, including why bass may be hanging around bluegill beds and how crabs, catfish, hogs, and even horse flies all fit into life on the Delta this time of year. To close the show, Meagan Fowler of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Friends-of-the-Tensaw-River-61588525642103/" rel="nofollow">Friends of the Tensaw River</a> gives an update on the grassroots effort to protect the Tensaw watershed and explains why proposed industrial solar developments have become such a major local issue for anglers, hunters, and river communities.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="http://pages.easternmetal.com/greatdays" rel="nofollow">Eastern Metal Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Muddy Water Crappie, Bream Beds, and the Future of the Tensaw

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/15/1/5e819244-65b2-4d80-9e4f-1a6b4a694230_mtdfr_episode_17.mp3

On this week’s episode of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, Josh Gunter of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mtvernonoutdoors/" rel="nofollow">Mt. Vernon Outdoors</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573839689365" rel="nofollow">Steele Creek Bait and Tackle</a> joins the show to talk about why falling water can make this one of the best times of the year to catch catfish in the Delta. Josh explains how floodwater pulls bugs, bait, and fish out of the woods and concentrates catfish around ditches, creek mouths, current breaks, and bank lines. He also breaks down the practical side of running limb lines, bank poles, jugs, and vertical trot lines, including where to set them, how much weight to use, what baits work best, and why fresh shad, bluegill, goldfish, crawfish, shrimp, and even beef heart all have their place. The conversation also gets into trotline safety, running lines at night, dealing with boat traffic, avoiding wasps and wildlife trouble, and why wearing a life jacket and using a kill switch matter when you’re working the river after dark. For anglers looking to fill a freezer, introduce kids to fishing, or better understand how catfish use the Delta when the water falls, this episode is a hands-on guide to one of the region’s most traditional and effective ways to fish.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="http://pages.easternmetal.com/greatdays" rel="nofollow">Eastern Metal Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Falling Water, Feeding Catfish: How to Run Limb Lines in the Delta

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/8/15/b94be268-bc0f-42e7-ad4f-552deab5b967_mtdfr_podcast_16.mp3

This week on the Mobile Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, Nick Williams talks with Darren Shirah of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Reeltimeoutdoorswithdarren" rel="nofollow">Reel Time Outdoors with Darren </a>about rainy-day fishing, the current bluegill bite, and why a little rough weather does not have to ruin a trip in the Delta. Darren explains how he fishes through scattered showers, what makes certain rainy days productive, and why bream, shellcracker, bass, and goggle-eye can still be caught when most folks stay home.The episode also turns into a great discussion of old-school Delta fishing tactics, especially jigger pole fishing for bass. Darren breaks down what a jigger pole is, how he rigs it, where he fishes it, and why topwater bites around cypress trees, deadfalls, and bank cover can be so violent when the conditions line up. Along the way, Nick and Darren talk fish fries, cleaning bream, fishing traditions, fly rods, splatting bugs, and why the best fishing methods are often the ones that are simply fun.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="http://pages.easternmetal.com/greatdays" rel="nofollow">Eastern Metal Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Bluegill, Bass, and the Lost Art of the Jigger Pole

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/1/14/07e3d4fe-8ebc-458b-bda8-b440ce00e978_mtdfr_episode_15.mp3

This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report is all about that spring window when the Delta starts to feel almost too good to be true. Peter Jordan joins the show to help unpack a memorable backwater canoe trip where the bluegill bite was so strong it shut down the original plan of chasing bowfin, and the conversation turns into a bigger look at fishing pressure, overlooked backwaters, fly rod setups, popper-dropper rigs, canoes, alligator gar, and why small, hard-to-reach places can show what the Delta is really capable of. Shannon Woods keeps the bluegill theme rolling with a report from the bream tournament scene, including fish on bed, the role of rain, worms versus crickets, where to look for shellcracker, and why the upcoming mayfly hatch could be the next big thing to watch. Then John-Michael Chappelle of Chappelle Excursions rounds out the episode with a wider look at the Delta’s plants, birds, wildlife, and natural history, reminding anglers that the same habitat producing great fishing also supports everything from brown pelicans and wild rice to manatees, dolphins, and alligator snapping turtles.

Bluegill on Bed and the Mayfly Hatch Ahead

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/4/23/21/4362443e-96da-42f5-9e7e-d340b0369230_mtdfr_april_23rd.mp3

Spring is hitting its stride on the Mobile-Tensaw, and this week’s report is packed with real-time insight from anglers who’ve been on the water.Justin Dunnam breaks down a near-win kayak tournament on Bay Minette Creek, where a rising tide, backwater ponds, and missed frog strikes made the difference between first and third. He shares exactly how he approached pressured water and why timing the tide mattered more than location.Matthew Frazier gives a major update on Big Creek Lake, which just reopened after a long and controversial closure. He walks through what access looks like right now, what’s still being fought over, and what anglers can expect if they plan to fish it this weekend.Dip McMillian rounds things out with a strong crappie report from the Tensaw side, where post-spawn fish are stacking tight to structure in 6 to 10 feet of water. He explains how he’s finding them, why he’s ignoring suspended fish, and the exact jig setup that’s producing right now.If you’re trying to figure out where the bite is, how spring patterns are shifting, or what changing conditions mean for your next trip, this one’s worth your time.SPONSORS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553969015665" rel="nofollow">Dixie Building Supply</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BlackBuffaloUSA" rel="nofollow">Black Buffalo</a><a href="https://www.slipski.com/" rel="nofollow">SlipSki</a>

Rising Tides, Reopened Lakes, and a Near-Win on the Delta

Nick Williams brings you the first local fishing report for Alabama's freshwater lakes, rivers and creeks, whether it’s good, bad, or ugly.