All right, well you already
heard the first question, but give
me a sense of when did you first
start doing it?
So when I first started fishing,
it kind of started off with sucker
fishing, actually with my dad
and my family.
You know, we would go up into the
rivers and you know, just catch
them by hands.
And then eventually it developed
from there, you know.
As a kid, one of the things we did
over summer, which we did almost
every single day was we
would just go to Lake Winnebago
and actually just go off a high
cliff. You know we didn't have a
boat at that point so it was
just fishing from those rocks.
Bars there, and we would just
pretty much go there every single
day and just try to get some white
bass off the shoreline there,
and that's when I first fell in love
with it. It was, you know, some days
you would go, you learn, you'll
learn patience from that, you know.
You'll go and not catch a single
fish one day, but the next day you
go and you just completely hammer
them, and That's when I really
started to fall in love with
fishing.
So did you live in the Appleton area
or where did you live to go to the
backside of Winnipeg?
So, I was born and raised in
Green Bay, so I lived here my
whole life. I only left for a couple
years when I went to college at
UW-Milwaukee.
And then, of course, I came back
here and lived
here for my whole pretty much.
So you guys would drive from Green
Bay down to Highcliff.
Yes, we would drive, drive
about 30-45 minutes to High
Cliff every single day.
I remember every single day over
summer, that's what we did.
If it wasn't raining or something
like that, we'd be at High Cliff.
And so as you got older,
did you have like a preference
between what species you were going
after? And when you're a kid, it's
like what's easiest to catch, but at
a certain point, you just start, oh,
this is what I want to collect.
So yeah, like any little
kid, you know, you start off with
pan fish, easy fish.
And then as I grew up,
I went to white bass fishing
through Winnebago there.
But as I got older, got
more experience, I started getting
into bass fishing, you know
small mouth, large mouth.
It was just always so fun to fish on
because they were so aggressive.
And then from there, you kind of
branched two ways.
It was either going salmon fishing,
especially when I moved to
Milwaukee, you know Milwaukee River
is. Super underrated for
salmon and trout fishing.
It's world-class and I love it
there. I do miss that kind of
fishing, all the salmon fishing
there. But as I came
back to Green Bay, I got
a boat and you know,
with Green Bay being in my back door
10 minutes away, I just fell
in love walleye fishing and that's
kind of one of my big species I
always like to chase is walleyes.
What is it about walleye that makes
them an apex
for what people want to go to?
So in my mind,
walleyes is probably one of the best
eating fish, fresh water fish
in the area, but there's just
something about these walleyess.
You know, you'll catch eater size
walleye, and then there's all
of a sudden and you catch the 10
pounders, 30 inchers, and
that'll just change your mind, you
know. One of the things I always
like to tell people is like,
especially when it comes to catching
big walleyesh through the ice, when
you see that big walleye through the
Ice Hole, it makes your heart pump
like no other.
For you, is it
the moment when you feel hit, or is
it when it finally gets in the
bowie? What's that adrenaline course
like for you?
So the first adrenaline
would definitely be the thumb when
they just smacked your line you know
I love that feeling but
when they're on the edge of
the boat or swimming next to the
boat or at the bottom of the hole
and you see it's a giant that's
when it gets your heart beating it's
just a it's, just a feeling you're
always chasing when you're chasing
walleyes.
I mean, you could go out and catch a
lot of fish, but it doesn't get old.
No that's the thing about fishing is
like you know you'll one day get
your butt completely woofed and then
the next thing you go and completely
smash them and that's a thing about
walleyes is there's such a size
variation but when you get
one of those big ones that's 25
inches or plus 10 pounders
you know that's when you start
getting really addicted to walleye
fishing
So, talk to me a little bit about
the mental game that comes
with walleye, because there really
are kind of a picky, tricky fish
at times, and it's not, I mean,
almost anyone can go catch panna
fish, which is why you bring kids
together, but walleye requires
a different approach.
So while I would have to
admit it is not
the easiest fish to catch out there.
There's so many different
techniques. It's not like
panfishing, you put something in
front of their face, they're gonna
eat it.
There's been a couple instances
where we went up to Sturgeon Bay and
it's crystal clear water there and
you drop your lure right in front of
their faces and they'll just not
care. These fish are lethargic and
kind of plays by weather and kind
the season they're in.
So in the spring run they're not
really aggressive because they're
You know, they're doing their thing,
you know, they're spawning, so you
might get a bite here and there,
and weather plays a big role, but
one thing about walleyes is just,
you know when they're on, you're
gonna really smash them, and that's
one of the reasons why I like them
so much.
So when did you start adding YouTube
into this?
So when I started out YouTube,
you know, there was always this
mindset at the back of my mind was
like, you know we always had
one of those days, you know where it
was like so awesome, wish we would
have captured that moment.
And especially now with my kids,
you know it's really nice to
have that footage and go back
and watch that kind of stuff and
watch our little memories together.
And you know that's one of the big
things why I started filming all
my fishing and stuff.
It's just a good memory and
I actually really enjoy doing it so.
Uh, so I think I am in
about five years ago now,
something around there.
I started really getting into it and
before that, I'll take my GoPro
out and just, you know, film, not
really have, you know, anything
footage out of it.
But about five year ago as I started
making a YouTube channel,
making some content, pushing it out
there and letting the world see as
well.
So what kind of feedback do you
get from that channel?
So, you know, there's always
positive and negative about, you
know fishing and stuff, but a
majority of it, especially when it
comes to like fishing Green Bay
for walleyes, you almost
anyone who hears about fishing
walleyess in Wisconsin, they're
going to be thinking about Green Bay
because it's has huge
walleyas and that's what a lot of
people are chasing.
And people really do appreciate my
videos. They like to see
like what I'm using, what I am doing
and where I'm fishing, you know, to
see what kind of bites going on
during the time of season.
So is there a different feeling
for you if you catch one while
you're filming versus if you catch
it when you're not filming?
I swear every time I don't
bring my camera I always have one of
my best days out there I swear but
you know it's
There's a little bit of a weird
feeling when I don't have my camera
these days But you know I
always do prefer to have a calling
camera just sometimes some really
awesome stuff happen on camera And
you know, it's
it's nice to go back and watch that
and laugh about it when you're all
done
So talk to me a little bit about the
YouTube culture, because there
are people that learn from them,
there's other people that just enjoy
watching, like that's, they
don't have the chance to do, but
what is the audience you're
reaching?
So mainly the audience I'm trying to
reach is just people who have
similar hobbies with me, like who
like to fish and stuff like that,
especially in the Wisconsin area,
a lot of my videos are going to be
mainly focused on fishing Wisconsin
and especially Green Basin
since it's so close,
but most of the audience will pretty
much love fishing just like me, and
that's why I kind of like doing
it, we kind of build a little bit of
community, you know, every once in
a while now I go out in public, hey,
you're that guy that...
Films YouTube for Green Bay, and I
was like, yup. And then it's
kind of nice to meet people
and grow as a Waller community.
So, historically, there's all sorts
of things surrounding fishermen
and the big story, the fish tales.
I mean, everyone talks about the
lies that fishermen tell people are,
or afterwards, about how big it was,
and you actually have the evidence.
Is that in line with that
same storytelling culture around
fishing, or is that kind of like
putting the truth to that
culture?
It's a little bit of both, you know.
Some days you still give that little
fish tail a lie.
You know, we completely smashed
them, but you didn't have the camera
working or something along the lines
of that. But it's definitely adds
a lot of evidence to, you know, hey,
we really did have a good day out
there. We had a lot fun.
You know even though we didn't catch
that many fish, we still had so much
fun out there, you know, and that's
kind of why I like filming it too.
Because most of the time, or half
the time it's not always about
catching fish. Sometimes it's.
Just about being out there, hanging
out with your friends, and just
having a good time.
I mean, people have taken fish
pics forever.
I mean that's always been like,
since cameras have been around,
people catch a big fish, they want
to take a picture of it or, you
know, taxidermy, they hang it on the
wall.
This, that fits definitely in line
with what you're, what you were
doing. It's just an extension of
that history, right?
Yeah for sure I mean like
having fish mounted you know there's
always a story behind it but
with actually having video of it
it's like oh man you can almost
relive that good time you
had out there you know a lot of my
videos it's just pretty much hanging
out with my friends and
We can always have a good laugh
together.
So a lot of the walleye
fishing culture is dominated
by older white men.
What's it like to be younger and
to bring in a different audience
or bring a different perspective
into that? Like are you trying to
bring more people into it or what
would you say to people who are
like, I don't know if that space is
for me.
I definitely think that
yes, it is pretty segregated
now. There's definitely a lot more
older white guys out there while
they're fishing. And that's kind of
why I started this content.
No, I can kind of see it in the
younger generations.
You know, they are all about social
media these days.
And I feel like the fishing
industry or just going out, going
fishing, enjoying the outdoor is
dying. And that kind of one of the
reasons why I like doing this
YouTube stuff. You know I want to
show that, hey, you know I'm out
there, I'm filming and I'm having
fun. In order to be.
Out there doing it yourself and
you don't have to be stuck inside
just scrolling through Facebook or
social media like that, you know,
there's a life outside electronic.
Do you think that's important for
people to hear that there is room
for them out there on the lake or
on the ice?
Yeah, for sure.
I mean, there's so
much opportunity to go out fishing.
You don't need a big, expensive
boat. You just need a pole and a
line and some worms, and you're
still going to have a good time out
there. So that's the thing is,
fishing can be so expensive,
but it can be cheap as well at the
same time, and you can still
have such an awesome time out.
Yeah, your story starts with
you being a kid just right off the
shoreline, right?
Sure you weren't using $80 rods and
fancy gear back then.
Yeah, my family,
my parents were
a refuge from the Vietnam War.
So they came here not much, and then
we made do with what we had growing
up.
And fishing was fun, but
it was also putting food on the
table.
So that's why it doesn't
take too much to get out there.
You know?
So, as far as food on the
table, you talk about how good
walleye is.
Do you like to do fish fries?
I mean, it's stock in the freezer
and having family over, is that a
big part of it?
So yeah, I love having fish fried,
but lately I've been going on a
diet, so I've not been doing as much
fish fry as I usually do, but
there's nothing that can beat a
fresh fish right off the river and
just cooking it right there.
I'm always a big guy of not
storing it in the freezer just
because it's just not as good as
when it is fresh.
So obviously, you've got a couple of
young kids.
They had a chance to come in.
Obviously, your son's very young,
but have they been out in the boat
with you? Is that something that you
can't wait to share with them?
Yeah, my daughter's been going out
with me lately and she really
enjoys it.
She kind of wants to go
fast on the boat right now, but she
does like to reel in the fish here
and there every once in a while.
I mean, what is that element of,
you know, that family part of this?
I mean you talked about fishing with
your dad, or your brothers,
your siblings, and like, how
important is fishing culture to
having friends and family around
you?
I think fishing is
fun, but when you're all
alone, all by yourself all the time,
it's not as fun as having a group or
your family or your kids with you.
Even if it's
easier to have more
fun not catching fish with
your friends and family than it is
when you are by yourself.
So like I always say, if I'm
going out there I usually invite a
whole mess of people. If they can
come they can, and it's always
just more fun if you have more
people with you, no matter what you
catch. Catching fish is always just
a bonus.
So what's it going to be like for
you the first time you see your kids
reel in their own big walleye?
Oh man, the first time my
daughter, hopefully the first time
she catches it.
Hopefully it's a 10 pounder so I can
put it on the wall, but I'm going
to be ecstatic, you know.
She is just on the borderline of
like, really in her own fish for
now, casting her own line.
So it's coming up soon, but I just
can't wait.
And I saw you got your son in
a onesie about fishing.
I mean, part of that is important.
What you teach your kids when
they're even that young, like that
is part, I'm sure you were
introduced to fishing at a young
enough age that it's just what you
did, right?
Yeah, as a parent now, you know,
that's one big thing I'm trying to
push, you know, try to get
away from electronics, tea as much
as you can, and, you know, spending
more time with them, especially
quality time outside
doing the things I love because I
want them to be doing what I love to
in the future.
So another element of this
story that we're looking at looks at
all of the research and
all the money that's pumped into
groups that raise walleye
fry to stock his fingerlings
or the amount of money that's spent
to do these studies on walleye,
why in some places they're not doing
as well and how to boost
populations.
And it's a lot of money.
It's a lotta hours and a lotta
volunteer time.
And I'm curious how would
you quantify weather.
Because if walleye go down
or disappear from some places like
other fish will still be there So
what is it about walleye
specifically that makes it worth?
To do all this to spend all this
money or all this effort to make
sure they're still there
So you know when it comes down to
walleye fishing you know it's it's a
crazy industry because you know
a lot of people are buying like
hundred thousand dollar boats plus
just to go chase walleyes
and you know.
When it comes for the spring run
especially here in Green Bay you
know if you ever showed up
and seen the Fox River first
open water you
could literally walk across the
river on boats and you
know it's a crazy crazy industry
and I think that
you know it's no amount
of money is you know you could put
as much money as you want into it
you know there's no end
to that and I
think walleyes are specifically
important is because they
taste good and
they're fun to catch and
they get big and you
know it's it's kind of its own
little world you know these fish are
an amazing creature in their own
ways.
But you were talking about when you
started and what species you were
targeting as you grew up And
you said you eventually kind of had
those options and you branched out
But what age were you first aware
that walleye was considered like
different from some of the other
things?
I would say when I was in my
early teens or so, you know,
the thing about it is like bass
fishing is so addicting and
then you get to a point where you're
like, hey, you can pretty much throw
anything in front of a bass and
they'll eat it.
And then you go to this next level,
wait, these walleyes are different,
they take a little bit of skills or
else you're never going to catch
them. And that's why I tell a lot of
people come on my boat, you got to
know how to jig. You know this.
I get this from my friends all the
time, because I always tell them,
whenever I'm catching fish on a
boat, they're not catching anything,
I always say, you gotta know how to
jig, and they always jokingly say
that to me, and say, hey, you got to
know how to jig if I'm not catching
a thing, but definitely walleyes
is a different predator in
some way.
It's definitely a little bit more
tougher to catch, and that's what
makes them so much more fun.
I mean, and so being successful
kind of is a way to demonstrate your
skill level. It's a way of, I mean
if you say, if someone says, I'm
really good at catching panfish,
okay.
But if you said, I am really good in
catching walleye, you've got the
videos to prove it.
You're looked at differently, right?
Thank you very much.
Yeah, definitely.
Walleyes, especially Green Bay, if
you look at Green Bay it's a huge
body of water.
If you can put on a good
day out on the bay, you
got something going on right and
you definitely figure something out.
And compared to other fish, you just
put something in front of their
face, they're going to eat it.
But if you find all the walleyes in
the world, some days they might
not just eat and then you just
got to pick them apart.
That's the fun of it.
You got to throw different things,
you and different
techniques and you know if you
figure it out it just makes it feel
way better.
Anything else that you want to add
that we've been talking about.
I just want to say that, you know,
I believe walleyes are one of
the best fish around in
this area, the Wisconsin area.
They're great to eat and you know
living in Green Bay here, you know I
want the population to
thrive so my kids can enjoy them one
day just like I am.
And you know walley's are important
to me and that's why I'm
involved in programs like Walleyes
for Tomorrow and trying
to improve habitat
and trying make just
better walleye fisheries around.
Can I get you to say and spell your
name just so I'm correct on the
tape?
My name is Shia Vang,
spell S-H-I-A-V-A
N-G.
Alright, and what's the name of your
YouTube channel?
My YouTube channel is Shia's
Outdoor Adventures.
That wasn't so bad, right?
No. Great.
Just do 20 seconds of higher
room tone. So we're just going to be
quiet so we can record the sound of
the room.
That should work.