Fish House Nation Podcast

What makes a good fish house trip even better? Chris Larsen and Al Escobedo share nine items that can make your time on the ice easier and more comfortable. From lithium batteries and electric augers to boot dryers, better bedding, and French press coffee, they discuss practical upgrades that solve common frustrations. Plus, hear how the Catch Cover Pro helps keep road dust and grime out of your fish house. Whether you’re outfitting your first wheelhouse or improving your current setup, this episode will give you ideas for your next trip. For more ice fishing information, visit https://catchcover.com/read-blog-articles/

Your fish house doesn’t have to sit idle while you wait for ice. Whether you’re chasing whitetails, heading to the Dakotas for pheasants, or planning an elk hunt out west, your wheelhouse can serve as a comfortable base camp close to the action. On this episode of the Fish House Nation Podcast, Chris and Al discuss how to get your fish house ready for hunting season. They cover choosing a campsite with wind and access in mind, planning your power supply, managing scent, and organizing gear. Al shares how he uses a hub shelter as a separate changing and drying area, while Chris explains a simple tote system for switching between hunting and ice fishing. They also discuss water needs, security, tires and bearings, towing considerations, and how Catch Cover Pro hole covers can help keep road dust out of your house. A little preparation can mean fewer headaches, more time hunting, and more use from your fish house before winter arrives. The Fish House Nation Podcast is presented by Catch Cover. Find more tips and information at catchcover.com.

Night fishing is one of the biggest advantages of owning a permanent fish house. You’re already on the spot when those prime low-light feeding windows arrive—and you can keep fishing even while you sleep. In Episode 216 of the Fish House Nation Podcast, Chris Larsen and Al Escobedo break down how to be more productive when fishing overnight. They discuss where to position your fish house for nighttime walleyes, using glow jigs in low-light conditions, keeping the house dark in shallow water, and setting up rattle reels with live bait. Chris and Al also share tips for keeping minnows fresh for those early-morning bite windows and debate one of the great fish-house questions: Who has to get out of bed when the rattle reel starts going off? Plus, the guys cover important overnight safety considerations, including carbon monoxide detectors, generator placement, ice conditions, big-lake travel, and having a plan for getting safely on and off the ice. If you spend nights in a wheelhouse or permanent fish house, this episode will help you fish smarter, stay safer, and be ready when that rattle reel starts screaming at 4 a.m. Topics include: night fishing for walleyes, rattle reel setups, glow jigs, nighttime fish-house lighting, overnight live bait strategies, fish-house safety, carbon monoxide awareness, big-lake ice travel, and making the most of an overnight trip. Fish House Nation Podcast is presented by Catch Cover. https://catchcover.com/

Catching perch consistently starts with finding active fish—and understanding that yesterday’s hot spot may be empty today. In this episode, we break down how perch move, the types of areas that concentrate feeding fish, and why anglers need to stay mobile instead of waiting for the school to return. You’ll learn how to search productive water efficiently, recognize when it’s time to make a move, and adjust your presentation once you locate a school. Whether you’re chasing a meal of keeper-sized perch or searching for true jumbos, these practical tips will help you spend less time fishing empty water and more time putting perch on the ice.

Food is one of the best parts of spending a long day—or an entire weekend—in a fish house. In this episode of the Fish House Nation Podcast, we explore the meals, snacks, and cooking traditions that make time on the ice even more enjoyable. From simple sandwiches and convenience-store snacks to hot breakfasts, slow-cooked meals, and full fish house feasts, the conversation covers what works when space, time, and cooking equipment are limited. You’ll also hear ideas for planning meals before the trip, reducing cleanup, feeding a group, and making sure cooking doesn’t interfere with the fishing. Whether you fish from a small portable shelter or a fully equipped wheelhouse, this episode will help you create a better menu for your next ice fishing adventure. For more ice fishing information, visit https://catchcover.com/read-blog-articles/

What if your next work-from-home day could actually be a work-from-the-lake day? In this episode of the Fish House Nation Podcast, Chris Larsen and Al Escobedo break down how remote workers can turn a fish house into a comfortable and productive mobile office—without giving up a day of ice fishing. Chris and Al discuss staying connected when cell service gets overloaded, using Starlink and signal boosters, planning for enough power to keep laptops and phones running, and creating a comfortable workspace inside your wheelhouse. They also cover simple upgrades like using your fish house TV as a second monitor, portable power stations, meal planning, comfortable seating, and even adding a warm rug under your feet. And just because you're working doesn't mean you can't fish. Rattle reels, dead sticks, minnows, and a little planning can keep you in the game while you're answering emails or sitting in a Zoom meeting. Chris and Al even recommend doing a trial run in your driveway before the season so you can figure out exactly how you want your mobile office arranged. If you've got a remote or hybrid job and a fish house, this episode might convince you that your best winter office has been sitting in the driveway all along. Fish House Nation Podcast is presented by Catch Cover. For more ice fishing information, visit https://catchcover.com/

After more than 25 years as the standard in fish house hole covers, Catch Cover has introduced its biggest update yet. In Episode 213 of the Fish House Nation Podcast, host Chris Larsen sits down with Catch Cover owner Trevor Sumption to discuss the development of the all-new Catch Cover Pro. Trevor shares why the time was finally right to redesign one of the most recognizable products in ice fishing, how today's premium wheelhouses influenced the new look, and the engineering challenges of creating a tighter seal without sacrificing the durability anglers have trusted for decades. You'll also hear about the extensive testing process, including multi-season field testing, truck-strength durability demonstrations, and even freezing prototypes to 40 below zero before putting them through extreme abuse. The conversation also focuses on why Catch Cover Pro isn't just for new fish houses. Because it installs directly into the same floor opening as existing Catch Cover and Fish Hole Buddy hole covers, it's an easy upgrade for thousands of current wheelhouse owners, including Ice Castle owners looking to modernize their fish houses with improved performance, updated styling, and four color options. Chris and Trevor also discuss why summer is the perfect time to tackle fish house upgrades, the continued Made-in-USA manufacturing, Catch Cover's lifetime warranty, and why this simple project can transform the look and function of your wheelhouse before ice season arrives. Whether you're building a new wheelhouse, refreshing a used one, or simply curious about the engineering behind one of ice fishing's most trusted products, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of the Catch Cover Pro. Find out more about the Catch Cover Pro here: https://catchcover.com/new-catch-cover-pro/

Episode 212 of the Fish House Nation Podcast presented by Catch Cover is all about one of the most productive and often overlooked ice fishing techniques: deadsticking. Hosts Chris Larsen and Al Escobedo break down why every walleye angler should fish a deadstick alongside their jigging rod, especially when fish are less aggressive. They cover everything from choosing the right rod and reel to selecting hooks, line, live bait, and proper minnow rigging techniques. You'll also learn how to position your deadstick, adjust bait movement, and fine-tune your setup to turn lookers into biters. Whether you're new to deadsticking or looking to improve your catch rate this winter, this episode is packed with practical advice that will help you put more walleyes on the ice. In this episode: Why deadsticking consistently catches neutral fish The best rod action and reel setup for walleyes Fluorocarbon vs. other fishing lines How to hook minnows for different presentations Where to position your deadstick relative to your jigging rod Common mistakes that cost anglers fish Simple adjustments that can dramatically improve your success If you're only fishing one rod when regulations allow two, this episode might change the way you ice fish forever. For more ice fishing information, visit https://catchcover.com/read-blog-articles/

In Episode 211 of the Fish House Nation Podcast presented by Catch Cover, Chris Larsen and Al Escobedo break down the best ways to set up electronics inside your wheelhouse to help you catch more fish and make your time on the ice more enjoyable. From traditional flashers and underwater cameras to today's live sonar systems, they share practical tips on reducing interference, positioning transducers, maximizing camera views, and displaying electronics on big-screen TVs. They also discuss how house layout, hole placement, and cable management can improve both your fishing success and your overall experience inside the fish house. Whether you're running a classic flasher, a high-definition camera, or the latest live sonar, this episode will help you build a cleaner, more efficient electronics setup before ice season arrives. In this episode you'll learn: • How to eliminate interference between multiple flashers • Tips for positioning transducers and cameras inside a wheelhouse • The best ways to use live sonar with multiple anglers • How to connect electronics to your fish house TV • Common setup mistakes to avoid before your next trip If you're looking to get the most from your electronics this winter, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to use right away. The new Catch Cover Pro is available for purchase now at https://catchcover.com/new-catch-cover-pro/

Northern pike are one of the most exciting fish you can target through the ice. In Episode 210 of the Fish House Nation Podcast, hosts Chris Larsen and Al Escobedo break down everything anglers need to know to consistently catch more pike during the ice fishing season. The conversation covers where to find northern pike throughout the winter, including productive weed edges, shallow bays, spawning areas, and panfish locations that attract hungry predators. Chris and Al also discuss tip-up strategies, bait selection, leader lengths, and how to position your baits in the water column for maximum success. You'll learn how to approach a spinning tip-up flag, properly fight and land large pike, and avoid common mistakes that cost anglers trophy fish at the hole. The hosts also share insights on using dead bait versus live bait, targeting pike during midday feeding windows, and using multiple lines to cover more water and locate active fish. Whether you're chasing your first northern pike through the ice or looking to improve your success with larger fish, this episode is packed with practical tips and proven tactics that will help you put more flags on the ice this winter. For more ice fishing information, visit https://catchcover.com/read-blog-articles/