Ever Watch Lunkerville? 2024

Glenn reply :

Hey folks, are you getting tired of the "infomercials" on TV disguised as "fishing shows"? Ya, me too. I mean, I know they gotta make a buck, but it's getting so bad these days that it's less and less fishing information and more and more commercials. What to do?

Well a refreshing change from the constant product hawking is Lunkerville. It's a reality show that's about real anglers like you and I, just fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. And when I say "reality", I mean fishing the way most of us know it - and that means it's not always from the fanciest bass boat, or even from a boat at all. Some of the best shows are filmed from car-toppers or when fishing from the shore!

But most of all, the show captures the essence of fishing, and that's why I enjoy watching it every week!

I could go on, but I think the blurb from their website says it best:

Quote
When film director Michael de Avila hooked up his passion for storytelling onto his love of bass fishing, he spawned an award-winning reality television show, Lunkerville. While other fishing shows rely on face-paced pro-tournament competition, host "Mike D" casts his line at every day, recreational bass fishermen, traveling to their secret spots and sharing their special techniques. In his signature laid-back manner, he reels in the camaraderie, the banter and the bass. There's never a dull moment on Lunkerville, the show that catches real people with real fishing stories.

All their shows are on WFN and the NBC Sports Network as well as online at their website. Check them out at http://lunkerville.com/

NBR reply :

I think is s a good show and maybe a cut above most of the rest. But I don't have any issue with the infomercial part. TV prorams are costly and if the money part does not turn up in the black we can always watch reruns of General Hospital.

wnybassman reply :

I like the episode "The Curse Of Lunkerville" :whistle:

SudburyBasser reply :

On 12/3/2012 at 3:30 AM, Glenn said:
Hey folks, are you getting tired of the "infomercials" on TV disguised as "fishing shows"? Ya, me too. I mean, I know they gotta make a buck, but it's getting so bad these days that it's less and less fishing information and more and more commercials. What to do?

If it were only television programs. The level of sponsor whoring by television programs, magazines and web sites devoted to the fishing pastime and industry is so egregious that I rarely even consider what I'm reading or watching to be credible information. About the only people I have any trust with are the members of forums like this one or Ultimate Bass -- they have no economic stake in a company (usually, anyway) and they tend to promote what actually works for them.

A bit off topic, I will confess, but I was actually thinking about this last night while I was reading a popular bass fishing magazine and laughing out loud at the obvious advertorial nature of the articles.

At any rate, I don't mind Lunkerville.

thehooligan reply :

I like lunkerville alot, i watch all the episodes on the website.

Christian M reply :

I really like Lunkerville, it definitely is a "reality" show. There are other shows like "Facts of Fishing" and "Getting Schooled" that I really like, but when I watch the shows that have bigtime sponsors I filter out all the brand names and concentrate on the information being given (eg. hook size, line type/lb test, rod action, ect). When I watch Lunkerville there is no filter to turn on, the show really does capture the purity and essence of fishing.

bassin is addicting reply :

i watch it every chance i get. i really like the laid back feeling and they always tell the "real story" of how they do. very refreshing..

A-Jay reply :

I'm a fan of Mike and his Lunkerville show.

No ones sell anything and there's no agenda.

The mood on the show, which is certainly laid-back, combined with the camaraderie and mellow banter makes me believe that I am indeed - just watching two guys go fishing.

It might not be everyones cup of tea - but I enjoy it.

A-Jay

J Francho reply :

On 12/3/2012 at 6:51 AM, wnybassman said:

I like the episode "The Curse Of Lunkerville" :whistle:

Big fan of Shannon and your father?

Curse is a good episode, very funny: http://www.lunkerville.com/lunkerville1/curseoflunkerville.html

My personal all time favorites are the Lunkerville on Ice series: http://www.lunkerville.com/lunkerville1/episode3ice.html

wnybassman reply :

On 12/4/2012 at 2:29 AM, J Francho said:

Big fan of Shannon and your father?

Curse is a good episode, very funny: http://www.lunkervil...unkerville.html

The story behind that is...............I had caught a couple fish on a particular drop, but couldn't get bit again. So I dropped a buoy and moved off the spot giving it a rest. Soon we hear hootin' and hollerin' and look back and they had moved onto my buoy and were whacking fish! lol Made for a good show anyway.

J Francho reply :

I actually heard the full story yesterday at the seminar. Some of the off camera stuff could make a great show.

(null)

bowhunter63 reply :

Its a good watch for sure.

wnybassman reply :

On 12/4/2012 at 9:29 AM, J Francho said:

I actually heard the full story yesterday at the seminar. Some of the off camera stuff could make a great show.

(null)

Did you happen to catch the one shot where the console is on the wrong side of my boat? lol

Brian Needham reply :

I didnt know they put it online...........looks like I know what I am doing next few nights!

J Francho reply :

On 12/4/2012 at 10:15 AM, wnybassman said:

Did you happen to catch the one shot where the console is on the wrong side of my boat? lol

No?!? I'll have to look closer. It's all in the editing!

Ratherbfishing reply :

I believe I've watched all the lunkerville episodes (and some of them twice or three times). If there were new ones, I'd watch them too. This is an "every man's" show.

riskkid 2 reply :

I really like this show. Used to watch it on WFN but got rid of the cable package that included it, now catch it online. I didn't know it is on NBC Sports, I'll have to find it there.

wnybassman reply :

On 12/4/2012 at 10:18 PM, J Francho said:

No?!? I'll have to look closer. It's all in the editing!

This is another really funny editing quirk as well, but I'd rather not say it here. lol

LgMouthGambler reply :

Anybody else get a kick out of the dentist? LOL.

J Francho reply :

On 12/5/2012 at 8:55 AM, LgMouthGambler said:

Anybody else get a kick out of the dentist? LOL.

John is something else. He runs NYBASS forums, and is a super guy.

0119 reply :

NBC only shows old episodes, or at least did last season. No episodes have aired in quite awhile on that channel. Got to see a few episodes during a free month of WFN. They showed the same episode the entire month, Porgy fishing with his new sponsor South Bends out of the package combos. Gave me a taste that the show might have changed some, hope not.

wnybassman reply :

On 12/5/2012 at 10:16 PM, J Francho said:

John is something else. He runs NYBASS forums, and is a super guy.

John spent a half a day in the back of my boat back in 2001 during a get together on Keuka Lake. You will not find anybody that fishes a Slider Worm as good as he. He was plucking largemouth out of areas I wouldn't have even bothered casting to. Just deep plain looking nothingness.

J Francho reply :

He did a great presentation on blade baits this past weekend....not that you need any help there, lol.

Mike D from Lunkerville reply :

Hey guys. Thanks for the kind words. Just to clear a few things up: Lunkerville airs on NBC Sports from January-June. Last year we aired re-edited re-runs from season 4 and 5. This January, we're airing an all new season 7, which is currently airing on WFN. Our WFN airings are 6 times a week, all year. We'll also be airing on Mountain Lake PBS and expanding to more PBS stations this year.

Yes, we do a bit of creative editing in the shows sometimes, but that's our creative license. What we don't do is "fake catch" fish like some other shows. What you see is basically how the day went. It's real people with real fish stories.

We start filming again very soon and will now be more of a multi-species show, with about 1/2 bass and 1/2 other freshwater species (with a pinch of salt thrown in).

We're also revamping our website and will eventually offer past season's shows in full HD off your computer. The new season's shows will show up online after our NBC Sports airings. So, this current season will be available in July.

Now, we do have a new title sponsor: South Bend, and it's a big deal for us. But the show is staying the same and we won't be hawking goods left and right like the other shows. You will see their product and logo quite a bit, but we are not changing the format of the show.

If anyone has any questions, ask away. And thanks everyone for watching the show!

PS. Thanks John and Paul for your terrific kayak presentation at the NYBASS seminar. TOP NOTCH!

J Francho reply :

Mike, it was an honor! I've got some ideas for the next one - totally off the wall. We'll discuss it soon.

thehooligan reply :

Theres so many great episodes, ive watched all them online, but a favorite is is when mikes fishing at central park and lands that chunky bass under the tree, good times :respect-059:

SENKOSAM reply :

I did a show with Mike. It was fun though a bit stressful. He actually caught some fish!! LOL

Bigbarge50 reply :

Lunkerville is awesome and am totally looking forward to the return in Jan. I will admit my total bias because the show often travels north from NYC through and to the areas I grew up fishing..... which is a wonderful place to bass fish.

I have a question.... I do not watch online as I felt watching the show (and DVR-ing it) on NBC sports would help keep it on the air. If i watch online, well that would seem to not do much to help keep it going. Am I wrong here?

Keep up the great work.

PABASS reply :

I learned something I did not know that A. you could fish in central park and B. that there are large fish in central park to catch, love to learn great show and keep up the work.

Mike D from Lunkerville reply :

On 12/10/2012 at 7:52 AM, Bigbarge50 said:

Lunkerville is awesome and am totally looking forward to the return in Jan. I will admit my total bias because the show often travels north from NYC through and to the areas I grew up fishing..... which is a wonderful place to bass fish.

I have a question.... I do not watch online as I felt watching the show (and DVR-ing it) on NBC sports would help keep it on the air. If i watch online, well that would seem to not do much to help keep it going. Am I wrong here?

Keep up the great work.

We keep the shows online (older seasons only now) so that people can watch the show. It doesn't affect whether it's on the air or not. Our distribution deals are different with each network. Though, WFN does have an exclusive to air new shows first.

Bigbarge50 reply :

Thanks Mike!

gallowaypt reply :

I now watch this show every night before bed (muCh to the dismay of my wife who has to try and sleep during it)Great show Mike!

etommy28 reply :

Im gonna be honest I find the show kinda slow and boring. but not terrible i do watch it from time to time

Grizzn N Bassin reply :

love this show hes done many shows about 10 mins from my house.. in catskill creek is a great spot for small mouth havnt fished it much but the area i live in has many tournaments here that launch right down the road.. i would love to go fishing with him though some time show him to some of my honey holes. right around catskill.. the episode in woodstock is very close. just good to know my area has a few pros fishing around my area.. anybody know how i could try to get a day on the water with a pro?.. i mean some of the guys are within a 20 min drive others closer

J Francho reply :

Most of the guys on the show aren't pros - just regular guys like you and me. Many are members on the Lunkerville forums, and just about all of them are easily approachable, and willing to to share an open seat. I made long time friends in Burney Haney and Mike Cusano. Seemed like Burney and I were the only guys fishing for steelhead through the winter. We ended up meeting at the Salmon River for Mike's first time trout fishing, and have been friends ever since.

Mike "getting his feet wet" for the first time:

Burney and my buddy Kase:

Grizzn N Bassin reply :

one i remember is Mike delvisco, and 1 or 2 more that had one on there.. and yeah thats why i like the show not getting all this fancy stuff in your head prety much basic rigs that we all use and its nice to see some things that you wouldnt see on tv show full of info. even tho i like those to.. im only 20 and have been fishing for about 10 years.. so id like to try and get on a boat with someone like a few of the local pros hes had on the show.. or anybody with an open spot on there boat.. because theres no room in our local club for a non-boater. nice still fish ^^^ ive heard its a blast up there

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