What Muskies Really Eat: Inside Kamden Glade's Breakthrough Study - Part1, With Kamden Glade

Everyone has an opinion on what muskies eat. Kamden Glade has data.

In this episode of Spot Burn, we sit down with Minnesota DNR fisheries specialist Kamden Glade to unpack one of the most talked-about studies in predator management today: a multi-year deep dive into the actual diets of over 600 muskies across Minnesota.

What did they find? Fewer walleyes. Major surprises. And some serious myth-busting.

We dig into how the research was done (yes, it involves fish puke), what the data really says about predator interactions, and why the results are challenging long-held beliefs across the angling world. From big fish stories to stomach contents to public backlash, this conversation has it all.If you care about muskies, management, or the future of predator fishing — this one’s essential.

This episode is a reminder of the importance of solid data, respectful discourse, and the work being done behind the scenes to protect our fisheries for future generations.

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🎧 LISTEN + GET FIRED UP.

📌 CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:00 - Meet Kamden Glade & Early Angling Influences
05:00 - The Walleye-Muskie Controversy in MN
08:00 - Starting the Muskie Diet Study
13:00 - Study Design: What Are Muskies (and Others) Eating?
16:00 - Electric Fishing & Stomach Pumping Explained
20:00 - Challenges of Data Collection & Empty Stomachs
24:00 - Seasonal Diet Patterns: Surprising Trends
27:00 - Perch Dominate, But Muskies Eat It All
29:00 - Do Muskies Eat Walleye? (Spoiler: Barely)
32:00 - Predator-Prey Myths and Muskie Legends
35:00 - Wildest Stomach Finds: Chicken Bones & Lens Caps
41:00 - Do Muskies Prefer Anything?
44:00 - Pike & Bass: The Real Biomass Monsters
47:00 - Tagging and Recapture Data
52:00 - Cisco Lakes vs. Panfish Lakes
58:00 - What About Ciscos in Muskie Diets?
1:00:00 - Isotope Research for Open Water Patterns
1:02:00 - Wrapping It All Up

📚 LINKS & RESOURCES

📝 Kamden Glade’s Research

Diet Patterns of Muskellunge and Co-occuring Piscivores:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/nafm.10880?domain=author&token=H9TTC339MZUEX3MXIFIK

Muskie Diet Secrets Revealed! - Webinar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mrFmD2Qkt4

Effects of Gastric Lavage on Muskellunge Survival:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389042102_Effects_of_Gastric_Lavage_on_Muskellunge_Survival

Explore More of Kamden's Research:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kamden-Glade

Follow Kamden's Research on Instagram:
@kamdenglade

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- Dan & Josh

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