Matt Straw
Matt Straw grew up around trout streams and bass lakes in Michigan. Always fascinated with water, he used his spare time to research baitfish, aquatic insects and limnology in the biology library at the University of Michigan, where he graduated with degrees in communication and English literature, and a teaching certificate.
His professors encouraged him to publish his writings and he did, placing articles with outdoor magazines before graduating. He became a city-desk reporter and five years later held the largest beat in the Advance chain’s history. He was offered a position as staff editor with In-Fisherman magazine, accepted and served there for 21 years. Over that time, he published more words in that magazine than any other writer and appeared in more than 50 TV segments. He now serves as a Field Editor there.
During those years, he introduced such concepts as using bio-diversity to locate panfish, catching smallmouths “in space,” bobber-wacky rigging, pinpointing depths in the water column without downriggers, and many more. He occasionally scooped the angling media with early reporting on things like satellite imagery to find “invisible structure.” His report detailing Great Lakes salmon commonly using depths of 700 feet and deeper scooped all media. His writings on steelhead are recognized throughout the industry as some of the most informative ever published.
Matt has participated in only 20 bass tournaments, but won 4, including the prestigious Sturgeon Bay Open. He has appeared as a seminar speaker in every major city in the Upper Midwest, from New York to South Dakota. He has been interviewed by dozens of radio and television hosts to comment on outdoor issues. Today, Matt uses his vast multi-species experience to help youngsters find fish and enjoy the outdoors by volunteering to speak and bait hooks for kids groups and outings throughout the Midwest, while continuing to teach angling skills through his writing nationwide.