Butch Furtman is one of the premier outdoorsmen in the Midwest. He is a well-recognized writer, an expert fisherman and hunter, and long-time consultant to the fishing tackle industry. Butch has produced a leading outdoor show, “Sportsman’s Notebook,” on ABC affiliate, WDIO-TV, for twenty-five years. And for the past 15 years, his syndicated show, “Sportsman’s Journal,” has been aired on Fox Sports Net. The show has also appeared on The Outdoor Channel. Butch’s ABC show consistently earns the highest Nielsen Rating, scoring much better than the other major syndicated outdoor shows on the air.
“I enjoy showing the outdoors the way people actually experience it,” Butch states, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He includes his audience in his adventures so they can enjoy them through him. His shows feature a wide variety of outdoor sports, including all types of freshwater fishing, big game, upland bird and waterfowl hunting. Butch carefully explains and demonstrates the latest techniques and equipment and offers tips on fish and game cooking, so his audience is not only entertained, but informed on the important “how to’s” of outdoor sports as well
Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame Inducts Butch Furtman
A featured writer for outdoor magazines, Butch has been published in Field & Stream, In-Fisherman, Outdoor News, and Hunting and Fishing Library. He is always in demand for seminars on fishing and hunting and has been showcased as the main speaker at numerous sports and travel shows and in-store promotions.
Butch has enjoyed the sponsorship of major boat and tackle companies. He has acted as a consultant in testing new tackle for them and has also helped to design, and outfit new fishing boats for his sponsors. Many of Butch’s sponsors have been associated with his show almost as long as he has been on the air, a strong testimonial to the value they place in his ability to represent them well. Butch Furtman is a proven performer who has a track record of tremendous viewer loyalty and sponsorship support.
Minnesota Fishing Hall Of Fame Welcomes Butch Furtman
The Fishing Hall of Fame of Minnesota welcomed multi-species angler extraordinaire and longtime host of television outdoor shows, Butch Furtman of Duluth, Minnesota. The Hall of Fame is located in Baxter, MN at the Gander Mountain store. Visit their web site to learn more about this important organization and other individuals that have been inducted into the Hall.
Hall of Fame Induction
National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
On Saturday March 29th, 20214 I was inducted into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
This is a great achievement for me and I have so many people to thank for helping me with this great honor. And thank you, my viewers and fans, for watching the shows and allowing me to live such a blessed life.
Butch’s Big Fish
- Walleye: 13 lbs. 9 oz. Alpine Lake, MN. 1962. Caught on a jig and minnow
- Northern Pike: 27 lbs. 4 oz. Saskatchewan 1981. Caught on a bucktail spinner
- Muskellunge: 31 lbs. 5 oz. Leech Lake, MN. 1989. Caught on a vibrax bucktail
- Atlantic Salmon: 25 lbs. 7 oz. Quebec, Canada 1996. Caught on a dry fly
- Lake Trout: 34 lbs. 3 oz. Shultz Lake, Ontario 1990. Caught on a spoon
- Black Crappie: 2 lbs. 9 oz. Shultz Lake, MN. 1965. Caught on a jig and minnow
- Brook Trout: 6 lbs. 10 oz. Nipigon Lake, Ontario 1989. Caught on a vibrax spinner
- Bluegill Sunfish: 1 lb. 10 oz. Perch Lake, MN. 1994. Caught on a jig and grub
- Steelhead Trout: 22 lbs. 2 oz. Toutle River, WA. 1975. Caught on a yarn fly