The Bassquatch Hunter Films at the Johnson Nature Center

On Tuesday, August 12, the Johnson Nature Center welcomed Mike McKinstry, the Emmy award-winning host of the Bassquatch Hunter: Fish Out of Water, to film a new episode of the show. Originally from Waterford, Michigan, McKinstry and his crew produce up to 12 episodes a year for the Discovery Channel. Each episode of the show features McKinstry swapping jobs for a day with someone new, in return for a day of kayak fishing. 

Last year, McKinstry partnered with the JNC for the first time to bring a fishing program to Pontiac-area families through the Police Athletic League of Oakland County, an effort that has now become an annual occurrence and introduced McKinstry to the JNC pond. When the Bassquatch Hunter chose the show’s latest guest, Mark Vassallo, Curator of Amphibians at the Detroit Zoo, McKinstry recognized the clear connections between the JNC and the zoo: education, conservation, and preservation! The JNC was thrilled to accept their request to film on the property.

McKinstry began the morning with a meet-and-greet with the JNC preschool campers and staff. He discussed his job, Vassallo’s work, and the fish and amphibians that live in the JNC pond. The day continued with filming a portion of the episode: McKinstry fishing with Vassallo. They used specialized fishing kayaks and were equipped with the necessary safety and recording equipment, while the camera crew worked from their own kayaks as well as from  the main dock. McKinstry's choice of bait was simple: worms and bobbers. He explained, “It’s a fed pond, and with so much vegetation, we have to use something suspended, and I don’t want to introduce anything artificial; I want to keep it all natural in this environment.“

Proud to share the JNC with a broader audience, Brooke Larm, Education Specialist at the JNC, said, “Mike’s interest in filming at JNC is a testament to the care we put into site management, the strength of our programming and partnerships, and the unique biodiversity our site offers in an urban environment. This opportunity to blend our education and conservation work with the Detroit Zoo, combined with Mike’s mission to get more people outdoors and make fishing accessible to all, is truly a gift.” This episode is expected to be broadcast during season 4, which begins July 2026.  

The JNC hosts several fishing events throughout the year, and even has a "Watersheds" field trip that includes fishing for grade 5 students. Casual fishing, however, is not allowed, which is why you may see the “No Fishing” signs at the JNC docks. Fishing is restricted to JNC-specific events. To learn more about the JNC’s fishing programs, check out the most recent 2024-25 Fishing Impact Report.