Doc Talks Fishing Podcast

If you love chasing crappies, bluegills and pumpkinseeds—this is the panfish masterclass you've been waiting for. In this episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we hand the mic to Pete Garnier—known far and beyond as the Panfish Professor—to show us how he turns science into success.Pete doesn't just fish—he studies his quarry like a true tactician. From breaking down key panfish behaviours to revealing his go-to seasonal locations, he bridges the gap between lab and lake. You'll hear exactly how he uses Scott Smithers' research to dial in the best bite windows, choose his favourite rod-reel combos, and deploy deadly lure presentations that put slabs in the boat. Whether you're a weekend warrior or a die-hard panfish purist, this episode is packed with the kind of real-world tips, tackle insights and science-backed strategies that will up your game instantly.Send us a message

Send us a textCan fish learn to outsmart us? In this fascinating episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we sit down with Dr. Hal Schramm-legendary bass biologist, pioneering researcher, and inductee into the National Fisheries Management Hall of Excellence— to explore the cutting-edge science of fish learning and conditioning. Hal shares eye-opening research showing that bass—and likely other species— can actually learn to avoid lures, boats and fishing pressure after being caught and released.It's a provocative twist: thanks to slot limits, selective harvest, and catch-and-release, bass populations are booming in many lakes. But despite healthy numbers, many anglers are noticing tougher bites and lower catch rates. Are the fish still there-but now too smart to bite? Join us as Hal breaks down the science of fish behaviour, explains how and why fish get conditioned, and offers practical advice on how anglers can outthink these educated fish. If you've ever wondered why yesterday's hot bait suddenly stopped working—this episode is for you.

Send us a textWhy did your go-to walleye lure stop working? Do big females "ghost" anglers after the spawn — and where do they go? Why are some lakes full of daytime biters and others go dead until dusk?In this jam-packed episode of Doc Talks Fishing, renowned walleye scientists Dr. Nigel Lester and Nick Baccante return to answer your questions about walleye behaviour, movement, learning, vision, spawning and feeding. We even dive into deep science on saugeye reproduction, pelagic foraging and whether you're fishing too small for big walleyes.If you love walleye and want to understand them on a whole new level, this is the episode for you. It's science you can use — to catch more and bigger fish.

Send us a textWhat makes walleyes masters of low light, why do they seemingly vanish from some lakes but thrive in others, and what really drives their boom-and-bust cycles? In this eye-opening episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we sit down with fisheries scientist Paul Radomski, author of Walleye: A Beautiful Fish of the Dark to dive deep into the fascinating science behind one of North America's most enigmatic gamefish. Discover why walleye are negatively phototactic, how their behavior shifts between lakes, and which"old wives' tales" about them are true-or not.Whether you're chasing trophies on a prairie basin or dialling in a bite on a Shield lake, this episode is packed with cutting-edge science and real-world strategies that will help you catch more —and bigger-walleyes. Tune in and let the science give you the edge.

Send us a textEver wonder what REALLY happens before trout hit your favorite lake? We went behind the scenes with Nelson Bergh, head of Saskatchewan's massive fish hatchery, to uncover the secrets of trout stocking-from hand-picked genetics to survival rates, wariness, and why some fish grow into giants while others vanish.Learn how hatchery science can help you catch more (and bigger) trout by understanding where they're stocked, how they behave, and when they're easiest to fool. Whether you chase rainbows, browns, brookies, splake or tigers this episode is packed with next-level intel you won't hear anywhere else!

Send us a textDid you know that a lake trout's brain actually grows in the winter? That's right-when the water gets cold, these incredible fish devote more energy to their brains, enhancing their cognitive abilities for complex reasoning. This astonishing discovery challenges everything we thought we knew about fish behaviour!In this mind-blowing episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we sit down with fisheries scientist, Evan Versteeg, who discovered that lake trout brains *literally grow larger* in cold water when these cunning predators sharpen their cognitive abilities to outsmart prey and survive in frigid conditions. But when summer rolls around, their brains shrink as energy shifts to other survival needs. It's a stunning adaptation that reveals just how dynamic these fish truly are.Don't miss this mind-blowing deep dive into the science behind one of North America's most iconic fish!

Send us a textLake Winnipeg's legendary greenbacks are a different breed. Unlike their structure-hugging cousins in Shield-type lakes, these giants roam the vast, featureless expanse in search of pelagic baitfish. In our last episode, Dr. Paul Cooley revealed the science behind their winter habits, but now we're taking it to the next level—putting that knowledge into action on the ice!Enter Gianni Nevieri, better known as Gianni Balboa, a top winter walleye angler who has mastered this unique fishery. In this episode, we play back key moments from Dr. Cooley's research and challenge Gianni to break it down into real-world ice fishing tactics. From pinpointing fish in a barren landscape to selecting the perfect rods, reels, lines and lures for giants, Gianni shares his hard-earned secrets for putting more monster walleye topside. Tune in and get ready to knock out the competition with Gianni Balboa's winning combination of science and skill!

Send us a textEver wondered what walleyes are really doing beneath the ice on relatively shallow, featureless, prairie-type lakes? Join us on this week's episode of Doc Talks Fishing, as we unravel the mysteries of winter walleye behaviour with renowned fisheries biologist, Dr. Paul Cooley.  Dr. Cooley shares groundbreaking insights from his cutting-edge research, revealing where walleyes go, how they feed, and why they behave the way they do during the coldest months of the year. From thermal preferences to movement patterns, this episode is a masterclass in the science behind winter walleye fishing on these unique seemingly featureless lakes.

Send us a textEver wondered what it takes to consistently reel in slab crappies, trophy bluegills, and vibrant pumpkinseeds? In this must-listen episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we sit down with Scott Smithers, a leading biologist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and a panfish management expert.Scott dives deep into the fascinating world of panfish, revealing their hidden habits, preferred habitats, and the science behind growing bigger, healthier populations. Whether you're targeting crappies in the spring, bluegills in the summer, or pumpkinseeds in the fall, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you make every cast count.

Send us a textAre you ready to catch more and bigger lake trout under the ice this winter? We're diving this week into Dr. Christian Therrien's groundbreaking research on lake trout habits and habitat. From their seasonal movements in the winter time to their feeding patterns, we unpack the science behind what makes these incredible fish tick. But we don't stop there—we take Chris' fascinating findings and translate them into practical, game-changing strategies you can use to outsmart lake trout and land more and bigger fish. Whether you're an experienced ice angler or just getting started, this episode is packed with tricks, tips and techniques to help you up your game. Tune in and take your winter lake trout fishing to the next level!

Send us a textWe're thrilled to welcome back Saskatchewan-based biologist Jeff Matity who has spent years studying northern pike. In this fascinating episode, Matity unpacks the winter habits of pike, revealing how these apex predators use a surprising variety of habitats —they're not all in the weeds— under the ice. You'll learn why pike are drawn to specific prey species like ciscoes and yellow perch and how their behaviour can mimic lake trout.But that's not all—Matity shares his groundbreaking techniques for catching trophy pike beneath the ice. Using jigs and ciscoe belly fillets, as well as circle hooks and dead-baits, he explains how to revolutionize your approach to ice fishing. If you're looking to deepen your understanding of northern pike or land the fish of a lifetime this winter, you won't want to miss this episode!

Send us a textDive into the intricate world of British Columbia's salmon with our latest episode featuring Jamieson Atkinson, Program Manager at the Aquatic Research and Restoration Centre, British Columbia Conservation Foundation. Jamieson shares cutting-edge research into the "survival bottlenecks" that are keeping salmon stocks dangerously low. Learn how PIT tags and micro-fishing are helping scientists track juvenile salmon and uncover the critical challenges the fish are facing in the open ocean.But the story doesn't stop there. Jamieson explains how human interventions, like hatchery-raised salmon, can complicate wild populations and why long-standing log booms in coastal estuaries may be doing more harm than we realize destroying eelgrass, creating anoxic dead zones, and providing easy hunting grounds for seals. Whether you're an angler, a scientist, or just passionate about the ocean, join us for this deep dive into salmon conservation.

Send us a textAre you ready to revolutionize your ice fishing game? This week on Doc Talks Fishing, we're drilling beneath the frozen surface to uncover the fascinating world of walleyes during the cold winter months. Our guest is none other than Nick Baccante, the former senior scientist with Ontario's legendary Walleye Research Unit. Nick has spent years studying these iconic fish, and he's here to share groundbreaking insights into their behavior and habitat under the ice.In this episode, we'll explore what walleyes really do in the depths of winter—how they hunt, where they hide, and why they behave the way they do when the lakes freeze over. Whether you're a seasoned ice angler or just starting out, Nick's expert advice will arm you with the science-based knowledge you need to catch more—and bigger—walleyes. Don't miss this chance to learn from one of the best in the field and take your ice fishing success to the next level!

Send us a textRebecca Spring jokingly calls herself the "Bug Lady," but as an aquatic taxonomist, she's much more than that. She's a scientist who unravels the complex food web that supports everything alive in the water-from microscopic plankton to the big fish we love to catch.What makes Rebecca even cooler? She's also an avid angler and hunter. Living in tiny Alberton, Montana (population around 400), just a stone's throw from Missoula - where A River Runs Through It was filmed - she has a deep understanding of the intricate connections between algae, plankton, insects, and the walleye, bass, trout and whitefish at the top of the food chain. Knowing where these critters thrive is a key to catching the biggest fish in the lake.This episode is packed with incredible science and practical insights — don't miss it!

Send us a textDr. Nigel Lester, has spent much of his life studying the life history of walleyes as a research scientist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and a professor with Trent University and the University of Toronto. Co-author of one of the most groundbreaking studies ever undertaken, Dr. Lester and his team looked at how ambient light and water temperature combine to affect walleye abundance. If you've ever wondered why your favourite walleye lake does or doesn't produce lots of fish, or what constitutes the perfect walleye water, tune into this week's fascinating episode. You'll never look at walleyes, the same way, ever again.

Send us a textTwice a year—spring and fall—lake turnover disrupts the waters and drives anglers crazy. To help us make sense of this phenomenon, we're joined by Dr. Heidi Swanson, a distinguished fisheries scientist and the inaugural Jarislowsky Chair at Wilfrid Laurier University. Heidi is also the adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Swanson's work with cold-water fish is legendary.In this episode, she'll explain how, in lakes that stratify, the thermocline acts as a ‘glass floor' for warm-water species like bass and walleye, while it's a ‘glass ceiling' for cold-water fish like trout, whitefish, burbot, and ciscoes. So if you're tired of scratching your head over turnover—what it is, how it forms, and why it matters—this episode is your chance to get the answers you need to become a more informed angler.

Send us a textDr. Bruce Tufts is a comparative fish physiologist at Queen's University where he specializes in fish olfactory senses. On this week's podcast, Bruce explains how fish use their keen senses of smell and taste. Using hundreds of captive fish, Bruce and his team undertook countless feeding trials to isolate the specific molecules that flip the switch and convince them that your bait is real.  And what about garlic and coffee, do fish really find them attractive?  Does gasoline and oil on your hands repel fish?  Tune into this week's podcast and get the answer to the question you've always wondered about: Do fish scents really work?

Send us a textDr. David Philipp is renowned for his work with smallmouth bass - especially their reproductive ecology. But the Director of the Fisheries Genetics Lab at the Illinois Natural History Society, adjunct professor at the University of Illinois and Chair of the Fisheries Conservation Foundation encountered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Opinicon Lake, in southeastern Ontario, when Covid rules closed access to the fish during the spawning season. How the bass responded has not only shocked the science community, it has led to an experimental management project that may show us how to manage for more and bigger bass in the future. Listen in, as David explains to Gord and Liam, how the good old days may be right around the corner.

Biologist Danny Swainson says steelhead on the west coast have so many nutrients available to them once they hit the ocean that they can grow to 15 pounds in three or four years. But something is happening to them once they enter salt water and it is frightening. Are steelhead different from the rainbow trout in the rivers? What are the survival bottlenecks they are encountering in the ocean? How many adults are returning these days to spawn? What are tracking studies telling us? And how bleak is the future of the fishery? Hold onto your hats folks as British Columbia Conservation Foundation steelhead specialist, Danny Swainson explains if we'll be fishing for steelhead in the years to come.

Renown biologist, Brian Chan has spent years managing the trout fisheries in British Columbia. You'll be amazed listening to Brian explain how the province produces triploid female rainbow and brook trout that grow twice as large and live twice as long as diploids. There is a reason the trout fishing spotlight is shining so brightly on British Columbia these days. Brian even shares some of his stillwater trout fishing secrets with us. Hold onto your hats, folks, this one is amazing.

Biologist Steve Quinn has a foot in the world of fisheries science and fishing itself. The longtime bass editor of In-Fisherman Magazine has authored numerous research reports and served in various capacities for the American Fisheries Society. Steve joins Liam and Gord on this week's podcast to reveal how fish use their lateral lines to communicate with each other, hunt and capture prey. They can even detect the vortex left in the water by a fleeing baitfish (or your lure) and follow it straight to the item. You will be intrigued listening to this week's podcast —and add a trick or two to your game plan - thanks to Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Quinn.

Ciscoes —also known as lake herring and tulibees— are so favoured by walleye, lake trout, northern pike, bass and muskies that they seem to have a target painted on their backs. Absolutely every predator fish devours them every opportunity they get. Dr. Chris Therrien —who is known as The Cisco Kid— sits down with Gord and Liam on this week's podcast to explain how ciscoes can totally change the lake dynamics and life history of predators. Prepare to be dazzled as Chris explains how to find ciscoes and the biggest fish in your favourite lake. 

Renowned muskie scientist, Dr. Sean Landsman tells Liam and Gord on this week's podcast that he has observed muskies doing some mighty strange things. Using bio-loggers equipped with pressure sensors, Landsman says he is surprised at the number of muskies that frequent deeper water, lay on the bottom of the lake and suspend in the water column? Do muskies have different personalities? Do they learn? And do they adjust their behaviour based on fishing pressure? The author of Project Noble Beast has tracked and studied muskies like few others and you'll come away after listening to him with a newfound respect for the magnificent, mysterious, magical muskie.

Few fish baffle anglers more than lake whitefish. They're found in countless numbers of lakes, often offering up staggering populations of big hard fighting delicious fish. But in other than a few well-known lakes in the winter, whitefish remain an enigma. Rebecca Perry is an instructor at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, who has studied lake whitefish extensively. She talks with Gord and Liam on this week's podcast and helps us unravel the secrets to locating and catching whitefish throughout the open water season.

Imagine surgically implanting radio tags inside 38 smallmouth bass and then tracking them on a daily basis for up to five years. The details you would learn about their habits and habitats would astound you. Well, that is what OMNR biologist Barry Corbett did on one million acre Lake of the Woods, in one of the most monumental bass tracking studies in fisheries science history. Barry shares what he learned with Liam and Gord on today's podcast and it will take your breath away.

Any day now, an amazing pre-summer peak walleye pattern is going to explode. And it is based on something few anglers understand — the shiner spawn.  Dr. Paul Cooley is the fisheries scientist who discovered the phenomenon on massive Lake Winnipeg — but it happens in every lake where walleyes eat shiners — and he tells the boys where you'll find the fish bunched up big time. Are you ready for this: the best fishing occurs in waist deep water on the same sand beaches where everyone is swimming and sunbathing. Hold onto your hats because you're not going to believe this one.

Nick Baccante, the Senior Research Biologist in Ontario's renown Walleye Research Unit, recently shared some amazing early season science secrets. This week, Gord and Liam take Nick's walleye words of wisdom and show you how to prepare a foolproof game plan to put more and bigger fish in the boat. Jump in with the boys and learn how to combine state-of-the-art science with cutting edge walleye presentations.

There are 669 different species of crayfish, including 400 varieties in North America. And every fish finds them finger licking good. Especially, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, yellow perch and trout. Liam and Gord spend an hour brainstorming with crayfish biologist, Tom Brooke Jr., discovering what is happening on the bottom of our favourite lakes, rivers, reservoirs, pits and ponds. Did you know that crayfish don't lay eggs? That they range in a rainbow-like array of colours. That depending on the species, they can be docile to mean. And fish find them to be most vulnerable when they're in their soft-shelled phase. Tune in to learn more about the captivating world of crayfish.

If you fish for walleyes (bass, trout, pike, perch, even muskies) you won't believe what you're going to learn from biologist, Bev Ritchie, who discovered that the magnificent hexigenia limbata hatch so heavily in even numbered years - like this year — that the walleyes go berserk devouring them. There are as many as 120 mayfly nymphs crawling around every square metre or yard of lake bottom and the fish pounce on them and eat them almost exclusively when they're about to hatch. Which is any day now. It is why the walleye bite often slows down when the mayflies start hatching, but we're going to tell you how you can turn this into the most exciting walleye fishing of the season. You're not going to want to miss this episode.

Nick Baccante helped write the book on walleyes, studying the popular sport fish as the lead Research Biologist in Ontario's esteemed, Walleye Research Unit and as the Fish and Wildlife Section Head, for the Peace Region in British Columbia. Nick joins Liam and Gord on this week's podcast as they talk about early season walleye behaviour and fishing strategies. Do you know why you typically catch more small male walleyes than large female walleyes when the fishing season opens?  The trophy-size fish go to specific locations and develop unique feeding habits that you can incorporate into your fishing strategies. Want to get your doctorate in spring walleye fishing? Tune into this week's podcast. 

Liam and Gord sit down this week with Dr. Bruce Tufts, who heads up the prestigious Freshwater Fisheries Conservation Lab at Queen's University. Tufts explains why big walleye, bass, trout, northern pike and muskies are the rock stars of the fishing world. A 12-pound female walleye, for example, lays exponentially more eggs than three four-pound female walleye. The eggs are bigger, more nutritious, more viable and hatch earlier leading to the best year classes. And that is just for starters. The behaviour of big fish will leave you amazed.

If we're lucky we get the chance, once or twice in our life, to cross paths with someone who changes the course of history.  In Rob Swainson's case, it is the celebrated brook trout fishery associated with Lake Nipigon, the Nipigon River and the north shore of Lake Superior.  Gord and Liam interview the man this week, who wouldn't accept the fact that a world class fishery was doomed. Under Swainson's leadership the brook trout fishing has sprung back to life. How did he do it and what has he learned that will help us manage and catch more and bigger trout wherever they swim? Hold onto your hats — all this and more with Rob Swainson, aka Dr. Trout.

Gord and Liam sit down this week with renown lake trout scientist, (Dr.) Chris Therrien, who has spent years studying the habits and habitat of lake trout. Chris shocks the boys explaining how cold water loving lake trout will venture to feed into the last place you'd ever expect to catch them — hot shoreline water in the middle of summer. He also spells out why he would never fish for lake trout in a lake that didn't offer ciscoes as the principal prey species. And are you ready for this: lake trout suffer beriberi disease when smelt are introduced to the water. If you think you know something about the biggest trout that swims, tune into this episode and prepare to have yourmind blown wide open.

Unbelievable ... amazing .... mind-boggling. Choose whatever superlative you want to use and it is appropriate for this week's guest, Kamden Glade, who works for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Kamden studied the diets of muskies (northern pike, walleye and largemouth bass) using gastric lavage - the same technique employed in hospitals. Kamden joins Liam and Gord on this week's podcast and explains what muskies eat in different lake settings and whether or not they compete with each other for food. Muskie anglers love to "match the hatch," so go ahead and guess what muskies eat most often? You're going to be surprised.

This week Gord and Liam sit down with biologist, Jeff Matity to discuss the amazing underwater world of burbot.  Did you know that burbot communicate with each other when they spawn? And that the non-breeders guard and protect the spawning grounds against intruders. We also examine the ways you can use this cutting-edge science to increase your catch of burbot — you can decoy them using muskie baits — and land more of the fabulous freshwater cod every time you go fishing. We even divulge a top secret burbot tactic with a crazy spin off benefit: the biggest northern pike of your life.