The Fishful Thinker Podcast
Thirty Minutes.
Fish Smarter.
Angling education, back story, and the kind of details that actually make you a better fisherman. Hosted by Chad LaChance — the original Fishful Thinker.
100 episodes in the archive

Ep. 165 Latest Episode
Get your lures on a diet...
Spring means shallow fishing and shallow fihsing can often be maximized by using lighter lures. Host Chad LaChance believes in getting the lead out and shares his thoughts on this episode. Hope you'll like, share and subscribe while you're here!
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The Full Archive
Every episode is about 30 minutes — perfect for the drive to the lake. Click any episode to listen on Podbean.
- Ep. 164
Fishing the Holiday
Memorial day is a great tiem to be outside near water, but can frustrate anglers. Chad LaChance lives overlooking a…
- Ep. 163
Fishing is Going to the Birds...
Birds can be a angler's best friend...if you are observant and know when they're relevant to the bite and when…
- Ep. 162
Being guided...best practices
Taking a guided fishing trip is a great way to advance your skills and enjoy time on the water...if you…
- Ep. 161
When conditions go against The Book
Fish and fishermen love stable conditions, but what do anglers do when the weather is not cooperative...how does an angler…
- Ep. 160
Sight Fishing Success
If catching fish is fun and catching fish you can see ahead of time is even more fun! Whether it's…
- Ep. 159
Tackle Buying Intelligence...
Fishing tackle ain't cheap and the buying options are limitless; Chad LaChance shares his thoughts on choosing tackle to maximize…
- Ep. 158
Fishing's One-Two Punch
Power and finesse are two very different approaches to fishing! Chad LaChance believes that combining the two concepts on any…
- Ep. 157
Old school lures that still catch 'em
Anglers typically gravitate to the newest lures, but many old school lures have plenty of merit in modern angling. Chad…
- Ep. 156
Windy Day Lure Choices
Heavy wind (not a breeze...real wind!) is a common problem anglers face, especially in spring and fall. Host Chad LaChance…
- Ep. 155
Walleyes of Spring
For walleye anglers, early spring is a magic time to target them. Chad LaChance focusses his walleye fishing efforts around…
- Ep. 154
In Praise of Small Boats
Chad LaChance believes that small, hand-launchable boats may just be the way to have the most fun fishing. It's a…
- Ep. 153
Reading the River
Before you can catch fish you must locate fish and Chad LaChance believes in a systematic approach. He breaks down…
- Ep. 152
Timing Your Fishing Season
Did you know that the timing of your fishing trips will most likely have more affect on your success than…
- Ep. 151
Fishing's Spring Training
Like any sport, a little pre-season training and prep goes a long way towards a successful fishing season. Chad LaChance…
- Ep. 150
Tube details...
The ol' plastic tube was originally designed for bass, but Chad LaChance feels the versatile plastic shape goes well beyond…
- Ep. 149
Spinning Winter Tailwaters...
Tailwater fisheries are just about the only open water option for a bunch of anglers this time of year adn…
- Ep. 148
The art of lure color selection
Host Chad LaChance has developed a systematic approach to chooing colors based on generalities. It helps to reduce lure choices…
- Ep. 147
Life's short...buy the boat!
Chad LaChance has had dozens of boats over his fishing career, ranging from full blown tournament fiberglass bass boats to…
- Ep. 146
Five Tips For Better Angling
Chad LaChance believes that if more anglers focussed on these five things, they'd catch more fish. It's a simple path…
- Ep. 145
Fishful Thinker TV...how we plan a season.
Chad LaChance, the host and producer of Fishful Thinker TV now in it's 17th year on cable TV, gives an…
- Ep. 144
Season Lessons
Chad LaChance looks back at the lessons learned watching and editing 13 new Fishful Thinker TV episodes filmed over the…
- Ep. 143
Finish 'Em with the Finisher
It takes a whole fishing season for host Chad LaChance to gain confidence and trust in a new lure, and…
- Ep. 142
Fishy Gift Ideas
'Tis the season and it's Black Friday...here's a few ideas for the outdoors folks on your list!
- Ep. 141
Treble Troubles
Treble hooks...love 'em or hate, they're very common on conventional fishing lures. They require maintenance and in some cases are…
- Ep. 140
Fishing Frugally...
Fishing ain't cheap, but there are ways to save a few bucks in your angling. Host Chad LaChance is frugal…
- Ep. 139
Fall Prep for Spring
It may be mid fall and you're still fishing, but now is the time to start evaluating and inventorying your…
- Ep. 138
Upsized Trouting...
Conventional tackle trout anglers have a strong tendency towards small lures, but host Chad LaChance believes they'd be well served…
- Ep. 137
Fall Fishing Concepts
Hyperphasia, or the fall feeding binge, is upon us and that is happy information for anglers. Host Chad LaChance loves…
- Ep. 136
Catching Consistency
Over nearly two decades of traveling around filming FTTV host Chad LaChance has focussed on one key thing...consistency. He shares…
- Ep. 135
Lessons from a tough roadtrip...
Somedays the fishing just doesn't go like you want it to...but how you deal with it defines your day. Host…
- Ep. 134
Fly Motion...
The dead-drifted fly, be it nymph or dry fly, may be classic and part of the sport's history, but host…
- Ep. 133
Combatting the finicky early fall bite...
Early fall can be a tough time to fish due to a range of variables. Host Chad LaChance has filmed…
- Ep. 132
Fall rainbows and browns
Host Chad LaChance loves to pursue trout, both rainbows and browns, in September through November. He fishes each species differently…
- Ep. 131
Reservoirs vs Natural Lakes
The difference in fishing reservoirs versus natural lakes is far more than simply the presence of a dam. Host Chad…
- Ep. 130
Road Trippin'...
Preparing for a long range roadtrip to fish somewhere fun can take some planning. After 20 years of running around…
- Ep. 129
Cook More Fish...
Host Chad LaChance loves to cook fish and game almost as much as he loves to fish and hunt. He…
- Ep. 128
Lessons from the River
A quick trip to a local canyon reminded host Chad LaChance of the some of the key details for being…
- Ep. 127
Chasing the open water bite...
Late summer heading into fall means many sportfish chasing baitfish in wide open water, most often on main lake areas.…
- Ep. 126
The Venerable Spoon
Spoons may old school and simple looking, but there is a reason they are so popular with so many anglers...they…
- Ep. 125
Going Vertical
Did you know that anglers catch more fish per hour on average fishing vertically than horizontally? Host Chad LaChance is…
- Ep. 124
Mid Summer Pause...
It's a very busy time of year for anglers everywhere, especially those in the fishing business. Host Chad LaChance has…
- Ep. 123
ICAST primer...fishing's biggest week.
ICAST is the largest trade show in the fishing business and it's only open toe members of the media, manufacturer's,…
- Ep. 122
Most Commonly Asked Questions...
In 20 years of fishing professionally, host Chad LaChance has heard a lot of questions and many of them are…
- Ep. 121
Summer trout the easy way...
Summer trout season is in full swing and lot's of folks are targeting "stockers". Host Chad LaChance discusses some simple…
- Ep. 120
Fishing the Flood
Reservoirs look beautiful at flood stage and it can be great for the long term health of the fishery...bvut it…
- Ep. 119
Fishing the Dog Days of Summer
Fishing's springtime party is over and the dog days of summer are looming. Fishing is getting trickier for all species…
- Ep. 118
Crankbaiting...The Details
Winding a crankbait seems simple enough but like mostr techniques, there are details and nuances that separate great crankers from…
- Ep. 117
Fly Fishing...for Bass!
Bass are America's most popular sportfish but not many anglers fly fish for them. Host Chad LaChance does and shares…
- Ep. 116
Building Confidence in Your Angling
Host Chad LaChance believes in the power of confidence in all aspects of life and feels it's especially important in…
- Ep. 115
Snag-free fishing...
If you fish much, eventually you'll get snagged. Host Chad LaChance shares his ideas for both preventing snags and freeing…
- Ep. 114
Beat 'Em from the Back of the Boat...
Being a co-angler in a tournament boat, or even fishing in your friends' boats, typically means you stuck in the…
- Ep. 113
Learn From My Angling Mistakes...
We all make mistakes as anglers...it's what we learn from them that helps us grow. Host Chad LaChance has made…
- Ep. 112
Boat Tips to Save You Trouble
Host Chad LaChance and guest Dan Swanson (former walleye pro and guide) discuss a whole slew of things they've learned…
- Ep. 111
Lessons Learned With Forward Facing Sonar
Forward Facing Sonar may be controversial but it is here to stay. What has this revolutionary new technology taught us…
- Ep. 110
Getting fishing Intel from a Pro...
Fishful Thinker host Chad LaChance has been guiding anglers for 20 years and airing on TV for 16 years. Over…
- Ep. 109
Only One Lure: Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass are the most popular sportfish in the U.S. and most bassers carry tons of lures. But what if…
- Ep. 108
Fish Handling...best practices for successful release.
Many anglers practice catch and release angling for at least some of their fishing, but are they successful in survival?…
- Ep. 107
Only One Lure...Smallmouth Bass
As part of the "Only One Lure" for a given species series, host and smallmouth guide Chad LaChance shares his…
- Ep. 106
Only One Lure...Walleye
Host Chad LaChance addresses one of the most common question he gets..."if you only get one lure, which one do…
- Ep. 105
A state of fishy readiness...
Carrying a small amount of well-chosen fishing tackle in your vehicle ensures you can fish at a moments notice. Host…
- Ep. 104
The Line on Leaders
Using a leader in your fishing has several advantages. Host Chad LaChance uses leaders in much of his angling and…
- Ep. 103
Ice Cold Bass Fishing
It's late February and we have rare open water bass ponds around the region. Host Chad LaChance says they're catchable…
- Ep. 102
Vacation Fundamanetals
On a recent vacation host Chad LaChance caught a slew of inshore slat water fish simply by focussing fundamentals learned…
- Ep. 100
Life on the Edge...
Both anglers and hunters often find success on the edge, any edge. The concept of edges is key to locating…
- Ep. 101
Choosing Only One Lure: Trout
"If you could only pick one lure..." is a very common question host Chad LaChance gets, and his answer varies…
- Ep. 99
Structure vs Cover
The two terms are often used interchangeably but they are not the same thing and understanding the differences will help…
- Ep. 98
Beach vacation? Let's fish, too...
Lot's of people travel to the coasts at this time of year to soak up some sun and warmth and…
- Ep. 97
So you wanna buy a boat?
A boat is a big purchase and if you have not bought many boats, the decision process can be tricky.…
- Ep. 96
Tailwater season and stuff...
Western anglers are staring at the prospect of frozen waters for he coming months...unless you have access to some tailwater…
- Ep. 95
New year, new me?
The turning of a new year is a perfect time to evaluate the year passed and the coming season as…
- Ep. 94
Holiday tidings...
Tis the season to celebrate with family and friends, reflect on the year passed and look forward to the coming…
- Ep. 93
Bonus Holiday Trouting
Freshly stocked trout may not be glamorous, but this time of year they are typically abundant and willing to bite.…
- Ep. 92
Putting the boat to bed...
Like it or not, boating season in the northern states is rapidly coming to an end. That means now is…
- Ep. 91
Planning Season...
December is a month of planning...planning content, fishing trips and time with family and friends.Chad LaChance shares his light-hearted thoughts…
- Ep. 90
Ideas for the Gifting Season
Choosing gifts for outdoorsy folks can be tough; host Chad LaChance is here to help! Working at Sportsmans' Warehouse for…
- Ep. 89
Testing, testing...
Testing fishing products in an official capacity requires a defined process, plus a bunch of experience. Here's how host Chad…
- Ep. 88
Forward Facing Sonar thoughts...
The use of technology in fishing has always been hotly debated, but probably never as much as when live or…
- Ep. 87
How do you jig it?
"Jigging" is a very common term in fishing, but the idea of working a jig is very broad. Two anglers,…
- Ep. 86
Fishing’s Social Dilemma
Love it or hate it, social media is changing the fishing game. Host Chad LaChance shares his thoughts on the…
- Ep. 85
Smokin’ salmonids...
'Tis the season to harvest, and few things are tastier than freshly harvested trout, juvenile lake trout, or kokanee salmon.…
- Ep. 84
Heavy Metal Season
Flutter spoons, jigging spoons and blade baits all come into their own in the fall and will produce bass, walleyes,…
- Ep. 83
Fall on the bass pond...
It's late September and that means the water in our regional ponds is cooling down and the aquatic vegetation is…
- Ep. 82
Ballistic Fall Brown Trouting
Trophy fall brown trout are beautiful, aggressive and generally display a "doesn't play well with others" attitude...which is all part…
- Ep. 81
Hyperphagia...the Fall Feeding Binge
Early fall sees a lot of fish and wildlife transition into their hyperphagia stage....the annual fall feeding binge in preparation…
- Ep. 80
Fall Cast ’n Blast Fun
Ahhh...the fall season! Outdoors folks have so many options to pursue their passions, both hunting and fishing, that it can…
- Ep. 79
Fishing technology...what have we learned?
Love it or hate it, technology has taken a marked turn in fish catching with the advent of live or…
- Ep. 78
What do you need to plan a fishing trip
Host Chad LaChance has been traveling around filming Fishful Thinker TV since 2008 and for a decade before that he…
- Ep. 77
Schooling Fish!
Late summer means boils...no not as in people food, as in schooling predator fish pushing baitfish to the surface and…
- Ep. 76
Knots and whatnot...
The weakest part of your tackle is the knots you tie, and especially when coupled with lazy line maintenance, poor…
- Ep. 75
Getting High for Trout!
It may be the dog days of summer, but an escape to the high country is a sure way to…
- Ep. 74
Dog Days Fishing
Mid summer can be a fantastic time to fish, but it can also be frustrating. There's tons of bait, the…
- Ep. 73
Testing tackle performance
Ever wonder how your favorite lure was developed, or how they made that new model of fishing rod so much…
- Ep. 72
Totally Tubular Tactics...
The venerable soft plastic tube may have been invented for bass fishing, but host Chad LaChance has been fishing fishing…
- Ep. 71
Fishing the veg...
Whether it be aquatic vegetation or terrestrial vegetation that is flooded, fishing in the weeds can be both frustrating and…
- Ep. 70
Paddlecraft fishing
Love to fish but want to get off the bank? The easiest and least expensive step is a paddle board…
- Ep. 69
Warm water fly fishing fun!
Fly fishing may be centered around trout rivers, but that is not the only place where fly guys can ply…
- Ep. 68
Topwater Time!
Fishing a lure on the water's surface is about as fun and interactive as fishing gets...the bites are visual and…
- Ep. 67
Did somebody say free fishing weekend?
The first weekend in June is free fishing weekend in CO and a few other states Fishful Thinker TV host…
- Ep. 66
You caught a fish...now what?
Catching a fish is only part of the process; what you do next determines a lot. From careful field handling…

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