1971 – 2025
Chad LaChance
Angler. Teacher. Friend.
He didn't just love fishing – he made a life out of sharing it. 23 years, 29 TV seasons, 550+ TV episodes, 650+ YouTube videos, and a philosophy that changed how a generation thinks about fishing.
The Philosophy
“Fishful Thinker is a state of mind, pure and simple. Not a person, place, or genre; rather a mindset that besets those who think fishy thoughts. It’s the relentless quest of knowledge coupled with application, the wave of fishing success and failure, and the countless hours daydreaming of the next opportunity.”
“It’s anticipation, preparation, participation, and reflection… primal yet sophisticated. It’s youthful exuberance and ageless wisdom; a process without end where every answer brings questions, and success leaves one yearning for the next challenge.”
“Fishful Thinker; it’s all in your head.”
A Life on the Water
The Story of Chad LaChance
Hooked from the Start
Chad finds his life's mission early on.
Moves to CO
Chad catches his first trout ever after moving to Colorado!
The Bass Fishing Bug
While attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Chad starts to get serious about bass fishing.
Founding Fishful Thinker
Chad creates Fishful Thinker LLC with a mission rooted in community fishing programs and guiding. The philosophy — "it's all in your head" — was written that same year. Media was always the goal, even when actual business took place on the water.
Taking to the Airwaves
Fishful Thinker's media story began with Terry Wickstrom Outdoors radio — Chad's first taste of reaching anglers beyond the water's edge. The voice that would carry 29 seasons of television found its footing here.
Making Waves at the International Sportsmen's Expo
Chad captivated crowds with hands-on seminars on casting and jigging techniques including live demonstrations over a glass tank full of bass.
Lights, Camera, Fish
Filming began on Fishful Thinker TV — bass to bonefish, fly to conventional, cooking segments to on-the-water action. Chad's vision was always casual and educational, never pretentious. Just good fishing, honestly told.
First frame of episode 101 with Chad and Dan Swanson on the water.
Cable TV Launch
Fishful Thinker TV launched on cable television — airing on World Fishing Network and Altitude Sports. What started as a dream in 2002 was now reaching living rooms across the country. My, what a long fishy trip it's been.
FishFest
Chad's annual FishFest at Horsetooth Reservoir was a day of fishing, angler education, raffle prizes, food, and fun, with event proceeds donated to the Fort Collins Boys & Girls Club.
29 Seasons of Fish, Fun, and Education
For 29 seasons, Chad took the Fishful Thinker philosophy to public waters — places any viewer could visit and try for themselves. From Colorado's reservoirs and rivers to the waters of Kansas, Nebraska, Alaska, Texas, Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida, his techniques traveled because his mindset did. It was never about secret spots or expensive gear – it was always all in your head.
Last frame of episode 2913 with Chad in 'la cueva de Fishful.'
The Last Cast
Chad passed away in the summer of 2025, leaving behind a legacy that stretches far beyond any episode count or season number. He gave anglers a philosophy, a show, and a way of thinking about fishing that will outlast all of us. Fish big, Chad.
The Show
Fishful Thinker TV
For 18 years we traveled around fishing and filming public waters, bringing them to life on TV in a casual and educational format. Bass to bonefish, fly or conventional — we filmed it all. Show guests of every sort, fish species from every corner of the country, and cooking segments that turned a great catch into a great meal.
The YouTube channel is now home to full episodes, custom edits, fish and game cooking, and unseen footage. It's all focused on one thing: increasing your angling success in a light-hearted, down to earth format. Please subscribe while you're there – it helps keep Chad's vision and dream alive.
The cast keeps going.
Fish Big.
Chad's waters are still out there. His episodes, his recipes, his philosophy — all of it lives on. The best way to honor a fisherman is to go fishing.
