In Part One, our good friend, pro angler Dave Chong, unpacked how fish— especially bass-are getting smarter, adapting to pressure, and avoiding our best lures. Now in Part Two, Dave reveals more advanced tactics that he uses to overcome the growing challenge of "conditioned fish," including overlooked triggers and his favourite presentations that don't wave red flags.

Whether you're a weekend warrior or a tournament pro, you'll walk away from this episode with new tools, sharper instincts, and a much better understanding of how fish behavior is changing—and how to adapt. If you liked Part One, you'll love what Dave shares in Part Two. The fish are evolving... are you?

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In this week's episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we dig into the cutting-edge science of fish learning and conditioning with top tournament bass pro Dave Chong. Building on the jaw dropping research shared by Dr. Hal Schramm, who revealed that bass can learn to avoid lures, boats, and angling pressure Chonger takes us into the weeds on how he adapts to beat these now-savvy fish.

Dave doesn't just talk tactics—he breaks down exactly how he adjusts his approach to stay one step ahead of pressured fish. If you've ever felt like your go-to lure suddenly stopped working, or wondered why fish

"disappear" on heavily pressured lakes, this episode is for you.

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In this episode of Doc Talks Fishing, we sit down with fisheries scientist Emily Yeung to uncover the incredible story of the Atlantic whitefish—a "living fossil" on the brink of extinction. These elusive fish have survived millions of years of evolution, yet today, they cling to existence in just a handful of Nova Scotian lakes. Emily breaks down why this species is so unique, what catastrophic threats have pushed them to the edge, and why their survival matters-not just for ecosystems, but for anglers and conservationists alike. Could hatcheries and captive breeding be their last hope? Tune in to find out.

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This week on Doc Talks Fishing, we crawl into the fascinating-and alarming-world of crayfish with renowned biologist Dr. Premek Hamr.

From native species quietly working behind the scenes to the aggressive takeover by rusty crayfish, "Dr. Crayfish" pulls back the curtain on one of the most under-appreciated but ecologically powerful players in our lakes and rivers. What makes rusty crayfish such effective invaders? How do they displace native species-and what does it mean for our favorite gamefish?

Whether you're an angler, biologist, or just curious about the wild lives happening beneath the surface, this episode delivers science you can use.

Learn how these armoured intruders reshape underwater habitats, alter food webs, and impact fish populations. It's a freshwater battle you don't want to miss.

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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.

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Can 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.

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Why 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.

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What 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.

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Ever 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!

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Did 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!

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