From trophy bass tactics to the fight over America’s most iconic wilderness.

Late winter signals two things for serious outdoorsmen: pre-spawn bass are feeding up, and critical conservation fights are heating up. This conversation moves from the shallow flats of Alabama to the canoe country of northern Minnesota, then back to a father and son rediscovering waterfowl hunting.

Shay Baker breaks down early pre-spawn largemouth bass behavior, explaining how increasing daylight—not just water temperature—triggers staging fish. He dives into muddy water bass strategies, slow-rolling spinnerbaits through wood cover, dialing in flat-sided crankbaits, and when to lean on a lipless crankbait, finesse jig, or Ned rig. You’ll hear why cold-water bass group tightly along creek channels and shallow structure, and why this window offers your best shot at a true giant.

The focus then shifts north to the future of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where proposed copper sulfide mining near the edge of this 1.1-million-acre wilderness threatens world-class fishing for lake trout, walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike, along with grouse woods and whitetail habitat. It’s a reminder that hunting and fishing access depends on vigilance as much as skill.

The episode closes around the campfire with a moving father-son waterfowl story—proof that duck hunting isn’t just about limits, but legacy.

Follow the show for more weekly hunting and fishing conversations.

Get more from Field & Stream: https://www.fieldandstream.com/

Get to know your host, Colin Kearns: https://www.fieldandstream.com/authors/colin-kearns 

Join the F&S 1871 Club and experience a membership dedicated to the outdoor culture of sporting traditions, storytelling, and the conservation of our lands: https://www.fieldandstream.com/1871-club/ 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices