Tennessee WildCast

This week we sit down with Region 1 Information and Education Coordinator Dave Gabbard. He has been with the TWRA for 34 years and has seen it all! Dave will tell us about fishing opportunities on our Family fishing lakes, a radio show he does each week, reflect on a few stories of how the times have changed and so much more this week on Tennessee WildCast.

Each year TWRA studies our reservoirs very carefully and then comes up with a strategic plan on the number and what species of fish our waters need. Once a plan is made our hatchery across the state make sure demands are met. This week, Springfield Hatchery Manager, Roger Bitz walks us through the hatchery process from egg to stocking. We also have special guest, Lebanon High Senior, Zach "The General" Patton with is running the board and getting an inside look at a TN WildCast.

We welcome return guest, Fisheries Assistant Chief Jason Henegar, we are talking all things fish. Spring is here and the fishing is good. Jason will fill us in on what is biting. We will hear about the Florida Largemouth Bass program successes and what our hatcheries are doing to provide more Florida Bass for Tennessee waters and talk a little about a swimming dinosaur. Jason is also a pretty good cook, and when it comes to fish you may be surprised about what he is cooking up. All this and more this week on Tennessee WildCast.

The Swan family is no stranger to the outdoors or Tennessee WildCast and this week Billy Swan will teach us about trapping in Tennessee. We will talk technique, nuisance animals, potential profit and some history. The art of trapping has not disappeared totally and is actually becoming more popular with Tennesseans as we see more and more outreach event popping up around the state.

Julie Schuster is fun to listen to and has a heart of gold when it comes to creating programs and raising funds that benefit us--the sportsmen and women of Tennessee? She is the executive director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and this organization has many functions from fun fundraisers, to the best outdoors camp in the world for teens, to identifying to purchase lands beneficial to hunters and anglers. Enjoy Julie and learn the difference between the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Jarod Woodard and his partner Kevin Weaver have an excellent and laid back podcast called Hunt Nashville where they primarily interview music industry professionals who also have a passion for the outdoors. After all, we are the Music City and we are surrounded by fantastic fishing and hunting opportunities across Tennessee. You will enjoy Jarod (Kevin was out of town this day as a traveling drummer) whose interest in the outdoors, in music, and in interviewing makes for an excellent podcast.  Plus, Jarod is an excellent hunter and loves to talk about turkeys. Hint: Is he is a run and gunner!

Protect Tennessee waterway for years to come by doing three simple steps. Clean, Drain, and Dry! FLW Pro Michael Neal and TWRA’s David Roddy sit down with Jason Harmon and special co host Mime Barnes to talk about the spread of aquatic nuisance species and how boaters can help prevent this problem from getting worse. Michael’s passion for fishing and protecting our waters led him to be a spokesman for TWRA’s ANS Program. We will also learn how he was introduced into fishing and about his FLW Tour experiences.

Join us this week for a chat with SCI and Cabela's Young Hunter Award winner Parker Swan and his father Billy. Parker has had the opportunity to go on many exotic hunts as well as hunt and guide here in Tennessee. We will learn about his passion for the outdoors, some of his adventures and the hard work that goes into applying for this prestigious award.

It is belief at Tennessee WildCast that Tennesseans love watching other Tennesseans learn to fish, hunt, boat, and just have a good time outside. Your name doesn’t have to be “Dance” to teach about how you are successful in the outdoors. You don’t have to be a certified movie director and editor to put together great work either. Check out this week’s Tennessee WildCast and learn about catching trout (winter, spring summer, and fall) and how with just a cell phone you can produce interesting and excellent video to make us all better sportsmen. Our guests this week are Scott Scrip of TWRA’s online network, and Shane Stewart, a local trout guide with qualities that would make him an excellent outdoors host.

With spring upon us, the WildCast crew invites TWRA’s Region II information and video expert (and a very good sportsman, too) Barry Cross to have a roundtable discussion about what you need to do to get ready for the coming spring. Turkey season is so very close, and many boats are already on the water. We want you to be safe when you get outside, and we want your kids to have a lifetime of safety, so we discuss some of the safety needs, but we also just have a good time talking outdoors.