Bluemask Darter!

Per listener request, get to know the fish so nice they named it twice! In this episode you'll learn about their fascinating coloration and behavior, fishing and underwater viewing strategies, and how to contribute to our collective understanding of the movements and lives of these fish by participating in one of the world's largest fishermen-driven tagging programs. Our guest is Wess Merten: Director of Beyond Our Shores Foundation and its Dolphinfish Research Program. You might also like these episodes:S4:E41 - Sea Robin: Sustaining SeafoodS4:E2 - Swordfish: Lessons From SeaS3: E48 - Atlantic Tarpon: Silver KingS3:E23 - Red SnapperS3:E18 - Tuna: a Hawaiian PerspectiveS3:E3 - Opah: Warmest Fish in the Cold Blue Sea

Meet a rockstar of a fish who develops a big pink head adorned with tubercles during the spawning season. Not only that, it moves thousands of rocks into spawning mounds that benefit all kinds of other fish! This species and other chubs in the Nocomis genus are very important indeed. Guy and Katrina dig into this fish and recent fan mail.

Meet the official state fish of Texas and the gem of central Texas: the Guadalupe Bass! Native only to the clear, groundwater-influenced streams of the Texas Hill Country, this spunky fish is an amazing catch and will absolutely tear into your light tackle and crater your topwater. "If they want to eat your fly, there's nothing you can do to get it away from them. They will outrun it, they will eat it, and if they miss it, a lot of times they'll eat it again. They have a pretty bad attitude and I love that about them."Our Guest Chris Johnson from Living Waters Fly Fishing brings enthusiasm and passion for what the Texas Hill Country has to offer from a native fishing and place-based perspective. Come experience this special place and fish and while you're at it, get after your Hill Country double (Guadalupe Bass + Rio Grande Cichlid)!You might also like these episodes:S2:E31 Rio Grande (Texas) CichlidS2:E43 Beneath the City: North America's BlindcatsS3:E13 Mexican TetraS3:E49 Texas' Fountain Darter

Get to know a fan favorite! Katrina and Guy visit with guests Bo Baxter and Derek Wheaton from Conservation Fisheries to understand the habits and history of this tiny cog and wheel in our amazing, beautiful world. You'll learn how and where to best visit with and photograph bluemask and related darters underwater...and how Conservation Fisheries raises and feeds (!) tiny millimeters-long "set-of-eyeballs" babies to adults. If you're a fish or aquarium enthusiast, or a nature photographer, you'll enjoy this week's discussion.

Get to know the lunkers of the lake that also need free-flowing rivers...Lake Sturgeon! This episode takes Katrina and Guy to Michigan where they talk with guest Ed Baker from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Delve into the history of Lake Sturgeon in Michigan, learn what makes this fish so very cool, and explore what's being done to help them achieve the comeback they (and anglers) deserve.

Head to Alaska and get to know the big, beautiful rainbow trout of the Kenai River! You'll learn tips about when and how to float and fish the river, the habits of rainbow trout and other Kenai River fish, and how your fishing license and gear purchases contribute to improved access points along the river and beyond.  Our guests are Tracy Smith (Statewide Boating & Angler Access Program Coordinator with the Alaska Department of Fish & Game), Ken Gates (Fish Biologist with our Kenai Field Office), and Cary Myler with our Office of Conservation Investment.You might also like: S1:E20: Kenai KingsS3:E4: Rainbow Trout

Get to know and explore the state of Utah by discovering its amazing cutthroat trout diversity! We are joined by two guests with the Utah Department of Natural Resources: Mike Slater and Trina Hedrick. You'll learn where these fish live, why they're so cool, how to go about completing the Utah Cutthroat Trout Slam, and how your license and gear purchases are put towards conservation and unforgettable angling opportunities. Learn more: https://www.utahcutthroatslam.org/

Get to know the history behind the Sport Fish Restoration Act as we kick off a month celebrating its role (and yours) in fisheries conservation and access. Our guests are Mark Madison (a historian at our National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia) and Tom Decker (branch manager with our Office of Conservation Investment).

Get to know the Yelloweye Rockfish and (bonus!) spot shrimp! This episode explores the close relationship between these two species in Prince William Sound, Alaska. You'll gain insight into their diet and reproduction, fishing tips and how-tos, and best practices to help both species continue to provide enjoyment and sustenance for years to come. Our guests are Brittany Blain-Roth and Donnie Arthur from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Katrina and Guy do a deep dive into lifelist fishing including how to start from scratch, lessons learned, tips for parents who want to set their kids up for lifelisting success, and how this fun activity can open doors to deep friendships and fish-focused vacations (the best kind!). Guy also discusses his wearable seine and Katrina catches listeners up on "fanmail darter."