- The Invasive Species Centre: Protecting Canada’s land and water from invasive species
- SAIL: The Ultimate Destination for your Outdoor Adventures
- J&B Cycle and Marine: Your Home for all things powersports, boats, and equipment
- Freedom Cruise Canada: Rent the boat, own the memories

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio, the boys go on the road to Emo, Ontario, and record straight from Cedar Island Lodge on Pipestone Lake. Angelo, Pete, Dean, Nik, and Vova share stories from the trip so far, ranging from unpredictable weather delays to an epic muskie attack caught on camera. They break down why Pipestone feels like five lakes in one, explore the unique boat-in access, and preview what’s to come in Fish’n Canada’s 40th season. Plus, a hilarious (and disgusting) behind-the-scenes moment you won’t believe.

- The Invasive Species Centre: Protecting Canada’s land and water from invasive species
- SAIL: The Ultimate Destination for your Outdoor Adventures
- J&B Cycle and Marine: Your Home for all things powersports, boats, and equipment
- Freedom Cruise Canada: Rent the boat, own the memories

In this on-the-road episode of Outdoor Journal Radio, Ang and Pete broadcast from the legendary Hawk Lake Lodge in Sunset Country, Northwestern Ontario. Joined by owner Ted Putnam, they explore whether moon phases and timing actually impact your odds of landing trophy walleye.

This episode dives deep into why Hawk Lake is widely considered the best trophy walleye fishery in the world, how a strict catch-and-release policy has transformed the fishery, and what makes this lodge more than just another remote getaway.

Plus, hear about massive lake trout caught right by the dock, backcountry lakes with untouched fish populations, and a late-night bite that has to be seen to be believed. You’ll also learn how eco-tourism and stargazing might be the next big additions to this already world-class experience.

Whether you’re chasing personal bests or just want to fish Northern Ontario in luxury, this episode has it all.

Topics Include:

• Moon phases and trophy walleye success
• Why Hawk Lake's management strategy works
• Exploring remote outpost lakes
• Lodge life and luxury in the wild
• Fishing stories from the road
• Grass carp and invasive species alerts
• Fish'n Canada’s 40th anniversary season plans

Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Visit fishncanada.com for more content.

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio, Ang and Pete go guest-free and road-trip-ready as they gear up for the 40th season of The Fish’n Canada Show. From barbless hook debates to big travel plans, the boys cover it all in this behind-the-scenes kickoff episode.

Topics include:
• Our new barbless hook challenge and why it matters
• Epic road trip rituals (including the sunflower seed trick)
• What to expect from this year’s coast-to-coast TV season
• Big water tuna fishing vs. backcountry Quebec adventures
• How Pete nearly lost his dog to a lunch cooler (you’ve gotta hear it)

Whether you’re a Fish’n Canada diehard or just prepping for your own trip north, this episode sets the tone for a wild and unforgettable 40th season.

Explore more at https://fishncanada.com
Enter our giveaways and grab merch using code FORTY
Shop: https://shop.fishncanada.com

#FishingPodcast #FishnCanada #OutdoorJournalRadio #AngeloViola #PeterBowman #BarblessHooks #RoadTripFishing #CanadianOutdoors #WalleyeFishing #BassFishing

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio, we dive into one of the most important bass fishing stories of the year. Dr. Steven Cook, Canada's top freshwater fisheries scientist, joins Ang and Pete to reveal the results of a massive new study, using citizen science, that suggsts declining bass populations across some of Ontario’s most iconic fisheries.

Why are bass becoming harder ton catch? How is dock fishing stirring controversy? Are anglers part of the problem, or the solution? We unpack it all, including surprising research on COVID-era fishing habits, dockside tension between anglers and cottagers, and how cold snaps during spawning season could hurt future bass populations for years to come.

Plus:

• Fan question on backcountry lake access
• Is Dixon Lake still a hidden gem?
• What the MNR needs to do now
• And... the future of Bowfin research!

If you fish in Ontario, or care about the future of our sport, this episode is a must-listen.

🎣 Visit FishnCanada.com to explore more.
💬 Got thoughts? Leave a comment or question for the show below!
🔔 Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Thank you to the sponsors of today's episode!

- The Invasive Species Centre: Protecting Canada’s land and water from invasive species
- SAIL: The Ultimate Destination for your Outdoor Adventures
- J&B Cycle and Marine: Your Home for all things powersports, boats, and equipment
- Freedom Cruise Canada: Rent the boat, own the memories

In this packed episode of Outdoor Journal Radio, the crew welcomes back one of Canada’s most beloved outdoor voices - Kevin Callan, aka The Happy Camper. Known for his wilderness wisdom, boundless energy, and hilarious storytelling, Kevin joins Angelo, Pete, and Dean to talk ticks, trout, and the transformative power of time spent in nature.

At the heart of this episode is Kevin’s brand-new children’s book, A Spark of Courage, a deeply personal and inspiring project that tackles childhood anxiety through the lens of outdoor adventure. Kevin shares how the story was inspired by a real-life student who found confidence and calm through wilderness travel, and how the illustrations, created by a quiet artist with a powerful story of his own, bring the book’s emotional journey to life. With subtle lessons in survival skills, poop jokes for the kids, and genuine reflections on mental health, this book is already making waves in classrooms and scout halls across Canada.

But as always, things don’t stop there.

Also in this episode:

• The unspoken horrors of ticks and Lyme disease
• A record-breaking pink salmon run on the Fraser River — what it means, what we don’t know, and how hatcheries are changing the game.
• Listener feedback from a striper angler on the Miramichi, and a scientific breakdown of salmon declines in the Maritimes.
• The great rainy-day fishing debate: brave the storm or hit snooze?

Whether you're a parent, a paddler, or just someone who appreciates a good campfire story, this episode is a reminder of how the outdoors can teach, heal, and humble us, sometimes all at once.

In this episode, we’re joined by Rob Baldwin, Chief Administrative Officer of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of one of Ontario’s most important freshwater systems.

From invasive gobies turning into unexpected bass builders, to the potential return of smelt and the always-fragile status of Lake Simcoe whitefish, Rob breaks down the complex forces shaping the lake today. We also cover critical issues like flooding prevention, farm runoff, deep-water weed growth, quagga mussels, and the growing battle over public access. Plus: how citizen science is becoming a game-changer in local conservation.

Whether you fish it, live on it, or just care about Canada’s lakes—this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

- The Invasive Species Centre: Protecting Canada’s land and water from invasive species
- SAIL: The Ultimate Destination for your Outdoor Adventures
- J&B Cycle and Marine: Your Home for all things powersports, boats, and equipment
- Freedom Cruise Canada: Rent the boat, own the memories

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio, Ang and Pete are joined by Dr. Paul Cooley, a fisheries scientist turned app developer who is using AI to change the way we tournament fish. Topics discussed included: keeping fishing logs; fish biodiversity in Africa; how radar satellites can help ice anglers; where Anglers Leaderboard started; AI bumpboards; a new way to tournament fish; live-release tournaments; and much more!

To never miss an episode of Outdoor Journal Radio, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review on your favourite podcast app!

More from Angelo and Pete:

► WEBSITE

► FACEBOOK

► INSTAGRAM

► YOUTUBE

DOWNLOAD ANGLERS LEADERBOARD HERE

- The Invasive Species Centre: Protecting Canada’s land and water from invasive species
- SAIL: The Ultimate Destination for your Outdoor Adventures
- J&B Cycle and Marine: Your Home for all things powersports, boats, and equipment
- Freedom Cruise Canada: Rent the boat, own the memories

This week on Outdoor Journal Radio, Ang returns fresh from a visit to the Franklin Fishing Club, just 40 minutes from Toronto, and the crew sits down with General Manager Kevin Johnston to talk about the experience.

They dive into what makes this private club so unique, covering everything from country club-style fishing and urban escape to early morning sessions before work, fish hatchery operations, and how clubs like Franklin are managing fish genetics through selective catch and release. Plus: how private clubs can help get kids into fishing, why they use punt boats, and plenty more insider stories from this hidden Ontario gem.

To never miss an episode of Outdoor Journal Radio, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review on your favourite podcast app!

More from Angelo and Pete:

► WEBSITE

► FACEBOOK

► INSTAGRAM

► YOUTUBE