Advertise on podcast: 120 Outdoors Podcast

This year, one of our goals is to catch steelhead through the ice. Winter of 2026 seems to be lining up for good ice. Today, our guest is Mike Durkalec. Mike’s full time job is Aquatic Biologist for the Cleveland Metroparks. He is a well known Great Lakes angler. One of his passions is catching salmonid through the ice. In this detailed interview, we get into everything from where and how to find fish in Great Lake harbors, to essential equipment. As with any ice fishing, safety first. No ice is safe, so please be careful. Hopefully, after listening to this podcast you can get out and catch some chrome through the ice. Remember to like, subscribe and follow us on facebook and instagram. Thanks for listening!

In October of 2025, I had the opportunity to join Matt Wolfe and his crew at Pymatuning Lake. Matt is a biologist with the ODNR and has taken part in fish surveys for 20 years. On that day, he and his crew were conducting a panfish survey. We visited several netting sites around the lake, recording each fish captured. The fall of that year, standardized fish surveys were taking place across the state. Scientific findings and public input aid in managing a fishery. Matt goes into detail on how Ohio does it . If you love to fish, this podcast is for you

Ohio’s North Coast, known as “Steelhead Alley” has become a favorite destination for anglers across the country. Many of the diehard steelhead anglers we spoke with expressed concern over the number of fish in our streams. As with most fishing related issues it’s complicated and a combination of several factors. Today, our guest is Curt Wagner from the ODNR. We discuss Ohio’s steelhead program the past, present and future. Curt explains in detail what happened in the last few years that might have affected the return rate. Also, he shares insight for the bright future plans for the program. It’s a very interesting podcast any angler will enjoy!

On this Podcast Chris and Don review 2025 and look to the new year. They discuss many of the good things, including the reintroduction of Lake Sturgeon and Steelhead into the Cuyahoga River; the exceptional fishing on Lake Erie and a successful deer season. Some challenges in 2025, the EHD outbreak and the drought conditions to name a few. However, overall 2025 was good and we look forward to 2026. Wishing all our listeners a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This podcast can be found on all the major platforms.

BLACK BEAR RESEARCH PROJECT IN OHIO Black bears were once a common occurrence in Ohio. In the late 1800’s loss of habitat and unregulated harvest led to them being eliminated from Ohio. In recent years bear sights have become commonplace. Today we interview ODNR Wildlife Biologist, Katie Dennison. Katie gives us the basics on Bear biology and facts on preferred habitat. We get into the research project and how she and her team are conducting the study. It’s early in the study but Katie provides us with some fascinating findings thus far. If you are interested in the great outdoors this podcast is for you.

Lake Erie is known for its Walleye. However, it supports some of the best Smallmouth Bass fishing on the planet. The Lake has a thriving population, but little is known about the Smallmouth Bass that live in its tributaries. Today, we interview Zak Slagle a Biologist for the ODNR. Zak and his team are in the process of studying the seasonal movements and behaviors of Lake Erie tributary Smallmouth Bass. Results indicate there is a distinct tributary Smallmouth population different from the lake population. These fish exhibit strong homing behavior. If you are interested in Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass or just love to fish, this podcast is for you.

Today we talk mobile hunting with Josh Grund.

Bead fishing for steelhead has become an increasingly popular technique by anglers on Steelhead Alley. In this episode, Barney Bakia from River Roe Tackle discusses essential gear, matching hooks with bead sizes, bead varieties (hard, soft, glass), and pegging methods. Also, we talk about specific colors for different water conditions.  He shares his preferred fishing method, highlighting its effectiveness and providing practical advice for anglers seeking to improve their catch rates.  If you enjoy steelhead fishing this podcast is for you.

How many of us grew up hunting pheasant? I fondly remember those Thanksgiving morning hunts with family. That was in the 1970’s. Several factors have led to the demise of our beloved pheasant. Today, we will be talking to Holly May a member of North-central chapter of Pheasants Forever. Holly talks about the pheasant program in the state of Pennsylvania. It started ten years ago, offering hunters an exciting opportunity to hunt pheasant statewide. Their mission is to conserve pheasants and other wildlife through habitat improvement. If you are interested in Pheasant hunting this podcast is for you.

At one time Lake Sturgeon were abundant in Lake Erie. Years of over harvest and pollution caused them to disappear. However, as the water quality improved in Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River it provided an opportunity to jump start their population by stocking. This was a major milestone in restoring this endangered species to the river. Today, we interview ODNR Fisheries Biologist Supervisor, Eric Weimer. He discusses the historical significance of the Sturgeon reintroduction. The Ohio Division of Wildlife, in partnership with organizations like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Cleveland Metroparks, and the Northeast Ohio Sewer District, will begin annual stocking of juvenile lake sturgeon in the Cuyahoga River. The public is welcome to join in the celebration. It will take place on October 4th at Rivergate Park (Cleveland Metro Parks) from 1:00pm -4:00pm.

The cooler weather signals one thing for many Great Lakes Anglers, the beginning of Steelhead season. To jump start the season we want to make you aware of the Steelhead Expo. This year marks the 31st year for this event.. The Expo takes place on September 27th at the Rocky River Nature Center (Cleveland Metro Parks)from 8:30am - 3:00pm. Several local and national experts will be sharing their knowledge. If you are interested in learning more about steelhead fishing, checkout this expo. For this episode, we interviewed Central Basin Steelheaders (OCBS)Board Member, Ben Mott. Our discussion includes a few current projects of the OCBS. We review the existing steelhead program in Ohio and Ben gives us his outlook for the season. If you love steelhead fishing this podcast is for you.

Many of us started out the same way, fishing or hunting close to home. Our guest on today’s podcast is Ohio Outdoor News Editor, Mike Moore. Mike’s love for the outdoors started at a young age. His Father took him smallmouth fishing in southern Ohio streams. We talk about how the fishing and hunting industry has changed over the years and the trends he is seeing. We get into some of the craziest stories he has covered and the time spent fishing with Ohio Governor, Mike Dewine. If you love the great outdoors this podcast is for you.

It is common to hear about or know someone who has been injured while fishing or hunting. Today, our guest is Chad Peterson, a Physician Assistant with Independence Health Systems and an expert in Wilderness Medicine. During our discussion, Chad shares his expertise on various survival situations and frequently encountered medical conditions he treats. He emphasizes the importance of preparation and awareness when venturing outdoors. Chad highlights the critical role of carrying a basic first aid kit and using sound judgment to avoid hazardous circumstance. This podcast provides information and advice for staying safe and prepared while spending time outdoors.

No book or written instructions exist for an individual angler’s ethical decisions. They are their own. Frequently, ethics in fishing have no uniform standards. Discussions may surface among anglers, with differing opinions. Today, we talk about fishing ethics with Tom Kirkman. Tom is the editor/publisher of RodMaker Magazine. He bings a view of someone in tune with the tackle industry. If you are interested in fishing this podcast is for you.

Pymatuning Lake also referred to as  the “Big Tune” or “Pymie” is renowned as a Sportsmen’s paradise. The Pymatuning Lake Association is instrumental in maintaining this reputation. Today we are joined by Vice President, Katie Wickert.  Katie, shares the lakes captivating history and the rationale behind its formation.  She talks about the array of annual activities including the lake habitat program and kids fishing tournament. If you are interested in learning more about the lake and the association this podcast is for you.