Possibly the only lousy advice I've ever gotten from Chad LaChance
Blog by: Bill Prater , CO 6/15/2025 (Return to blogs)
I was headed home from Chicago Friday when I saw that legendary angler's painful video about his cancer diagnosis. The distressing news prompted me into an adventure I'd thought about off and on for the past 10 or 15 years:
In other words, ever since I'd watched Chad's Fishful Thinker program about the legendary I-80 fishing lakes dotting the interstate's route across Nebraska. I'm pretty sure I recall him saying, "I just picked one at random" before hopping onto that little 12-foot jon boat of his and predictably catching one big bass after another, along with a wad of crappie and bluegill.
Anyway, come Saturday morning I paused on the drive home to try replicating Chad's long-ago day on I-80 roadside water. I picked a little lake at random – War Axe State Recreation Area, a few miles east of Kearney. It was just as he'd described – a crystal clear lake all to myself, filled with healthy coontail, cabbage and other fish-attracting weeds. Predictably, I even began the morning with Chad's most regularly recommended lure - a 2 ½-inch shad color Gulp Minnow on a micro jig. Trouble was, though my float-tubing technique was as flawless as my bait, I then flipped the length of that pond and back and located only one lonely yellow perch.
Even worse, after heading back to the ramp, I paused to study the sign I should have read first: "Lake Renovation. Closed to Fishing until further notice."
Though I had faithfully followed Chad's recommendation, I guess I should have been less random in that choice of I-80 lakes. In fairness, if the fellow were dispensing advice now, it would probably be, "Next time, read the sign."
Also in fairness, an hour or so later I did make an equally random stop about 50 miles down I-80, Birdwood SRA, down a gravel road west of North Platte. And in almost no time, following Fishful Thinker guidance to the letter, I landed and released half a dozen decent bass, a couple fat crappie and a trout. So even though my interpretation of Chad's advice led to an I-80 fiasco, turns out he was right as always. I have to add, that good man's flawless teaching and guidance have improved the skills and joy of angling for darned near every fisher man, woman and child in this state. Even the ones who don't always read signs.
In other words, ever since I'd watched Chad's Fishful Thinker program about the legendary I-80 fishing lakes dotting the interstate's route across Nebraska. I'm pretty sure I recall him saying, "I just picked one at random" before hopping onto that little 12-foot jon boat of his and predictably catching one big bass after another, along with a wad of crappie and bluegill.
Anyway, come Saturday morning I paused on the drive home to try replicating Chad's long-ago day on I-80 roadside water. I picked a little lake at random – War Axe State Recreation Area, a few miles east of Kearney. It was just as he'd described – a crystal clear lake all to myself, filled with healthy coontail, cabbage and other fish-attracting weeds. Predictably, I even began the morning with Chad's most regularly recommended lure - a 2 ½-inch shad color Gulp Minnow on a micro jig. Trouble was, though my float-tubing technique was as flawless as my bait, I then flipped the length of that pond and back and located only one lonely yellow perch.
Even worse, after heading back to the ramp, I paused to study the sign I should have read first: "Lake Renovation. Closed to Fishing until further notice."
Though I had faithfully followed Chad's recommendation, I guess I should have been less random in that choice of I-80 lakes. In fairness, if the fellow were dispensing advice now, it would probably be, "Next time, read the sign."
Also in fairness, an hour or so later I did make an equally random stop about 50 miles down I-80, Birdwood SRA, down a gravel road west of North Platte. And in almost no time, following Fishful Thinker guidance to the letter, I landed and released half a dozen decent bass, a couple fat crappie and a trout. So even though my interpretation of Chad's advice led to an I-80 fiasco, turns out he was right as always. I have to add, that good man's flawless teaching and guidance have improved the skills and joy of angling for darned near every fisher man, woman and child in this state. Even the ones who don't always read signs.
War Axe SRA
Blog content © Bill Prater
About the Author
A past president and editor for the Loveland Fishing Club, Bill John favors smallmouth bass but won't pass up anything with fins. He'd no doubt be skilled at one type of fishing or another, but constantly rotates obsession between spinning gear, bait casters, fly rods and Tenkara. The Prater garage is littered with a bass boat, canoe, multiple float tubes and of course an ice hut. Interested in getting involved in an all-species fishing club for seniors? Drop me a note at billjohnp@gmail.com