In this episode of the Black Speck Fishing Podcast, JD sits down with Central Illinois guide Jeremy Stoddard of Heartland Guide Service. Jeremy shares how he got started fishing, why he guides for both crappie and bass, and the lessons he learned on Clinton Lake and Lake Shelbyville long before Livescope changed the game.

In this episode of the Black Speck Fishing Podcast, we sit down with Robert Bain, the newly crowned Oklahoma Crappie Anglers Club Champion — a title he earned through grit, consistency, and one perfectly timed piece of advice from the person who knows him best.

Robert didn’t start as a tournament hammer. He started like most of us: a weekend warrior with a passion for chasing crappie whenever life allowed. But this season, everything changed. Lake after lake, challenge after challenge, Robert kept finding a way to stay in the fight. And when the pressure peaked in the final two days of the championship race, it was his wife’s simple, steady advice that flipped the switch and carried him across the finish line.

“Mastering Crappie with Tommy Ezell: Patterns, Livescope, and the Art of Artificial Only”

In this episode, Jason sits down with Tommy Ezell of Yantis, Texas — one of the most respected artificial‑only crappie anglers in the country. Tommy has spent more than 15 years shaping the Texas crappie scene through education, seminars, product development, and tournament competition. He’s a four‑time Mr. Crappie Shootout qualifier, a longtime Lake Fork hammer, and a teacher at heart.

This conversation goes deep into why Tommy fishes the way he does — not just the how. From his early days learning crappie behavior to the evolution of Livescope, seasonal patterns, and the mindset behind consistent success, Tommy brings clarity, honesty, and a ton of practical knowledge.

Whether you’re a weekend angler or a tournament competitor, this episode will make you a better fisherman.