Bluegrass Woods and Water

Step into the wild with Bluegrass Woods and Water, where fishing lines meet rifle sights and Kentucky’s outdoors takes center stage. From chasing stripers and trout to hunting whitetails and gobblers, we bring you the stories, tips, and traditions that make outdoor life unforgettable. Join us around the campfire with outfitters, hunters, and anglers from Kentucky and beyond.

Bluegrass Woods and Water is a leisure podcast hosted by Rick Straus, with 15 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Rick Straus hosts Bluegrass Woods and Water, a leisure show with 15 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Bluegrass Woods and Water

  Episode 15 – From Velvet to Victory: Summer Whitetail Prep That Leads to Fall Success

  Aug 2, 20261h 6m

  Episode 15 – From Velvet to Victory: Summer Whitetail Prep That Leads to Fall Success Deer season is almost here, and there's no better time to start preparing for success this fall! In Episode 15 of Bluegrass Woods & Water , host Rick Straus welcomes back Joe McDermott , Deer Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, for an in-depth conversation about what Kentucky deer are doing right now and what hunters should be doing over the next several weeks to prepare for opening day. Whether you're a seasoned deer hunter or getting ready for your very first season, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you make smarter decisions before the season begins. Late-summer deer behavior and bachelor groups Trail camera strategies and preseason scouting Mineral sites, food sources, and habitat preparation Managing hunting pressure before opening day Early-season tactics for success Common mistakes hunters make before the season Kentucky deer management and what to expect this fall Plus, Rick shares his own preseason preparations at Team 154 , brings back the ️ Deer Camp Update , challenges listeners with ❓Field Fact or Fiction , and wraps things up with the Bluegrass Woods & Water Sports Minute , featuring the latest on Kentucky Football, Kentucky Basketball, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Cincinnati Reds. Whether you're checking trail cameras, mowing trails, getting your stands and blinds ready, or simply counting down the days until opening morning, this episode will help get you ready for another unforgettable deer season. Listen now on Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts! Website: BluegrassWoodsAndWater.com Be sure to follow Bluegrass Woods & Water on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify for the latest episodes, videos, fishing adventures, recipes, and outdoor content. Thank you for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your family and hunting buddies. And as always... keep your lines tight and your sights straight. ️ In This Episode:

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  Bluegrass Woods and Water

  Episode 14 - Chasing Gobblers and Trophy Stripers — Spring Adventures Across Kentucky

  Jun 8, 202643 min

  Spring in Kentucky means one thing — it's time to spend as much time as possible outdoors. In this episode of Bluegrass Woods & Water , I recap our annual Spring Classic Striper Trip on Lake Cumberland , where our crew put together one of our best trips ever, boating 37 stripers over four days. From early-morning bait runs and limit catches to great food, good bourbon, and time spent with friends, we'll break down everything that made this year's Spring Classic one to remember. I also share stories from Kentucky turkey season and Turkey Camp , including Youth Weekend, hunting with my sons, the challenges of henned-up gobblers, and Aiden's unforgettable last-day turkey hunt that ended with a wounded bird, an empty shotgun, and a tackle that he'll never forget. Later in the episode, I’m joined by my friend Billy Martin as we discuss a day on the Cumberland River chasing trophy stripers and trout, proving once again that sometimes the best fishing trips happen when you're willing to adjust and fish what the river gives you. We'll also spotlight the latest happenings with Xtreme Bait Tanks , cover the latest news in Kentucky Wildcats athletics, Cincinnati Reds baseball, and Bengals football during the Sports Minute, and wrap things up with another episode full of hunting, fishing, family, and Kentucky outdoor traditions. 🎣 Topics Covered: • Spring Classic 2026 Striper Trip Recap • 37 Stripers in Four Days on Lake Cumberland • Turkey Camp and Kentucky Turkey Season Stories • Aiden's Last-Day Gobbler • Cumberland River Trout and Striper Fishing with Billy Martin • Xtreme Bait Tanks Tournament Hub Spotlight • Kentucky Wildcats Sports Update • Cincinnati Reds and Bengals News 📺 Watch videos, read articles, and find past episodes: www.bluegrasswoodsandwater.com Cast. Hunt. Kentucky. 🎣🦌🇺🇸 #BluegrassWoodsAndWater #CastHuntKentucky #LakeCumberland #StriperFishing #TurkeyHunting #KentuckyOutdoors #KentuckyWildcats #CincinnatiReds #CumberlandRiver #OutdoorPodcast

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  Bluegrass Woods and Water

  Episode 13: Spring Gobblers in Kentucky — History, Hunting, and Opening Weekend at Turkey Camp with Zak Danks, Ruffed Grouse & Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, KDFWR

  Apr 1, 20261h 37mS0

  <p>🦃🎙️ Episode 13 of the Bluegrass Woods & Water Podcast is all about getting ready for spring turkey season here in Kentucky.</p><p>In this episode, Rick breaks down the history of wild turkeys in Kentucky — from near extinction to one of the greatest conservation success stories in the country — and takes a look at the current state of the turkey population heading into this season.</p><p>Rick is joined by Zak Danks, Ruffed Grouse & Wild Turkey Program Coordinator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, for an in-depth conversation about turkey research, population trends, poult recruitment, and what hunters...

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  Bluegrass Woods and Water

  Episode 12 - The Science of Live Bait: Stripers, Oxygen, and X-Treme Bait Tanks with Damon Melcho

  Mar 8, 20261h 28mS0

  <p>Rick breaks down a tough fishing trip to Lake Cumberland with Brian, Chris, and Paul where stripers were hard to find and bait was even harder to catch. Even local outfitters were seeing the same thing, with some trips cancelled due to poor fishing conditions.</p><p>The episode then dives into the science behind live bait with Damon Melcho from X-Treme Bait Tanks. The conversation covers oxygen systems, bait stress, and what it really takes to keep bait healthy during a long day chasing stripers.</p><p>Rick also talks about his new predator hunting setup featuring a...

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  Bluegrass Woods and Water

  Episode 11 - Inside Kentucky’s Southeast Fisheries System with Marcy Anderson: Stripers, Dams, and the New Oxygen Injection System

  Feb 10, 20261h 13mS0

  <p>In this episode of the Bluegrass Woods & Water Podcast, Rick sits down with Marcy Anderson, Program Coordinator for the Southeast Fisheries District with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, for an in-depth conversation every Lake Cumberland and Cumberland River angler needs to hear.</p><p>Rick and Marcy dive deep into how Kentucky’s Southeast Fisheries System works and how management decisions impact the waters we fish every day. From striped bass in Lake Cumberland to striped bass and trout below the dam on the Cumberland River, this episode pulls back the curtain on the science, strategy, and re...

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