Ryan Miloshewski

Hobbled my way to two teal hunts this weekend and me and a buddy shot seven birds. Not great shooting, but we saw a lot opening morning in Central MO. This cold front today should make the rest of the week/weekend solid. We grilled them up last night and as always they were delicious.

White River has a minimum flow requirement, don't forget. Not sure about VA waters. But on Taneycomo, for example, in Oct/Nov there are usually extended periods of zero generation where the water is going to get too warm. The WT has to be consistent. I took a reading two Octobers ago below outlet 2 and it was 61 degrees at 1pm with no generation occurring all day.

Made this Wednesday night. It was so good I thawed out some GWT breasts I had been saving and made it with them last night. One of the easiest, yet most delicious dishes I've ever made. The green peppercorns are a game changer. I suggest everybody this teal season do this. https://honest-food.net/dove-breast-recipe/

When I was younger and starting out, I talked to Spence Turner about this. His consensus after 50 years was it is just too warm for browns to spawn successfully. Average water temp in Oct/Nov is 58 degrees in Missouri and they need it to be under 53 degrees. He said the embryos die around two weeks after being fertilized. If Taneycomo had a minimum flow requirement, I would bet they'd successfully spawn. Of course there are the statistical outliers and some likely spawn successfully, but not enough to sustain.

Kind of related, but I've talked to a few guys who guide on Table Rock with FFS and they said the bass are getting used to it, which is crazy. I'm assuming the lack of turbidity in the water, but these guys said they put the transducer down and as soon as the sonar waves hits the fish they book it. And they're 30-60 ft down in these instances. Nature adapts..

Nah I woke up at 5am, walked outside, and said "nope." Humid and 77 degrees. I'll wait until the cool down Wednesday. I have been apart of that before, but after the last couple of years hunting opening days for various animals, I am likely never going to again. Not enjoyable in the least.

Yep the little drought we had really did it in. We need a very wet October to have anything worth a darn in that area. 1 and 2 will produce a bit but not my cup of tea there.

Nice, guys! What are you going to make? I haven't gotten out since the opener. I am in St. Louis and it's just too dang humid and I haven't scouted anything. Don't want to push myself too much traipsing through areas I haven't set eyes or boots on prior. Maybe I'll head out to Busch Wildlife tomorrow with Hank..

I like my Camp Chef for the usability. So easy to use it to cook after work, and when I do smoke something it does a dang good job. One thing I don't get (for the price and lack of mobility) is the bigger Blackstones..it's just a stationary, large griddle. Just get a double burner Coleman and put a griddle on it. The practicality just isn't there for me.

Was a good opening day for doves for our group. Everyone either limited or got really close to it. Lots of birds flying until 9am or so.

Not fun at all. Luckily the private dove field will have a shuttle haha. I may try and hobble out for teal, but who knows. I'd rather be healthy for big duck. I will miss eating them, that's for sure.

Thank the Lord it's about that time. Figured I would start the annual post so we can share successes and failures. Two days until doves and 10 days until teal across much of the Midwest. Not sure how much I'll get out for teal with a back injury I sustained, but I am going dove hunting Friday with a buddy. He is going to drive me right to the spot so it'll be easy on me. There are a TON of doves around right now so it should be an excellent opener. Teal are here, and have been, since about 8/15 in my neck of the woods and further south. Water is looking fairly decent this year, but we need more rain as always. But, it is incredibly better than what it has been the last three years. This little mini drought we had is hurting some areas, but I've done some scouting before I got hurt, and a buddy has been hard at it, and there is plenty of public water out there. I am more than ready for this heat to end and the shotguns to start blasting. Here's to hoping physical therapy gets me back in the game quickly!

Shot two with a .22/50 Howa back to back on ice one year. Glorious results.

Yep he's doing well. He had on a real giant about a month ago. Every big brown I've caught this year has been from FC to Cooper Creek. John N. with me had two browns at the same time (probably 24" each--looked identical) Saturday afternoon follow him back to the boat. I had two on that were 20-22" that spit it when they jumped. And I had the really big one follow the jig back to the boat. Tony fishes the docks, I fish the bluffs. Both are producing great, and have been for the last three years June-September. I know another guy that has been doing the same and he is landing big browns as well. It's intriguing for a few reasons. 1) it appears the same fish has been caught twice very rarely (based on shared pics, anyway) 2) there are that many big browns in a 2-3 mile stretch 3) they are willing to bite virtually the same bait every day and not get shy 4) I have yet to see a brown over 30" fall to the way we are throwing them. I wonder if it's too fast/energy depleting, too small or what? Because multiple have been caught at night working the jerkbaits slow or trolling them. I have had follows on streamers and jerkbaits, but they seem to be doing it out of inherent duty/territoriality rather than trying to get a meal. I don't know but it's fun to take observations from multiple folks and have the same data, so to speak, and analyze it.

No offense taken. I'm the same way, honestly. But it is cool to write an article to help folks cook wild game, tie flies, fly fish, duck hunt, etc. while also helping legit outdoorsmen and women get some business. I have a great article coming out in November about an absolutely great guy I met, Chris Polk, who makes some of the best teal calls I've seen or used. He's so humble he just used my buddy as a starting point to really sell his calls. Business boomed a bit because we sent everyone to him, and now with this article I'm hoping it really booms for him. That's what I like doing.

Hands down the biggest brown I've ever personally seen activate on my lure was across from the Landing. Followed me for 10 seconds or so then back to the depths. It was enormous. My heart was pounding for 5 minutes. And like I told you last night, the one I saw on the CC flats was a giant. Personally, I haven't fished above Lookout during the day all summer. I think the structure of the lake has changed a lot with the floods and they don't hold up there like they used to when the sun is out (or at least they aren't as active). Soon as darkness falls, they feed (the big ones, that is). Just my opinion, of course.

Just ask 90% of people who handle trout. They do a helluva job.

Smoked trout dip is the only way I genuinely like it. Anyway else, especially if they're pellet pig stockers, is garbage. Fried/baked is about the worst. There's just so many better eating fish..like bluegille and redear. I do want to keep a 20-22" rainbow one of these days if it looks like it's been in the water a while with a diet of sculpins/scuds/etc. and smoke it. See how that tastes. There's enough in there now I wouldn't feel bad.

It really is just a poorly written article by a Bozeman transplant trying to be relevant, which is a standard of the MeatEater brand. Can't stand 99% of their content. You do not start a story with a contraction of "I am." My word.. I think walleye and crappie are overrated as table fare, but still enjoy catching and eating them.

He said he'd sell you the tilt and trim for $500 and to make him an offer on the motor (if you're still interested).

@fishinwrench you know anybody wanting a cheap fixer upper?

Buddy is selling his 1989 Tracker. It needs some TLC and motor needs about $300 worth of work on the lower unit. He needs it gone ASAP. Asking $1200 for boat/motor/trailer and is willing to meet you halfway. He is based here in KC. If you're interested, I will give you his number.

Probably. But I always do best with no water running and just the natural, slow flow.

I think you're right. Last year even with the water off there was a little flow and it was much higher that it is this year.

I will take it! I need something like this for duck camp stews. I am going to scout Four Rivers Unit 3/4 this weekend if you want to meet up then.