Ryan Miloshewski

I second the #4 B10S. Ahrex makes some good ones too, and they're really thin if you're looking for that. Size 8 for the Ahrex predators.

There are quite a few I catch on the fly rod I don't take pics of. I think I had five over 20 (not much over) last year. But trying to take a pic wading alone is just not ideal for the fish. And, this is not arrogance, but you catch a 21-22-inch fish nowadays it isn't the same as it was 5-6 years ago. So many rainbows that size in there. It's amazing!

Did some duck and goose fat rendering earlier this week. Ended up with 4 pints total. All from 10 geese and various ducks since teal. Liquid gold! Then I made squirrel and dumplings. I really like this recipe and it turns out so good every time. Making your own stock from the carcasses is a huge game changer, too.

I think we all take for granted just how good of a fishery Taneycomo is--I know I do sometimes. Even with all the poaching, pressure, etc. it's still producing big fish. This program and the work of Shane with MDC is truly awesome. I'm serious when I say I can darn near guarantee a 20-inch or better fish during a 4-6 hour fishing excursion. That is remarkable.

I like the chenille body to give it some bulk. Will be replicating

Finally was able to get out starting last Saturday until today. Started by hammering honkers with my buddy Josh Posley who guides around the KC area. It was a great morning for eight of us friends. Monday we got some fresh ducks, finally, and they cooperated fairly well. We are still plagued with stale ducks who go from refuge to feed and back every day. Got out Tuesday and Wednesday with my buddy Dave and he shot them good while I worked from the berm (unfortunately) for a while. First ducks of the day he had a pair of mallards come in and got a nice surprise. Banded this year in South Dakota. Today sucked for me. Dave and I went to separate areas and he shot a limit and a speck and I didn't even fire my gun. Heck of a Winter Solstice, 61 degrees and cloudy! Tomorrow is another day. I sure am glad and happy to be waking up at 2:30am, walking miles, getting wet, and seeing a cheeto leg dropping from the skies into my decoys!

I talked to DJ and Alex and I think all three of us are in as well.

Yea, I didn't say it was required, but to me it's the only streamer where I feel it helps with longevity when it's getting beat up, which it does. I can't stand head cement.

Only one that works for me is the Drunk and Disorderly. Everything else it's just a pretty fly. But the DnD is killer

For bigger streamers, it should be no issue, although I'd still go with UV resin. I've tried GG for sealing up deer hair heads, but it just takes forever to dry, even with a dryer. It's a lot thicker than resin, too, which I do not like. Get SOLAREZ and a light is my advice. It doesn't take up that much space, it lasts, and the effects on the fly are better.

Shot a wigeon and decided to eat him for dinner. Pan seared with salt and pepper as the seasonings and it was perfect as always. It's a shame people don't know how to properly cook duck.

Well I finally got out this morning with Hank. Back is dang near 100% and was able to walk the whole way without many breaks so that's great news. Ducks are here, too. I didn't take any pictures, but I ended with five--three mallards, a redhead and a wigeon. Last group was 30 mallards landing in my face at 15 yards. It was a good knock on the noggin to remind me why I love it.

@ness @BilletHead what's your kitchen garden setup look like? I need to make one instead of buying herbs. I use rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage a ton.

Hi all--I received this email from one of my friends in the outdoor industry and figured I'd post here to see if we could get some applicants. I don't know much about them, but if Kyle is vouching for them I safely assume they are decent. And if you have kids interested in fly fishing, I'd apply. Lillard Fly Fishing Expeditions (LFFE), a non-profit fishing and conservation organization with footprints throughout the country, is looking for scholarship applicants. They are a relatively new non-profit and their mission is to instill a love of fly fishing and conservation among the youth to ensure a sustainable future for the industry and our natural resources. LFFE is currently looking for applicants for their annual scholarships and grants for teenagers (high school through college) to be able to attend and participate in their fishing excursions.

Nice one! I decided to deer hunt to avoid the duck openers this year. First sit I had a big boy within 25 yds. I was full draw on him for 2 min but he had a branch over his vitals. Walked off none the wiser and in a way I couldn't get a shot. Saw him again last night. Same song, different dance. 27 yds away with a cedar bough over him. Could see his head and legs. Worked off to a route a small buck chasing two does took an hour or so earlier. Going back after him tomorrow..

@BilletHead sure ain't no better way (that's my country coming out) to season a cast iron pot than a good ol' fashioned fish fry! Beautiful piece. I am down at my deer camp until Wednesday and I have the dimpled pot I got from you on deck. Trying to decide what to make....

Man that is surprising and unfortunate. Hopefully you get hit over the next few days to give you something.

3 to 9 inches of rain last night and today on the West side of the state. Hallelujah! Keep it coming. Still going to be tough in KS this weekend. Middle zone opener should be pretty solid if it keeps raining until Sunday. I would really like a few SWMO rivers to escape..

Starting to see the first migrator ducks and geese in Western Missouri/Eastern Kansas. Most of the marshes in Kansas are dry right now save for the refuges. Going to be a tough opener for the Low Plains and SE zones. I wanted to share the KS opener story from last year. I need to start writing a book about the things I've seen duck hunting public land. But this, truly, was the most jackassery I've ever experienced. I scouted a ton and figured out 4 spots all six of us could go across three marshes. We set camp about 6 miles from the marshes on Friday, cooked dinner and started to relax. Something inside me said we need to go see what they're looking like. Around 9:30 pm my buddy Tom and I drove to the main one we wanted to hunt. First parking lot, two trucks. Second parking lot, three trucks and guys putting waders on to go out there. "Oh s%$t." Drove to the other marsh...four trucks there. Then the final marsh: only 1 truck. I told Tom we need to get out there, called the rest of the guys and told them to suit up and get moving. We got set up in our spot by 11pm, the other guys with boats by midnight. Time for a long sleep in the marsh. Boy did it get cold. Around 3am we were all freezing. It was a humid cold where every piece of your gear is wet. We were sitting on a dry hump so I said screw it, we're starting a fire. That boosted morale and we all got some more sleep. I stayed up keeping an eye out for any others that got a little too close. Guys in the other marsh were set up in their Invisimans, but it was getting overcrowded fast. Our marsh we ended up having 5 groups, which is too many but it was manageable. The other guys were not so lucky...22 groups. And this marsh can hunt three groups without any BS occurring. Shooting light starts to get close and we hear sirens getting closer and closer. "Man, they sound like they're going to the marsh." Sure enough they were. A guy was standing there, waiting for shooting light, which was less than 10-min away and had a seizure. Fell down face first, lost his gun, phone, and other items. His friend screamed for help. My buddy Dave ran over there as fast as he could and got him to the berm, still seizing. Dave called 911 and they said they were there but couldn't get around the gate. "Call the darn game warden!," Dave shouted, and started to make the 1 mile run to the lot. Sheriff's deputy was there, Dave hopped in, told him to go, and they started to the guy. Shooting light is here and shots are going off everywhere. Finally get to him and bring him back. Guy survived and was ok, amazingly. Dave finally gets back to his Invisiman and they shoot two teal. Meanwhile, after 45 min all four of us in my marsh are done with BWT and GWT. Tom and I start to walk out and John, who had his boat, and Daniel, walk to the river to take out. Dave and Eddie say screw it and leave at 8:30 to get Dave's boat out. All's well that ends well. Tom and I get back to camp before those guys and start making breakfast. 30 min goes by. Nothing. An hour goes by..nothing. No texts, calls, etc. We start getting concerned. So I start calling the guys. Nothing. Finally around 11am they roll into camp. "What the heck happened?" What happened, it turned out, was a group of doctors from Topeka launched their boat and left their ENTIRE RIG on the ramp, blocking the ENTIRE ramp. Somebody, who was a lot nicer than I would have been, let the air out of their tires. He's lucky his brake lines weren't cut and the brand new Yukon wasn't in the river. Our guys try to get back to camp via the lake..too shallow. So they have to wait. Finally the morons get back and are plum shocked somebody would do what they did. Dave gave them some very hash, marsh education, John had an air pump, and finally, they got out. Dave wasn't going to drink that day, but he poured himself a tall glass of vodka and pickle juice to mend his sore body and mind. I don't think I'll be hunting any openers any time soon. At least we shot a four man, though, eh?

Couple of dishes I've made after shooting a deer and some squirrels. Squirrel and dumplings was fantastic. I made my own broth from the squirrel, which was way better than using store bought chicken broth. Venison backstrap Diane was also phenomenal. Doesn't look pretty, but the Diane sauce with the backstrap paired so well.

I asked Shane about this a while back and it's just part of the genetics in some of the rainbows. One year, I think 2018, there were a ton stocked in the lake and as they matured the orange markings started to appear. Like @netboy said it's hard to mistake a cutthroat.

@ness if you can get your hands on some duck fat (I know a guy who renders his own wink wink) those pancakes on the Blackstone will be unlike anything you've ever tasted. I don't know why, but we started doing them in duck fat and the flavor combination is just unbelievable.

@BilletHead excellent Marty! Blind looks great in that fescue. I was deer hunting the East Central part of the state last weekend and the amount of geese and woodies I saw was unreal. I didn't have my floaters or a goose call or I would've went after them. May have to go back this weekend..

You have to buy the any deer permit before buying an antlerless. So, $24. Worked for me this morning. Deer were moving like crazy.

Post those pics, dude. Beautiful fish!