Ryan Miloshewski

I have arrived in Readstown, WI. Spent an hour fishing a stream close by this morning and drew first blood on a wild brown. Ate the hopper good! Got some Spotted Cow and now relaxing before the evening. I'll post more pics as the week goes on. Dog and I stopped at the Field of Dreams site on the way up yesterday, too. Pretty cool.

I agree with Shane. If you look at the other ones that old, this one should be much, much bigger. Or maybe it's the runt of the litter.. Side note, the lack of those 10-20-lb triploids being caught is odd, isn't it? For about five years it seemed like one was being brought in every week. Wonder if they all died or moved down lake?

Another one from the same day. 18-inch rainbow my buddy caught.

Great idea, Phil! Boga grips for trout is just dumb. I've seen Babler, Doty, and responsible others, and if the client can't handle the fish, he holds them for a pic. Just do that! This is from a 22" brown in March. They really are doing a bad number on the trout.

I've never seen something work so well than Mojos for doves and teal. It's like a tractor beam. Wish Mojo still made the flock-a-flickers. Those were teal magnets, man.

Fishing was really good this morning, good to average last night. Of course I was fishing what I wanted, not what they wanted most of the time. Even those pellet munchers like midges, though, and they ate that all morning. They were pretty good size. Biggest was probably 15-inches with most averaging 10-13-inches. Only downside was dealing with the amount of people. Hate it.

Fished Bennett Springs last night and this morning before work. Did really well. Park seemed like it was in good shape, although the water was high. Lots of people down there camping and in the cabins. Reminded me why I like fishing in the fall and winter so much.

Cast iron reverse seared ribeye with homemade chimichurri, sweet corn from Iowa, and homemade cheddar mashed potatoes. Did not suck.

Man I ate a whole jar of these over the course of a day this summer. That night was a painful experience living on the toilet..

This was last year. Picture isn't the best due to the conditions but it was 8.5 lbs. Caught on the fly rod. I've caught some real dandies out of Taney over the last three years. I remember Phil caught and released one on OC some time ago and it was huge. You fish at night, and it's almost a guarantee you'll hook into one if you're in the right spot.

All this talk of snakes has me reminiscing. I used to track Timber Rattlesnakes as part of a relocation study. Did some transmitter surgery on them and everything. Everyone would be mighty surprised at how close they've been to a TR or copperhead without ever knowing. There were times when we were 5-10 feet away and still couldn't see 'em. Both species very much rely on their camouflage. Heck, I think in three years I only heard a TR rattle once--and that is when we grabbed a pregnant one from under a lady's porch (yikes).

I personally have not but I know a few guys who have and the water gets in the 65-70 degree range in the heat of the day, in the sun.

There have been two documented in the Spring River area in SE Kansas. They are there, though rare. But they are fairly common in SW Missouri from what I've been told. Now, most people see a snake in water and automatically assume cottonmouth, but I'm quite certain MO State, Mizzou and others would not be tracking them in SW MO if they weren't there hah! Like everything, they don't know what a boundary line is. That being said, I tend to believe it is more of a deterring tactic by locals and those who fish it regularly more than an actual threat. Crane is fun but the heat is definitely stressful this time of year. Early and late you can probably get away with it and as I said, hit some good hatches and catch a bunch on dries.

I have been there a few times and it is fun. Never in the summer though. It's kind of an old wive's tale, but also true, that there are a TON of snakes on it in the summer. Cottonmouths, water snakes, copperheads, timber rattlesnakes. A few universities actually track cottonmouths around the stream because it's so dense with them. Lots of guys avoid it in the summer due to this and the stress it'd put on fish. But, if you decide to go, the areas you talked of are good. With the temperatures so high you should really limit fishing to sunrise to 8:30 am and 7pm to dark. Those fish get stressed and die really easily right now. During those times you will have caddis, mayfly, and potentially stonefly hatches so fishing should be good.

Didn't know Bo but sounds like he was a great man. RIP to one of our own.

Don't think we landed more than 5 fish under 14" this weekend. Most like you said were 16-19". Truly a remarkable time for Taney.

the ol' spaghetti and meatballs never fails. But man I do not like throwing it if I can help it 😄

Awesome photos and trip! Santa Fe is such a cool city. Went there while I was working in NM. Top 3 cities I've been to. Land of Enchantment fly fishing--funny, people in Albuquerque call the city the Land of Entrapment because folks get their car stolen so often.

@FishnDave @ness thanks so much for the help and advice! I will be sure to post some pics of the results.

Thanks guys! That helps. What flies would you bring @FishnDave and @ness?

Where did you hit in NE Iowa?

Headed to fish the Driftless at the end of the month. Wanted to see if anybody on here has fished it or has any knowledge. I hear Viroqua is a good basecamp. Driftless Angler fly shop is a good spot to hit up, too. Plan on venturing around there. I am sure terrestrials will be good--any patterns that are better than others? Need to start hitting the vise.

Unless you're fishing wild blue lines, rivers, or offshore you are essentially fishing for hatchery-bred pellet gulpers or otherwise frankenfish. Copper nose bluegill are bred to grow huge. Cold water tolerant Florida strain bass are being stocked into Northern ponds. Buddy has a strip pit here in Missouri and he bought some walleye and perch that were "warm water tolerant" and stocked them. Man is always manipulating nature..

Looks like it. But I know sometimes they have issues at the hatchery where young fish like that escape or something happens to a rearing pool and they have to dump them into the lake. More than likely that is the case.