Ryan Miloshewski

I have two scars on my fingers from those stupid Megabass hooks. I've since learned to change them out, but boy did they hurt when they went it. First one was on a trout and Doty did the line trick on me..except the first time it didn't come out. He about jerked me onto the boat deck while my finger continued to bleed. I also ripped a nail off with fishing line one time..shudder

Man do I hate working with deer hair. Messiest stuff around. Can't think of anything worse in fly tying.

Fish at night. Your eyes will be opened. Also, they are eating even better with the water off it seems. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Use a jig, micro jig under a float, etc.

I'm going to bet he is booked up but worth a shot! He's an awesome guide. Best fly fishing guide on the lake.

Good luck! The fishing is really good, even with the water off.

Had another great week on Taneycomo for my birthday. We hammered fish every day and every way possible, really. Nymphs, midges, streamers, jerkbaits, crawlers, megaworms, jigs, day and night--you name it, we caught 'em on it. Had around 10 people down throughout the week and we landed 11 fish over 20-inches. The size of the rainbows is truly remarkable right now. Stayed at Steve Dickey's place, which if you are looking for a place to stay, it is top notch. Good location and great space. Fished with Duane with my grandpa Wednesday night and Chuck on Thursday morning. Gramps had the hot hand, landing three fish over 20-inches and losing two more that were big. He caught two on Duane's jerkbaits and one on a jig. He told me he was afraid to go to bed after the third one. I caught one brown over 20-inches on a Megabass on Sunday evening. Had a lot of follows. Chuck and I fished for a 30-inch or so brown Thursday morning for three hours. Had him on three times but he shook it every chance I had. It sure was fun seeing how Chuck targets those big ones. He really is the best at it. Can't wait for next year already! All the big fish were between 20.5-22.5-inches and to our best knowledge safely released for another angler.

I've heard yellow is a good one for big browns on the white..hoping it comes to fruition on Taney.

I feel like if I even move one it'll be cool to see. An eat would be a huge bonus. Got my 8 wt ready to rock n' roll!

I've been tying 10-inch, articulated double deceivers. I am dedicating each evening when the water is still running to throwing those and nothing else starting Sunday. If I get one bite, it'll be worth it (so I tell myself).

I'm with @Terrierman. I have spent a lot of the summer in Branson the past two years with Covid allowing me to work remotely. If I never see 76 or its users again I'd be just fine. I could never live in the town. Branson West, maybe, but even that is pushing it. I'd live in Nixa or Ozark. Love the fishing and people on the Lake, but that's about it. I'll say this. I took out a few new people last year, introduced it to others this year. I am about the last person you'd think of when it comes to having patience. But I'll tell you what, when I took those people fishing, I had it. And it was incredibly rewarding to see people get it and have things click. I am by no means an expert, but I tend to know enough. Seeing people catch a big brown or a limit of rainbows was WAY more fun than me catching those fish. Teaching them how to catch fish was mentally and spiritually rewarding. I left every "trip" feeling rejuvenated and super happy. I still don't like people enough lol. Duane always says "somewhere deep, deep, deep down there's a guide in you." I think you'd be good at it, but as others have said, there's a right way to do it--which I think you already know what that way is.

I think it boils down to this: rainbow trout were put on this earth for one thing--to eat salmon eggs and dying salmon.

I know it. The only thing I can think of is everybody who fishes it regularly just needs to educate. And most importantly video of people poaching, license plates, etc. so the true egregious ones are fined. I've never trusted the government or relied on them, so why should we for this? Same deal with the declining turkey numbers. Everybody is clamoring and yelling at the MDC to do something. Well, why don't us hunters do something about it? Take only one bird, don't harvest in the fall. Why do we need the MDC to say so? There's a difference between people sneaking buckets down there for fish hauls and a single mom taking her two kids fishing to try and introduce them to the outdoors and just doesn't now better. Those are the ones who need education. It's our resource, why not make it better?

Talked to Duane for a couple hours today. He said Shane got ahold of him and said the petition isn't going to do anything. Like most, he did his research and concluded the treble hooks aren't the problem. So that is squashed. We agreed the real issue now is educating people on fish handling and enforcing the current rules (which will take all of us).

Bill, I know I've said it before, but can fishing be any better? It is unbelievable.

Heck yea, Phil! You've convinced me to have a "hopper rod" when I'm down next week.

@laker67 Rick, who was it that used to use lighted indicators at night back in the day?

Second this! The lower Niangua in the winter or outside of plastic hatch season is great.

Good deal! Wish we could've met up, up there. Let's do some waterfowling this fall..

I've been night fishing Taney with a fly rod for years. And I can honestly say right now is about the best I've seen it since 2009. It is absolutely phenomenal. If you have the ability to do it, do it. You don't have to go in the middle of the night. Good rule of thumb is when you can clearly see the dam lights casting a glare in the fog, you're good to go. I started at 9:30 and went to 11:30pm last night and I bet I landed 45 fish. The bad pic I posted, fish half in the net and rest cut off, was close to my PB rainbow. It went over 24-inches. If it was 1-lb, it was 7-lbs. She took me to my backing. But, I won..

Make sure you guys go to the Driftless Cafe for dinner or lunch one day! It was absolutely one of the best meals I've ever had. And they had Blanton's..

I honestly didn't read lol. But what streams did you get the brookies out of?! Are you seeing the flooding up there?

The best smallmouth streams in MO are "creek x" or "stream x" haha. Gasconade is really good. So is the James. I personally love the lower Gasconade. My buddy Tommy Bench guides down there. Hit him up.

Came down because I got the itch on Thursday. Night fished three nights and it really could not be any better right now. I had multiple fish hit after about 5 seconds of the fly being in the water. Other than that, most came on the swing (some on the strip after the swing). Landed four fish over 20-inches in 2.5 days. All on a sculpin (during the day), pine squirrel, slump buster, and dub leech. The fish are so fat and healthy, and eager to eat. Go anywhere in the first 3 miles and you'll catch fish. Met a guy, Ryne, Thursday night and we fished together. He used to fish with Vince Elfrink and @laker67 when he went to College of the Ozarks. Pretty good stories about those two! Must not have told him to remember his wading boots, though. Had to wear chocos. Braver man than I! Be back down in a week..

I just use the website. They have a 866 number that might work https://www.swpa.gov/generationschedules.aspx

Yea it's all fun and games until they climb under your truck hood and chew the wiring of your engine coils and you have to spend too much time trying to splice what's left of the wires because COVID caused delays in shipping so you can't just go buy a replacement. Mice, squirrels, and chipmunks..if they die, they die.