Dan & Josh are back with Episode 35 of The Spot Burn Podcast, featuring the first-ever Fly Roast, where they critique, analyze, and celebrate some wild fly submissions. They also dive into winter trout tactics, early season strategies, and share some big 2025 Spot Burn Podcast and Musky Fool plans.

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Topics Covered in This Episode:

🔥 The Fly Roast Debut! What makes a great fly? What makes a terrible one? And why are we doing this? Submit your own flies for a future episode! 
➡️ https://muskyfool.com/pages/the-fly-roast

🎣 Winter Trout Fishing Tactics – What’s working right now in early season trout fishing?  Check out our recent blog post for Catching More Trout in the Driftless This Winter:
➡️ https://muskyfool.com/blogs/news/catch-more-trout-this-winter-in-the-driftless

📱 OnX Fish App & Spot Burning Debate – Is the new fishing app a game-changer or a major problem for secret spots?

🔬 Underwater Trail Cams – The latest AI-powered fishing tech that might change how we scout for fish.

🏞 DNR Budget Updates & Conservation News – What’s happening with Wisconsin’s fisheries and how you can take action.

🎟 The Big Thaw – Spring Kickoff Event – Huge fly fishing event coming this March! Get all the details.
➡️ https://muskyfool.com/pages/the-big-thaw

🏆 Muskie School & Fly Fishing Film Tour – More great events happening this spring. Details here:
➡️ https://www.capitalcitymuskiesinc.org/muskie-school/

🛶 2025 Musky Trips & Tournaments – The team is gearing up for the Kentucky River Musky Classic and new fishing destinations.

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💡 Got a story, or topic you want us to cover? Drop it in the comments and as always check us out at MuskyFool.com

🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for to support and help the Spot Burn podcast grow!


#SpotBurnPodcast #flyfishing  #muskyfishing  #troutfishing  #fishinggear  #fishingtips  #conservation

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

Welcome to the Fly Roast! The Fly Roast is a new one-of-a-kind segment featured on the Spot Burn Podcast, brought to you by Musky Fool. As the name suggests, The Fly Roast is where we will roast YOUR flies live on each episode of the podcast. This is a chance for your flies to be featured, and most importantly, for us to celebrate the creativity that is fly tying! This is meant to be a light-hearted and fun segment. At the end of the day, Dan and Josh are both true Midwesterners. Some flies might get roasted and some might make it through the gauntlet and become a new featured pattern at Musky Fool. Are you up for the challenge?

Check out the link below to learn more & how you can get your fly featured on the next Fly Roast!
https://muskyfool.com/pages/the-fly-roast

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

Spot Burn is back for 2025!! Welcome to our new studio and plenty of wild new stories! We’ve got big plans for this year: more episodes, more hard-hitting topics, and more of the unfiltered stories you requested.

This episode covers everything from the hilarious musky meltdowns of New Year’s Eve (when grown men quit the sport and sell their gear) to alarming industry trends like the closure of small fly shops and the massive oil spill in Jefferson County. We’ll also share our biggest fish of the 2024 season, the wild story of a gun being pulled during an ice fishing dispute, and all our late season success.

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What’s in This Episode?

🎯 2025 Goals: More episodes, bold topics, and epic interviews.

🎣 Fishing Superstitions: Do musky gods control your fate? They share theirs and read yours!

🎭 Musky Meltdown: Why do anglers quit and sell all their gear this time of year?

💥 Fly Shop Closures: 2024 saw over 20 fly shops close—what’s next for the industry?

🛢 Massive Oil Spill: A Jefferson County disaster with environmental consequences.

🔫 Gun on the Ice: An ice fishing conflict escalates dangerously.

🏆 Late-Season Recap: Musky playoffs, big fish, and wild stories to close out 2024.

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Links to Stories & Resources:

Jefferson County Oil Spill:
https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-...

Gun Pulled While Ice Fishing:
https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-h...
Viral Highlights:

💡 Got a story, or topic you want us to cover? Drop it in the comments and as always check us out at MuskyFool.com

🔥 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for to support and help the Spot Burn podcast grow!



#FishingPodcast #MuskyFishing #FlyFishing #FishingStories #PodcastStudio #FishingSuperstitions #MuskyGrind

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

Join hosts Dan and Josh in Episode 33 of the Spotburn Podcast, recorded mid-fishing trip in beautiful northern Wisconsin! On this episode, the duo dives deep into the effects of barometric pressure on fishing success, discusses their late October muskie-hunting adventures, and even tackles the unexpected topic of Drake’s foray into fly fishing culture. Along the way, they share tips on targeting bite windows, navigating new water, and the eternal debate: Are you a scooper or a stabber when netting fish? Tune in for laughs, insights, and a fresh take on fishing. 

Thanks for listening to this episode and as always if you have ideas, questions or looking for new gear be sure to check us out at:
MuskyFool.com

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

In Episode 32, Dan & Josh break down the action from the recent musky fly fishing tournaments... Treelands & Beast of the East. With challenging conditions at Treelands, our team faced tough competition but had some memorable moments. This year was the highest attendance in tournament history with everyone duking it out for biggest fish and most muskies on the rivers and lakes. They also provide a run down of the experience at school of musky fly fishing. Plus don’t miss Dano’s Kwik Tip on tuning your gliders, a must-know trick of the trade.

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The fellas also recap the latest in the fishing world, including major industry news and tournament highlights. They discuss recent developments like Simms potentially being sold and Orvis laying off 8% of its workforce, as well as updates on Ross Reels' East vs. West series and Winston Fly Rods new sunglasses. Plus, we touch on the upcoming fur ban referendum in Denver and its potential impact on anglers. It's a packed episode full of the latest industry trends and changes.

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Thanks for listening to this episode and as always if you have ideas, questions or looking for new gear be sure to check us out at:
MuskyFool.com

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

Hey listeners! Just a quick heads-up—this episode includes a deep visual dive that's best enjoyed on our YouTube channel. While the audio is still engaging, for the full experience, we recommend heading over to MuskyFoolFlyFishing on YouTube. Now let's get into it!

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Welcome back to another episode of the Spot Burn Podcast with Dan and Josh! In episode 31, we’re doing a deep analytical dive into the current state of fishing licenses in Wisconsin and why it’s crucial for the future of our fisheries. With the WI DNR facing a significant budget shortfall, we’re examining the situation starting with fishing license sales and their impact on our natural resources. Could there be a better funding model that Wisconsin uses to fund the DNR?

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Here's a link to the data we referenced throughout the video:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11Li4djTEbxOxv1eImu8E8kl_WugmNDbP?usp=sharing

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But first, we cover some important events in the fishing world:

Current Events:
Bob Popovics Hit & Run: The legendary saltwater fly-tier and author is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle on September 23rd. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

John Geirach’s Passing: The fly-fishing community mourns the loss of iconic author John Geirach, who passed away on October 3rd at 78. His timeless works like Trout Bum continue to inspire anglers everywhere.

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Main Discussion:
We revisit the ongoing funding crisis within the WI DNR and the cuts to fisheries management. After raising awareness in our last episode, we’ve received a mix of support and criticism, even sparking political debates. As business owners in the Wisconsin fishing industry, we’re committed to finding the facts and advocating for the improvement of our fisheries.

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Musky Team Update:
Despite resource cuts, there’s a new co-lead, Dan Oele, who brings a promising vision for musky management in the state.

Madison Musky Stocking:
Thanks to the efforts of Madison’s Musky Inc., $40k was raised to stock Great Lakes muskies in the Madison Chain, set for October 24th.

Wisconsin Wildlife Coalition:
We’ve joined the Wisconsin Wildlife Coalition to collaborate with conservation groups, DNR members, and private sectors to tackle the funding crisis. We break down how the WI DNR is funded, explore current fishing trends, and share data on fishing license sales to understand what’s at stake.

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Conclusion:
Thanks for tuning in to this episode! We’ll be sharing all of our research and data sources, so be sure to check the links in the description. If you have feedback or suggestions for experts we should speak to, let us know. If you're an expert in the industry we'd also like to hear from you!

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

In this episode, Josh and Dan discuss upcoming fly fishing tournaments, including the Treeland Premier Musky Fly Fishing Championships, Beast of the East, Monster Mash, and the new Kentucky River Musky Classic. Additionally they do a recap on the latest happenings from the first 3 stops of this year's Professional Musky Tournament Trail (PMTT). They also play a fun game of comparing political candidates to fish. They answer a listener's question about getting flies deeper in the fall and provide tips for achieving greater depths with a fly rod. Furthermore, Dan and Josh discuss their predictions for the fall season, the impact of weather on fishing, and the release of the new Scientific Anglers 800 grain Sonar Musky Custom Cut fly line. They also touch on the controversial issue of wake boats and their impact on fisheries. The conversation ends with a Qwik Tip about the benefits of saunas for anglers.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

In Episode 29 of the Spot Burn Podcast, Josh and Dan take listeners on a journey through Josh’s recent travels to Finland, Sweden, and Denmark with his lovely wife Laura who planned the entire vacation. During his trip he explored the picturesque Gudena River and shared his experience fishing for pike with Laura’s cousins. Despite no pike catches, the diverse fishery and clear waters made it a memorable outing.

The duo also dive into why fall fishing in Wisconsin is a must-do for anglers, and are particularly exciting for the upcoming School of Fishing on the horizon.

Josh and Dan then give an update on their non-traditional book club that has uninimously fallen off the wagon reading, "Three Record Muskies in His Day, The Life & Times of Louie Spray," where Josh admits to losing his borrowed book, leading to a discussion on what books they'll attempt next.

They also cover Aaron Wiebe's latest video conveying a barotrauma field study, discussing how forward-facing sonar (FFS) can be a valuable tool for ethical fishing practices.

Finally, they report on the Wisconsin DNR’s budget crisis of a $16M deficit, highlighting the significant cuts to musky and walleye stocking and its potential impacts on future fisheries. Saddle up for a high level deep dive as the shed light on the current happenings with an intent to report more on the matter as new information unfolds.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

In this episode of the Spot Burn Podcast, Dan & Josh discuss muskies attacking humans, a fish die-off caused by blue-green algae blooms, and the weird hatred towards carp. They share stories of musky attacks and highlight the need for caution when swimming or fishing in musky-infested waters. They also discuss the factors contributing to the fish die-off, including high water levels, an algae bloom, and a drop in dissolved oxygen. The hosts then delve into the debate surrounding carp, exploring their origins, impact on fisheries, and the varying opinions on their management. In this conversation, the hosts discuss various topics related to fishing, including the impact of carp on fisheries, the need for proper water quality, and the importance of choosing the right fly line for different seasons. They also touch on the importance of sun protection and appropriate gear for different weather conditions.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.

In this episode of the Spot Burn Podcast, Dan & Josh sit down with Gabe Park to discuss his epic summer musky trip and the surprising catch of a possible Leech Lake musky in a popular Wisconsin river. They also touch on the Musky Wars podcast, where Steve Rinella and Larry Ramsell discuss musky fishing. The key takeaways include the success of using small flies in high water, the importance of being adaptable and listening to the muskies, and the potential impact of introducing Leech Lake muskies into native strain rivers. In this part of the conversation, the hosts discuss the interview with Larry Ramsell, a renowned muskie angler and advocate for the sport. They highlight his qualifications and expertise in muskie fishing, including his extensive knowledge and documentation of muskie catches. They also discuss his strong opinions on the current state of muskie fishing in Wisconsin and the importance of proper fish handling. The hosts reflect on the need for better fish handling practices and the role of fly anglers in leading the way. They also touch on controversial topics such as spearfishing and live scope technology. Overall, they commend the podcast episode for bringing attention to muskie fishing and providing valuable insights from Larry Ramsell. In this conversation, Dan discusses various topics including cash flow in business, inventory management, fishing seasons, pet stories, and personal reflections. The conversation covers a wide range of subjects, making it challenging to identify distinct themes.

Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in, subscribing, sharing, and spreading the good word.

Follow us on Instagram @muskyfool and check out our YouTube channel.

And be sure to check out MuskyFool.com !

Have fun out there on the water ya'll!

- Dan & Josh

MuskyFool.com
Instagram: @muskyfool
YouTube: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
Facebook: Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.