Private Equity is Killing Fly Fishing and Maine is Killing Muskies

Wisconsin Musky Fishing Has a Serious Problem

After a long hiatus, Josh and Dan return for one of the most important conversations we’ve ever had on the Spot Burn Podcast. From Wisconsin DNR budget cuts and hatchery closures… to musky stocking reductions, LiveScope controversy, spawning season regulations, tribal fishing debates, and the future of Wisconsin fisheries — this episode goes deep. This isn’t just about muskies anymore. 👇 DROP A COMMENT 👇 Where do YOU stand on: • LiveScope? • Early musky opener regulations? • Stocking cuts? • Tribal fishing restrictions? • The future of Wisconsin fisheries? 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.

The Internet Is Wrong About Muskies & How Spots Actually Get Found

Ep 49 with Dan & Josh delivers classic Spotburn chaos—winter trout talk, fake tiger muskies, accidental spot burning, musky fly fishing content debates, tournament strategy, serious Driftless water contamination issues, fly rod industry news, fly tying innovation, and an absolutely unhinged Fly Roast. Equal parts education, opinion, and nonsense—just how we like it. If you like your fishing podcasts equal parts education, controversy, and absolute nonsense—this one delivers. 🧠 Topics Covered * Winter trout fishing in the Driftless, cold-weather tactics, and layering struggles * Fake “tiger muskies,” spot burning, and why the internet keeps getting both wrong * The rise of musky fly fishing content and its unintended consequences * Squala gear favorites and functional cold-weather apparel * Treelands tournament timing, strategy, and format ideas * How we actually break down and fish new river systems * Driftless groundwater contamination and why it’s bigger than fishing ▶️ Wisconsin Conservation – Groundwater Contamination / Vino in the Valley  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctKKfqbIAlE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctKKfqbIAlE] * Industry news: Shawn Combs (Helios designer) joins Scott Fly Rods  📖 https://flylordsmag.com/shawn-combs-joins-scott-fly-rod-company/ [https://flylordsmag.com/shawn-combs-joins-scott-fly-rod-company/] * Fly tying innovation, tools, and Bill Sherer’s new learning app  📱 https://bill-sherers-we-tie-it-fly-shop.myshopify.com/collections/learning-fly-tying-app/products/we-tie-it-fly-fishing-app-1 [https://bill-sherers-we-tie-it-fly-shop.myshopify.com/collections/learning-fly-tying-app/products/we-tie-it-fly-fishing-app-1] * Fly Roast chaos: Miss Ugly returns, Mantis appears, lines are crossed * Quick tip: organizing bucktails by function, not color 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.

Private Equity is Killing Fly Fishing and Maine is Killing Muskies

In Episode 48 of the Spot Burn Podcast, Dan & Josh break down the wild Bloomberg article about Simms, private equity, and retailers pushing back — then pivot into the most unhinged musky news story of the year: the Fort Kent Muskie Derby (a catch-and-k*ll tournament), and why it’s a brutal look for Maine fisheries. You’ll also get a fishing update, a Cave Run year-in-review recap, and the return of Fly Roast, featuring some absolute masterpieces (and crimes) from listeners. We close it out with shop updates, tying nights, and a quick tip on split ring sizes for predator flies. Drop a comment: Are we overreacting about Simms… or is private equity actually wrecking fly fishing? ---- 🔥 Links / Articles Mentioned Private Equity / Simms Articles Bloomberg: Private Equity Is Ruining a Beloved Fly-Fishing Brand, Retailers Say https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-12-18/fly-fishing-brand-simms-faces-retail-boycott-after-private-equity-takeover?embedded-checkout=true MidCurrent: Private Equity Is Ruining a Beloved Fly-Fishing Brand, Retailers Say https://midcurrent.com/2025/12/19/private-equity-is-ruining-a-beloved-fly-fishing-brand-retailers-say/ Muskies / Viral News Giant 1,000-foot musky outline story: https://www.northernnewsnow.com/2025/12/19/iron-river-man-creates-1000-foot-musky-frozen-lake/ Fort Kent Muskie Derby (the muskie killing derby in Maine): http://www.fortkent-muskie.com/ FishHawk: Musky Slaughter in Maine https://www.fish-hawk.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17816 If you’d like to send a respectful, professional letter to the people with the most influence over the Fort Kent Muskie (K*lling) Derby, here are three options: MDIFW (info.ifw@maine.gov ) — request review + permit conditions / deny harvest derby Town Manager Suzie Paradis (SParadis@fortkent.org ) — request town stop co-hosting unless release-only Derby Committee (via fortkent-muskie.com contact) — request immediate change to release-only + publish new rules Fly Rod Content The Yellow Dog 5-Weight Fly Rod Invitational (Referenced again) https://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/blogs/back-stage-pass/the-yellow-dog-5-weight-fly-rod-invitational?srsltid=AfmBOopvyoVa2vzVyeFDvEaBL1w6yB8h45jZ38G31eNCirfbs4NivpDT 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.

5WT Shootout, Big Fish, Simms Drama

In Episode 47, Josh and Dan dive deep into everything fly fishing — from epic musky stories and the Yellow Dog 5wt Fly Rod Shootout to Kelly Galloup’s Simms vs. Skwala bombshell and Minnesota’s 20-year musky plan. It’s unfiltered, hilarious, and 100% musky-fueled. ---- ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro & Music for Muskies 04:45 – Josh’s 50-Inch Musky Story 09:40 – The Yellow Dog 5wt Fly Rod Shootout Breakdown 13:20 – Reddington Classic Trout Shocks the Industry 23:00 – Simms vs. Skwala: Kelly Galloup’s Mic Drop 31:00 – Are We Breeding Smarter Fish? 39:50 – Minnesota’s Long-Range Musky Plan 48:00 – Quick Tip: Hooks, Split Rings & Single Hook Rigging 59:00 – Fly Roast: Wall of Fame or Wall of Shame? 1:24:00 – Closing Thoughts & Listener Shoutouts ---- 🔗 Mentioned in This Episode: 🎯 Yellow Dog 5wt Fly Rod Shootout Website Link: https://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/blogs/back-stage-pass/the-yellow-dog-5-weight-fly-rod-invitational?srsltid=AfmBOoqN2Hhsqa9Dq4Db_Zdym6JguYLu8Qb5uDCpaBgJetSp_PdS2Y_5 Watch the Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVbnQC2pWHs 🐟 Minnesota DNR Long-Range Musky Management Plan: https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fisheries/fish/mue/mue-lrp-draft.pdf?v=2025.07.28-14.56.37 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.

Sonar Sucks, Skwala Slaps, Miss Ugly Wins

Join Dan and Josh as they dive into forward-facing sonar drama, exciting new gear at Musky Fool, Minnesota’s ambitious musky plan, out-of-season catch etiquette, and more. Plus: a legendary Fly Roast submission that might just change your life. This one's packed—let’s get burning! --- Links to resources we discussed: Alumacraft presents: Muskie Man https://youtu.be/t4j7NgHHMDk?si=m4plfE2Vrj8Iqnii News release: Minnesota DNR invites public comment on muskie plan update https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/2025/05/12/minnesota-dnr-invites-public-comment-muskie-plan-update -- 👇 Chapters for easy jumping: ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Welcome Back 00:47 – Listener Mailbag: Gear We’re Stoked On 02:00 – The LiveScope Breakup: Why We're Done 04:00 – Big News: Skwala Now at Musky Fool 06:00 – Secret Gabe Flies + Summer Adventures 07:03 – Fishing with Kids (and Cats?) 10:43 – “Toothy Critters”: The Great Debate 13:07 – New Muskie Doc: “Muskie Man” w/ Larry Ramsell 15:32 – 🔥 Public Land Under Threat – Take Action! 19:27 – Muskie Season Opener: We're Back 20:23 – Out-of-Season Muskie Catch Ethics 23:06 – Sucker Spawn Tactics (or Loophole Abuse?) 25:01 – 🎓 Muskie Management: Minnesota’s Long Range Plan 27:23 – Yearlings vs Fingerlings: Stocking Smarter 29:27 – Mille Lacs, Vermilion & the Trophy Rebuild 34:24 – Protecting Habitat from Shoreline Development 36:05 – Public Comment + Wisconsin Wake-Up Call 36:47 – 🎣 FLY ROAST: “Miss Ugly” by Brett (Must Hear) 55:25 – Final Notes: Wedding Invites & Secret Projects -- Submit your fly for a future roast: https://muskyfool.com/pages/the-fly-r... 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.