Welcome to the show
The Spot Burn Podcast, presented by Musky Fool. Where we spot burn everything BUT fishing spots. As musky fly anglers, we're already crazy, and on this podcast we won't hold anything back, taking a deep dive into some of the most pressing, important, and sometimes untouchable topics in our industry. Equal parts educational, investigative, and fun. We hope you enjoy! Hosted by Dan Donovan and Josh Smeltzer.
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SZN 1, EP02
The one about musky myths
Is fly fishing for musky new? Is it harder than conventional angling? Is it only for rivers? We will bust these myths and more on our second episode!
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SZN 1, EP03
The one about musky spring training
Why is march one of the most underrated months for fishing in Wisconsin? What to do if you catch an accidental musky?
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SZN 1, EP04
The One About Preparing For Musky Season
Less than 30 days to go in Wisconsin for the beginning of the 2023 Musky Season.
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SZN 1, EP05
The One About Tracking Muskies in Airplanes
Jake and his students have been tracking 10 muskies using radio telemetry in a project supported by the Wisconsin DNR and the First Wisconsin Chapter of Muskies Inc.
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SZN 1, EP06
The One About Livescope
Is it ruining fishing or taking it to the next level? Are we dumb for not using it or are we losing sight of the tradition of the sport by having it in the boat?
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SZN 1, EP07
The One About How to Avoid and Fix Musky Fly Fishing Injuries
On the 7th episode of the Spot Burn Podcast we a do a deep dive with Karlie to discuss common injuries in fly fishing, how to address injuries when the pop up, and what can be done to prevent them.
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SZN 1, EP08
The One About Picking Out a New Boat
We get a BOAT LOAD of questions as to what is the best boat for musky fly fishing. The truth is there is no one "best" boat, but there are great boats for certain situations.
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SZN 1, EP09
The Musky Q&A One
We got a load of awesome questions from you all so today we are going to dedicate an entire episode to answering those one by one!
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SZN 1, EP10
The One About Bucktail
Our 10th episode! We celebrate the minor milestone by bringing Musky Fool Shop Manager and Lord of the Bucktail Lab, Gabe Park onto the show to discuss all things deer tail.
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SZN 1, EP11
The One About Fall Musky Fly Fishing
Join BamBam and Dan as we get deep into fall tactics, tips, myths, fly patterns and more. Just in time for prime time musky season here in the Upper Midwest!
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SZN 1, EP12
The One With A HUGE Fly Fisherman
You have Dan, Josh, and the one and only Ben Sittig, aka the Huge Fly Fisherman. Ben’s in the hot seat and back in musky country for the second time.
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SZN 1, EP13
The One About 2023 Treelands Tactics
Josh, Dan, and special guest Gabe are back for another episode of the Spot Burn Podcast. This time we are doing a full recap and tactic deep dive into the 2023 Treelands Musky Fly Fishing World Championship at Treelands Resort.
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SZN 1, EP14
The One About The 2023 Guide Season With Hunter Dorn
Join us and special guest, Hunter Dorn, guide at Musky Fool. We dig into all the juicy details about his 2023 fishing season from everything on trout season in early spring to closing out with musky and steelhead.
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SZN 1, EP15
The One About The 2023 Guide Season With Nick Gellerstedt
Join Josh and Dan as we chat with friend and Musky Fool Guide - Nick Gellerstedt. Nick is a full-time guide for Musky Fool and for the most part is exclusively musky guiding.
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szn 2, EP16
The One About Boat Maintenance With The Owner of Pharo Marine
Join Josh, Dan, and special guest Andy Pharo as we dive deep into properly maintaining your boat in the offseason.
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szn 2, EP17
The One About New Year’s Eve Muskies
Join Josh, Dan for some late fall tactics, how to fish for muskies until the last day of the season, general bs, how was the year
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szn 2, EP18
The One About New Year’s Eve Muskies
Josh and Dan dive into the fascinating world of musky hatchery operations with Scott Barrett, a seasoned fisheries biologist from the Minor E. Clark Hatchery on Cave Run Lake, KY.
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szn 2, EP19
The One with Bill Sherer
Join Josh and Dan on the Spot Burn Podcast for a special episode featuring Bill Sherer, the musky fly fishing maestro and the owner We-Tie-It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction, WI.
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szn 2, EP20
The One About Early Muskies And Mosquitoes
Join your hosts, Dan and Josh, as they navigate through an early spring with muskies on the move, share exhilarating tales from the latest trade shows, and dive deep into preparing for 2024 season ahead.
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szn 2, EP21
The One About Banning LiveScope
Your hosts Dan and Josh dive into the depths of how modern technology intersects with time-honored fishing traditions.
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szn 2, EP22
The One About the Musky Crisis on the Madison Chain
In this episode, Dan and Josh, celebrate a year of sharing tales from the waters, the impact of fish stocking on Madison Wisconsin's fisheries, and a sneak peek into the world of competitive muskie fishing.
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szn 2, EP23
The One About Steve Rinella and the 72lb Musky
In this episode, Dan and Josh respond to a portion of episode 538 on the Meat Eater podcast where musky fishing was discussed.
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szn 2, EP24
The One About Spring Sloppy Seconds
In this episode, Josh and Daniel dive into their spring adventures, musky season updates, and more.
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szn 2, EP25
The One About Audience Questions
In this episode of the Spot Burn podcast, Josh and Dan discuss a wide range of topics based on listener feedback, covering river fishing, musky behavior through the seasons, the use of sound bullets, and wading shore fly fishing tips for muskies.
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szn 2, EP26
The One About 8 Tips For Catching More Muskies
In this episode, Dan and BamBam discuss 8 hot tips for catching more muskies.
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szn 2, EP27
Summer Musky Bender And The End of Hero Shots
In this episode of the Spot Burn Podcast, Dan and 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.
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szn 2, EP28
Muskies Attacking Humans And A Madison Fish Kill
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.
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szn 2, EP29
Wisconsin DNR $16M Deficit Cutting Musky & Walleye Stocking
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.
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szn 2, EP30
800 Grains of Fly Line & Wake Boats Ruining Our Lakes
In this episode, Dan & Josh dive into the hot topic of wake boats and their impact on fisheries, while also covering upcoming musky fly fishing tournaments. They also share tips on fishing in deeper waters, predictions for the fall season, and tips for recovering from casting injuries.
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SZN 2, EP 31
Why Are Wisconsin Fishing Licenses On The Decline
In episode 31, we’re doing an analytical deep dive into the current state of fishing licenses in Wisconsin and why it’s crucial for the future of our fisheries.
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SZN 2, EP 32
42 Muskies, 3 Elk, & 5 Emergency Flares
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.
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SZN 2, EP 33
Barometric pressure& shenanigans
Join Dan and Josh for Episode 33 of the Spotburn Podcast, recorded mid-trip in northern Wisconsin! They explore barometric pressure's impact on fishing, share late October muskie tales, and chat about Drake’s dive into fly fishing culture.
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SZN 3, EP 34
Fly shops closing, late season success, and superstitions
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.
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SZN 3, EP 35
The 1st Fly Roast, Winter Trout Tactics, & 2025 Spot Burn Plans
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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SZN 3, EP 36
Hoss' 2024 Guide Season and Fly Roast #2
Musky Fool guide and all-around hammer, Nick "Hoss" Gellerstedt, joins us as we dive deep into musky hunting and absolute mayhem on the water. From wild ice fishing stories to the "Big Thaw" spring event, to controversial fly roasts and fishing scandals, this episode has it ALL.
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SZN 3, EP 37
KY River Classic, Flooding, and Locating Water
Josh and Dan are live from Kentucky for the Kentucky River Muskie Classic! They recap day one, tackle extreme flooding’s impact, discuss conservation challenges, roast listener-submitted flies, and share high-water strategies.
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SZN 3, EP 38
The Mega Fly Roast
Welcome to Episode 38: The Mega Fly Roast! Gabe Park joins us to bring the spiciest critiques yet—no holding back. Flies will be roasted, egos tested, and our Wall of Fame and Shame made official!
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SZN 3, EP 39 | Part 1 With Paul Cunningham
Will Brook Trout Survive in Wisconsin?
In this episode, hosts Dan and Josh sit down with fisheries ecologist Paul Cunningham of the Wisconsin DNR for a critical conversation about the Brook Trout Reserves Program—and the escalating threats facing Wisconsin’s native brook trout.
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SZN 3, EP 40 | Part 2 With Paul Cunningham
Will Brook Trout Survive in Wisconsin?
In Part 2 of our conversation with fisheries ecologist Paul Cunningham, hosts Dan and Josh dig deeper into the science, strategy, and soul of Wisconsin’s battle to save its native brook trout.
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SZN 3, EP 41 | Part 1 With Kamden Glade
What Muskies Really Eat: Inside Kamden Glade's Breakthrough Study
Everyone's got theories on what muskies eat—Kamden Glade has the data to prove it.
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SZN 3, EP 42 | Part 2 With Kamden Glade
What Muskies Really Eat
In Part 2 of The Spot Burn Podcast, Dan and Josh dive back in with musky research guru Kamden Glade to explore his viral, game-changing work on musky diets and management in Minnesota.
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SZN 3, EP 43
Fly Roast Gone Wild: Beard Hair, Fly Coffins & Midnight Org*sms
Buckle up, fly freaks. Episode 43 is our wildest Mega Fly Roast yet—featuring the most unhinged, hilarious, and questionably fishable flies we’ve seen. There’s beard hair. There’s a fly coffin. There’s glow-in-the-dark resin. And yes… there are midnight org*sms.
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SZN 3, EP 44
The Fish Thief Film Crew Tells All: Lampreys & the Fight for the Great Lakes
In this electrifying episode of the Spot Burn Podcast, we dive deep—like, sea lamprey-deep—into the battle for the soul of the Great Lakes. We sit down with Dr. Marc Gaden of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and filmmaker Lindsey Haskin, director of the jaw-dropping documentary The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery.
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SZN 3, EP 45
Fly Roast, FFS Banned & Calling Congress LIVE
The heat is on in this one. Hosts Dan & Josh dive into Musky Inc.’s ban on forward-facing sonar, rant about the sale of U.S. public land, and yes—call a U.S. senator live on air. They also break down leader setups, highlight new shop gear, and roast some spicy fly submissions.
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