Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Is fly tying worth the cost and the hassle? Sure, you can tie up specific, custom flies, but wouldn't it just be cheaper to buy flies instead? Well, maybe, but we shouldn't really worry about economics here, because if fly fishing were based on good financial decisions, none of us would be doing it.  Instead, you shoudl think about the on-the-water benefits you'll get from tying your own flies. You WILL become a better angler by tying. The question utlimately comes down to how much you want to improve. This week on Untangled, you'll learn how and why fly tying can improve your skills.  You'll also learn about:  How to tell if a new fly rod is the right one for you The different characertistics to look for when buying fly rods The value of swinging flies at the end of your drift, and the role soft hackles have in fly fishing Why Spencer never uses split shot on dry-dropper rigs, and avoids it as much as possible anywhere else LINKS FROM THE SHOW Browse the VFC Tying Packs - CHECK THEM OUT VIDEO - Beginner Fly Tying Masterclass - WATCH IT NOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

There's one thing that brings anglers of every stripe together - a good fish story. This is the first in a new series of podcasts from Untangled that'll tell stories every angler, from the saltwater fanatic to the panfish lover, will relate with and appreciate.  This week's story is about a little cutthroat creek, tucked high in the mountains, that suddenly vanished. Along the way, you'll learn about the area's storied history with fish stocking, hear about a cutthroat eating a mouse fly, and why it's worth it to explore and look for new-to-you fisheries. 

Midges are a go-to fly in the winter, but how do you know which of the 8 billion midge patterns to pick? There's so many to choose from, and it feels like they're always dropping new ones, too!  Well, I took the time to simplify my own midge selection down to just a handful of patterns. Doing that helped me fish what I rig up with more confidently, but it also made choosing a fly A LOT eaiser. I spend less time worrying about my fly choice, and more time fishing. So, this week on Untangled, you'll learn what those 7 midges patterns are, and why they're the ones I so highly recommend.  You'll also learn about:  How to control your hookset so you don't end up tangled in trees and bushes How to set the hook properly so you lose fewer fish The basic skills a fly angler needs to learn in order to progress quickly The one skill every fly angler needs to posses How to tell if small rivers and streams have fish in them LINKS FROM THE SHOW Browse Our Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE VIDEO - How to Cast A Fly Rod - WATCH IT NOW VIDEO - How to Make A Roll Cast - WATCH IT NOW

If you want to make 2026 the year you take some giant leaps in your fly fishing abilities, then you should seriously consider keeping a fly fishing journal. Writing down what happens on the water, what flies you used, the weather, the water conditions -- it will all help you understand the interplay between various factors on the water, and it'll help you learn from both your successes and your failures. Today on Untangled, Spencer will walk you through the key details to write down, and how you can use this simple tool to help improve your experience on the water.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join our FREE Fly Fishing Group - CHECK IT OUT  

There's more to trout fishing than rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and brookies. There's all sorts of interesting trout out there, just waiting for you! But when you get the chance to fish for these lesser-known trout, you'll probably get hung up on one thing: what flies do you need? Are there top-secret patterns that only work for these fish, but locals won't tell you about unless you buy 'em the right 12-pack? This week on Untangled, you'll learn about some of the rare trout species on the planet, and the flies we use to catch them.  You'll also learn about:  Pros and cons of having multiple reels and spools with different line options on them Why your fly line sometimes gets stuck in your rod guides, and how to fix that with the nail knot Does hook gap size matter when fishing with streamers? Why you should let your streamers "die" when they initially get tagged by a trout What a short-strike is  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

This is the first-ever bonus episode of Untangled! Starting in 2026, we're dropping two episodes of your favorite fly fishing podcast every week! And this first episode is a new format we'd love some feedback on. At the start of each month, we're going to do a monthly fly fishing report. You'll learn what bugs are active, how to fish that month, tips and tricks for dealing with water conditions, and the fly patterns we recommend.  Not every episode of our extra show will follow this format. Some weeks will be interviews, others will be deep-dives into one topic, and others will be story-driven. But we'd like the first episode each month to be full of actionable information that'll help y'all out on the water. So if you like this format, and want to hear more of it, please let us know!  Finally -- this bonus episode of Untangled is ONLY available in audio format. You won't find this content on YouTube, Instagram, or any other social media.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT Browse our 3-Pack Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT 

Every angler loves a good fishing story, even if we tend to stretch the truth sometimes. But those stories are good for more than just reliving old times. You can learn A TON from your best catches, including exactly where and how you can improve. So, this week on Untangled, Spencer shares some stories (from VFC team and Skool members) about the best fish of 2025, and the lessons learned along the way.  You'll also hear about: How to tell if you're setting the hook too early or too late How to improve your hook set to lose fewer fish Why super-cheap fly rod combos generally aren't worth the money How to think about sneaking up on fish How much casting angles matter to your success LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

Have you ever had one of those days on the water where nothing seems to go right? You can't tie a decent knot, you lose all your flies, and you end up not catching fish? When it gets rough like that, what do you blame? Nature? Yourself?  Your answer to that quesiton likely exposes the kind of angler you are, and can help you learn how to become an even better one. This week on Untangled, Spencer shares stories and tips about the times his ego has gotten in the way of catching fish, and how you can avoid that same problem.  You'll also learn about:  Why certain fly lines perform better on some rods than others The reality of being a fly fishing guide How to fish narrow, deep pools in tight canyons  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

There are a whole lot of reasons a fish won't eat your fly. Maybe you picked the wrong one, or you wore the wrong socks today. Or you forgot your semi-annual offering of used zebra midges for the river gods.  In all seriousness, there's often a much simpler reason fish aren't eating your fly: you've spooked them. This week on Untangled, you'll learn about how you end up spooking fish, even if you don't mean to, and a few tips for avoiding that.  You'll also learn about:  How certain fly rods are designed for use in certain situations, and what you can expect when buying a 10' 4-weight to replace a 9' 5-weight How to tie flies that are more durable The pros and cons of using barbless hooks, and using them to make multi-fly rigs  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE EBOOK - How to Find Fish in Rivers - CHECK IT OUT

There's no NEED to stock your fly box full of hundreds of patterns, all in dozens of different sizes. Sometimes, though, a slightly different fly from what everyone else is using is just the trick to put more -- or larger -- fish in the net. This week on Untangled, you'll learn about 7 underrated fly patterns that we turn to when we need to change things up.  You'll also learn about: How to handle long stretches of getting skunked continuously, and how to grow from that How to match a fly line to your fly rod, based on what type of fishing you're doing Whether you should still fish with flies that don't look "perfect"  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE VIDEO - Winter Fly Fishing Master Class - CHECK IT OUT GEAR - Fly 3-Packs - CHECK IT OUT

80% of a fish's diet is underwater, which means nymphing is a crazy effective way to put fish in the net. So, this week on Untangled, Spencer and Alex share everything they learned while filming their Nymphing Master Class. From insight on why fly pattern doesn't matter, to tips on picking the right strike indicator, you'll leave this episode ready to put all these tips into practice out on the water.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE VIDEO - Nymphing Master Class - CHECK IT OUT    

What gear do you ACTUALLY need for fly fishing? And what stuff is just a waste of money? Sure, that fancy reel looks nice, and you'd probably look just like Indiana Jones in that hat. But will that stuff help you put more fish in the net? Or will it just drain your wallet?  This week on Untangled, you'll learn about the gear that Spencer thinks isn't worth the cash, AND you'll get a detailed list of the essential items for your time out on the water.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for pre-tying leader onto flies to make it easier to rig up on the water How to set up a dry-dropper rig so your flies don't have drag  Advice on fishing with streamers both on the strip and under an indicator LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE The VFC Starter Packs - CHECK THEM OUT

Fish, especially trout, really don't care about your fly pattern. Alright, A FEW fish do. The pickiest ones, and every single trout in the Henry's Fork. But most fish care WAY more about how the fly is presented, than whether you picked the exact perfect fly.  This week on Untangled, you'll learn why presentation matters FAR MORE than pattern, and a few tips for perfecting how the fish see your fly.  You'll also learn about:  How to react when fish start jumping out of the water on lakes, and the rigs for fishing to them How to get your flies deep in the water without split shot How to cast nymph rigs with split shot on them How to find the right depth for nymphing, no matter what river you're fishing LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE VIDEO - How to Cast Indicators, Split Shot, and Double Nymph Rigs - CHECK IT OUT

The world of fly fishing with streamers is full of weird terminology, interesting tactics, and new techniques. That makes picking it up, especially as a beginner fly angler, a bit challenging. Here's the truth, though -- streamer fishing is A LOT simpler than it appears. If you can catch fish on dry flies and nymphs, you've already got most of the skills you need!  This week on Untangled, you'll get a crash course in fly fishing with streamers. From casting to setting the hook, you'll end the show ready to hit the water with confidence!  You'll also learn about:  Why you should upgrade your fly rod as quickly as you can afford to Why your flies suddenly stop catching fish on certain pieces of water Tips for successfully fighting larger fish in rivers LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

You've picked a great fly, found some wonderful water, and made tons of good drifts through fishy-looking water. Everything is coming together -- except for the whole catching fish thing. So, what do you do on days like this, when NOTHING you do makes the fish notice your flies? When the fishing sucks, what's the play? Well, this week on Untangled, you'll learn how Spencer and Alex approach these tough days, and tips you can use the next time the river throws you a curveball.  You'll also learn about:  VFC's new 6-weight fly rod release, and other products in the pipeline Why we have so many different imitations of the same bug, and the value of using different flies How to decide which fishing technique (dries, streamers, nymphs) to use on any given day Tips for cold-weather fishing Tying your own leaders A few tips for fishing streamers in late fall and early winter  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE Join the Fly Tying Mega-Kit Waitlist - JOIN NOW

Dropping the money on a guided fly fishing trip is a serious commitment - but with the right planning, you can get the most out of your time (and money) spent on the water! Getting the msot out of a guided fishing trip really comes down to communication -- both with the guide, and yourself. This week on Untangled, Spencer (a former guide and outfitter) walks you through how to have an incredible experience with your guides!  You'll also learn about:  How to effectively set up and fish a double-dry fly rig What to do when your dropper nymph is pulling your dry fly underwater, but you want a small dry fly up top in your dry-dropper rig Why you need wading boots, and what features to look for when buying them The situations when you need to keep fly line off the water completely How and when to use strike indicators  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Rigs & Knots Pocket Guide - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

If you've spent most of your time fishing on small streams, making the jump to fishing bigger rivers can be intimidating. Where do you cast? Where are the fish holding? And do they still eat the same flies they do in small streams? This week on Untangled, we'll answer all those questions, and more, as you learn the 5 key tips for fishing big rivers.  You'll also learn about:  Why you can't use a 7 or 8-weight rod for small stream fishing with dry flies How to keep fish from getting off when you're using barbless hooks How to use woolly buggers underneath indicators to mimic crawdads, leeches, and other common fish food  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Finding Fish eBook - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

After a long day of fishing, when the trout refused EVERY fly you threw at them, how often have you gone home and looked up some information about the best flies to use during a certain time of year? And when you've done that, have you ever thought, "Well, this is all interesting, but how much does it apply to MY local river?" Well, the short answer is, probably a lot. The longer answer is that as you learn to identify bug trends and aquatic insects, you'll dramatically level up your fly fishing skills.  So, this week on Untangled, we're breaking down fly selection into its basic parts, so you can learn how to pick the right fly the next time you're on the water.  You'll also learn about:  Why tapered leaders are the ideal choice for nymphing Why you might start out a day catching fish, only to quickly stop catching them for the rest of your time on the water The impact that cloud cover has on fly selection and fly color choices  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT   

How do you become a "great" fly angler? And what makes an angler "great" anyways? In this week's episode of Untangled, Spencer and Alex chat about the one trait all the best anglers they know have in common, and how you can set realistic goals to help you achieve your own level of greatness in fly fishing.  You'll also learn about:  How to cast flies in the wind Whether the color of clothes you wear on the water impacts how many fish you catch How to plan fishing trips to places you've never been, and when you have a limited time to go fishing LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Finding Fish eBook - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE VIDEO - Find New Places to Fly Fish - WATCH IT NOW

Us fly anglers share A TON of things: new fly patterns, casting techniques, wing sauce recipes. But we're pretty guarded when it comes to our favorite fishing holes. And why is that? Why is there so much secrecy around where we go fishing? Well, it's not just because we're keeping all the fish for ourselves. There's actually quite a few good reasons to keep fishing spots a secret, the most important of which might just be the adventures you can have while discovering new water on your own.  This week on Untangled, you'll learn how keeping fishing secrets can benefit both anglers AND fish. You'll also learn about:  Pre-tying rigs before getting to the river, to cut down on rigging time Why you go from consistently catching fish in one spot, to catching no fish, even if you're using the same flies How to teach your spouse/significant other to fly fish LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Finding Fish eBook - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT  VIDEO - Find New Places to Fly Fish - WATCH IT NOW