Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Episoder

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  Chasing Gold | Fly Fishing Stories #9 27.07.2026 16min

  Golden trout are among the prettiest, rarest, and most sought-after trout in the West. They live in hard-to-reach places, and the ones that grow to enormous sizes seem like they're harder to find than clear pictures of Bigfoot. But putting in the work and effort to look for these fish - even if you strike out - usually results in memories you'll never forget.  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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT
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  I've Been Fishing Caddis Wrong My Whole Life | Ep. 189 22.07.2026 45min

  Caddisflies are one of the most abundant aquatic insects on the PLANET! But they're largely misunderstood by anglers - inclulding myself. In fact, I just had an experience on the water that made me realize I've been fishing these flies completely wrong for 20 years!  Don't make the same mistakes I did. Listen to this week's episode and learn all about how caddisflies should be fished, and how this can help you put more trout in the net.  You'll also learn about:  The differences between headwaters and tailwaters Tips for fishing with kids, and getting them interested in fly fishing Why trout really eat streamers 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT
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  The Ultimate Wet Wading Gear Setup | Tip of the week #14 20.07.2026 13min

  Waders are great and all -- but by the time summer rolls around, they get HOT! They're not all that comfortable to wear, either. So, if you wanna ditch the waders, what's the best way to go? We prefer using a fully dedicated wet wading setup. You get all the benefits of the stability of wading boots, without the bulk and added heat of waders. Today on Untangled, we'll dish on all the things we love about wet wading, the gear we recommend, and WHY we've made these choices.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Wet Wading Gear Guide - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE
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  Nymphs, Streamers, or Dry Flies — You Don't Need to Master All Three | Ep. 188 15.07.2026 47min

  Starting out in fly fishing is overwhelming. You're told you've got to master all sorts of techniques and tactics, and the second you open Instagram, or read any online content, you're bombarded with new things to try! It feels like, if you're not at least dipping your toe in everything, you're quickly falling behind as an angler.  Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, that mindset is damaging for new anglers. So in today's episode of Untangled, you're going to learn why this isn't the best way to approach things, and some tips for actually leveling up that don't require new gear, or trips to exotic locations.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for fishing for grass carp, and carp behavior in general Fly selection for carp Tips on casting with indicators, split shot, or other heavy rigs Tips on tying flies and fishing for stocked trout vs wild trout 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT
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  The World's Biggest Cutthroat Trout | Fly Fishing Stories #8 13.07.2026 21min

  The largest cutthroat trout ever officially caught was a 41-pounder back in 1925. Rumors persisted of fish in excess of 60 pounds, but like any good fish, those ones got away before they could be weighed... These giant cutthroat were once thought to be lost forever. By the 1940s, they were gone from the landscape, and our chance to fish for giant, prehistoric fish was basically gone.  But that's where this story really starts, and gets all sorts of interesting. In this episode of Untangled's Fly Fishing Stories, you'll learn all about the world's largest cutthroat trout -- how they evolved, how they vanished, and how they made one of the world's most shocking comebacks.  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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT
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  The Summer Dry Flies Trout Love — But Most Anglers Overlook | Ep. 187 08.07.2026 47min

  Summer is the time for throwing big foam bugs and large droppers, right?  Well, yes - but there are a couple of dry flies that get chronically overlooked by anglers - myself included. So today on Untangled, you're going to learn what these flies are, why you should add them to your box, and tips for getting the most out of them when you tie one on.  You'll also learn about:  How to adjust your rigs for fishing in lower water Tips for getting back into the game with fishing dry flies Why some rods roll cast better with heavier lines 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT ARTICLE - Fishing Ants - CHECK IT OUT Browse 3-Packs and Tying Kits - CHECK THEM OUT
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  4 Quick Tips for Fly Fishing Lakes in Summer | Tip of the Week #13 06.07.2026 19min

  Lake fishing can be intimidating. Where do you cast? What are you looking for that tells you fish will be in one spot versus another? And do you use the same flies you use on rivers and streams? Well, fishing lakes is A LOT simpler than it appears, and this is actually the best time of year to give it a shot. So today on Untangled, you'll learn four quick tips for getting the most out of your time on stillwater this summer!  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE
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  Fly Fishing Small Streams In The Heat Of Summer | Ep. 186 01.07.2026 51min

  It's hard to not fall in love with small streams. They're gorgeous, the fish are generally fairly willing to eat, and they're a GREAT place to escape the crowds for a bit. As summer drags on, though, small streams don't always continue to be this fairytale place to fish. The water levels drop, fish get spooky, and you feel like you're back at square one, looking for a solution to this problem. It boils down to understanding where fish move during the summer, what they're looking to eat, and the best times to be out on the water. Today on Untangled, we'll dive into all of that and more, so you can have success on small streams this summer. You'll also learn about:  The differences in fly rod weights and what they mean for the flies you can throw How a heavier fly rod can be more effective in fighting fish Some tips for properly fighting trout to the net The things to watch out for that you might be doing to inadvertantly spook fish Why you should try different styles of fishing - ONLY if you want to 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT  
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  Untangled Fly Fishing Report | July 2026 29.06.2026 23min

  It's hot, windy, dry, and there's a few people out on the water. The biggest hatches of the year are winding down. Mosquitoes have made their unfortunate return. Despite all this, fishing in July can be just as rewarding as a nice hot plate of fresh wings. You just need to be prepared with the knowledge of what bugs are out, and what the fish are doing, so you can take advantage of the fact that trout still gotta eat! Today on Untangled, we'll look at what to expect in July, and give you the tools you need to go out and have an epic day on the water! Recommended Flies: Elk Hair Caddis, size 14-18 Half-Baked Caddis, size 16 Foam Caddis, size 14-18 CDA Caddis, size 16-18 Parachute PMD, size 14 Parachute Adams, sizes 14-20 Hare's Ear, sizes 14-18 Frenchie, sizes 14-16 Pheasant Tail, sizes 14-16 Sparkle Dun, size 16-18 RS2, sizes 16-20 Griffiths Gnat, sizes 18-22 Zebra Midge, sizes 14-18 Scud Muffin, sizes 16-18 Demon Midge, sizes 16-18 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT Get the FREE Wet Wading Guide - CHECK IT OUT Browse 3-Packs and Tying Kits - CHECK THEM OUT VIDEO - Completing The Trout Super Grand Slam - CHECK IT OUT      
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  Stop Counting Fish — Here's a Better Way to Measure a Day | Ep. 185 24.06.2026 43min

  What makes a day on the water great? Is it really all about how many fish you caught? I mean, I know we're going fishing to catch fish, but is that ALL a day on the water is about? I think a lot of anglers would say no, they appreciate the solitude, the quiet, the beauty, the challenge. But at the end of the day, if you walk back to your truck and you got skunked, you feel like you failed, right? Or at the very least, that you got beat.  I'm not here to say that catching fish doesn't matter, and I'm certainly not telling you what to do. I just want to ask one question:  Is the number of fish you catch the best way to measure your success on the water? Or is there more to it?  That's what we'll discuss on today's episode of Untangled.  You'll also learn about:  How to dial in the right depth for your nymph rig How to estimate the depth of a river while setting up a nymph rig Where to put split shot on your rig Why you're consistently hooking bottom and how to avoid it The merits of barbless hooks 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT  
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  When & Why To Use Weightless Nymphs | Tip of the Week #12 22.06.2026 18min

  Nymphs are supposed to be heavy and sink straight to the bottom, where the fish spend most of their time - right? Yes, that's what MOST nymphs are designed to do. But some are tied without any weight at all, and they're great for using when the fish are a bit picky, feeding during a heavy hatch, or you just want to switch up how you're approaching the water.  Today on Untangled, you'll learn all about the merits of weightless nymphs, and why they're a style of fly you should consider having in your box.  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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT
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  How To Buy Fly Fishing Waders & Boots | Ep. 184 17.06.2026 43min

  Finding good wading gear that works for your stlye of fishing, AND that's within your budget, feels almost impossible sometimes. It's tough to know what exactly you need from your waders and boots.  Well, Spencer has spent the past decade reviewing gear for fly fishing magazines, and he's been fly fishing for over 20 years. Today on Untangled, he's going to share the particular features he looks for in waders and boots, and how you can use that knowledge to find the PERFECT set of wading gear for you.  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 Wader Buying Guide - CHECK IT OUT Get the FREE Wading Boot Buying Guide - CHECK IT OUT Skwala Gear We Recommend - BOOTS & WADERS
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  The Worst Fly Fishing Trip Ever | Fly Fishing Stories #7 15.06.2026 19min

  You never expect a trip to nosedive, especially when you've planned it for the better part of a year, you're traveling across a few states to get there, and you're going with two of your best friends. As the old saying goes, though, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. In our case, we just didn't understand that we even had an enemy, or how far south things could actually go.  This is the story of the trip we all have at some point, but few of us ever remember fondly.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE  
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  How To Build a Fly Box That Works on Any River | Ep. 183 10.06.2026 40min

  Do you have a fly box that's full of go-to patterns for your local creek? And maybe another one that's stuffed with all the right flies for the tailwater you visit a few times a year?  And let's be honest for a sec — when's the last time you used EVERY fly in those boxes? How many of those patterns are there mostly for emotional support? Or do they just weigh down your pack and make it hard to find the pattern you're looking for? I think the secret to a good fly box isn't variety of patterns. Instead, it's about hitting every life cycle stage of the major insects — midges, mayflies, caddis, and stoneflies. A few imitations of each are all I often reach for in about 90% of trout fishing situations.  So today on Untangled, I'll share more about this approach to picking flies and stocking your box, so you can hit the water without hauling an entire fly shop along with you.  You'll also learn about:  The wet wading gear we recommend Why some flies work better in some places than other flies do The importance of caddisflies for trout around the globe Some tips on improving your dry fly presentation 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT Get the FREE Wet Wading Guide - CHECK IT OUT PODCAST - The 10 Flies You Need For Trout - CHECK IT OUT VIDEO - The Guide to Wet Wading - CHECK IT OUT
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  How To Read River Flows For Better Fly Fishing | Tip of the Week #11 08.06.2026 18min

  Have you ever heard someone say something like "Oh, the flows on the river are good today, that means the fishing will be great!" And you're a bit too embarrassed to ask why flows matter? Maybe you've even heard the phrase "CFS" thrown around too?  Well, high and low water flows have different impacts on how the fishing is. Too high, and it's tough, or impossible, to fish. Too low, and the water's too warm for trout. Learning how to read flow charts, though, gives you the power to hit the water at just the right time.  So today on Untangled, I'll explain exactly what river flows and CFS means, how it impacts fishing, and how you can use it to pick the best place to spend your day 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
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  The Biggest Lie in Fly Fishing — There's No "Right" Way to Fish | Ep. 182 03.06.2026 43min

  The biggest lie in fly fishing is that there's an exactly-perfect, foolproof, never-fail method to fish every piece of water, and that if you study or learn enough, you'll never get skunked.  Here's the truth -- great anglers still get skunked, or at the very least, have TOUGH days on the water. But one skill they've mastered? The ability to sift through the advice that's out there, and learn how to apply it to their unique situations.  On today's episode of Untangled, that's exactly what you'll learn. You'll get advice on how to implement fly fishing advice so you actually see results on the water.  You'll also learn about:  Whether mink eat trout, and how much impact mink predation can have on trout populations The knot we prefer to use for 99% of fishing here at VFC Why the knot you use DOESN'T really matter How to pick flies to use based on where you're going fishing 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT GEAR - Ultimate Fly Collection from VFC - CHECK IT OUT RESOURCE - The Study on Mink Predation - CHECK IT OUT
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  Untangled Fly Fishing Report | June 2026 01.06.2026 17min

  June usually means high water, big bugs, happy fish, and the first days that are warm enough to think about wet wading. June's also the first month when some of the high country starts opening up, which means your favorite small streams and ponds are just a hike away.  The most challenging thing about June fishing, though, is navigating the high water and finding the fish. Once you know what to look for, though, you can have some fantastic days out there.  So, today on Untangled, we'll take a look at all the key info you need to know to have great days on the water this June. LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE FLIES - Get the 3-Packs From VFC - CHECK THEM OUT Get the FREE Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT FLIES TO USE IN JUNE Parachute Adams, sizes 10-18 Parachute PMD, size 14 Green Drakes, size 10 Trusty Rusty, size 12 Last Chance Cripple, sizes 12-16 Sparkle Dun, sizes 16-20 Frenchie, sizes 14-18 Crackback, sizes 14-18 Elk Hair Caddis, sizes 14-18 Puff Caddis, size 14 Half-baked caddis, sizes 14-18 Hare's Ear, sizes 14-18 CDA Caddis, size 14 Stimulator, sizes 12-14 Yellow Sally, size 14 Prince Nymph, sizes 12-16 CDC Pheasant Tail, sizes 12-16 Pat's Rubberlegs, sizes 10-12 Royal Flush, size 12 Golden Stone nymph, sizes 12-14 Sow Bugs, sizes 14-18 Zebra Midges, sizes 14-18 Demon Midge, sizes 16-18 Perdigons, size 14-16    
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  The Only 10 Flies You'll Ever Really Need | Ep. 181 27.05.2026 43min

  How many flies do you have in your box right now? A few dozen? A few hundred? More than a thousand? Yeah, it's great to have a lot of flies on hand - but that many choices makes it easy to overthink your fly selection. That can lead to you switching flies too often, when the real reason you're not catching fish has to do with your presentation. So, today on Untangled, you'll learn a bit more about why it's a good idea to pare down your fly selection, and the 10 fly patterns you could catch 90% of trout with.  You'll also learn about:  How long flies should last before they fall apart Whether you should focus on fishing other types of flies (nymphs and streamers) during a hatch How to fish deep on a lake without sinking fly line 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
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  The Most Valuable Fly Fishing Skill | Tip of the Week #10 25.05.2026 22min

  What's keeping you from having consistent, repeatable success on the water? From fishing with the same sort of confidence you see guides approach it with, or anglers who've been fishing for decades. Is it really just time and honing a bunch of technical skills, like casting, or fly selection?  That stuff helps. But the best anglers I know — the ones I say I wanna be like when I grow up — aren't necessarily the best casters, and NONE of them can tell you the latin name of every bug on the water.  What they all have in common is simple — they're incredible at watching the water, and using what they see to inform how they tackle any given situation. More than anything, this is the skill that separates good from great anglers.  Today on Untangled, I'll walk you through why this is so important, and how mastering the art of watching and waiting will make you a noticeably more successful angler. 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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT
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  The Bass Lessons That'll Make You a Better Trout Angler | Ep. 180 20.05.2026 1t 18min

  Trout aren't the only fish to catch on a fly rod. From bass and pike to panfish and tarpon, there's almost no end to the critters you can catch with this style of fly fishing. Doing something so different from what you're used to, though, will definitely throw you for a loop - just like it did to Alex and Spencer. They just went on a trip to Florida for some bass fishing, and got some time in on the salt as well. What they learned made them realize just how much there is about fly fishing they don't know. And perhaps most surprising were all the lessons they observed that can help you be a better angler, no matter what you fish for.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for targeting bass on the fly How to cast streamers with sink-tip lines How to fish high, dirty water that you often get in runoff season Whether you should add floatant to cripples How flow rates and water temperatures impact fish behavior The aspect to change first when trying to match the hatch: size, shape, or color Whether fish see the blue light spectrum, and the impact that has on fly choice  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 Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT