Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Latest Episodes:

Fly Fishing Problems? How to Avoid Getting Skunked! | Ep. 132 Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

What do you do when you run into a fish that just refuses EVERYTHING you throw at it? You get a bunch of good drifts, you assume you're using the right fly, but the fish just ignores your bugs, and acts like you're not even there. What's the next step in a situation like that?

Well, this week on Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through the steps he uses to troubleshoot those days on the water that go beyond getting skunked. They feel like the fish took your dignity! And if you want to avoid that, you'll need to hear the three steps he shares in today's show.

In the show's Q&A section, you'll also learn about:

How to pick the right fly rod for carp and pike fishing
How to pick the right fly rod for fishing on small streams
Why the 9' 5-weight is such a versatile fly rod
How to tell emergers, cripples, and "regular" dry flies apart without memorizing the names of patterns

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 - The Right Fly Formula - CHECK IT OUT

GEAR - Shop the Fly Flinger - CHECK IT OUT

The Only Dry Fly You'll Ever Need? | Ep. 131 Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

There's no such thing as a "magic fly" that works 100% of the time. BUT - the Adams dry fly might be the closest we'll ever get to that kind of silver bullet.

So, what is it about the Adams that makes this fly so effective? It's been around for over 100 yeaers, and anglers today love it as much as they did back in 1922.

This week on Untangled, you'll learn all about how the Adams was developed, how it's changed over the years, and why it's still such an effective fly.

You'll also learn about:

What makes a fly rod good for throwing dry flies
How to tie flies so that your materials stay on the top of the hook
Whether your flies need to be "Instagram-perfect" in order for fish to eat them

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

STORY - History of the Adams - CHECK IT OUT

GEAR - The VFC Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT

VIDEO - Right Fly Formula - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Fly Rod Action Explained - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - How to Use the Pinch Wrap - CHECK IT OUT

Fly Fishing's Most Underrated Hatch? | Ep. 130 Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

There's one bug that fish will eat that completely changes how you approach and fish a river. Stoneflies -- one of the major aquatic insect species alongside caddis, mayflies, and midges -- are an integral part of a fish's diet, but they're hugely important from around June through August.

This week on Untangled, you'll learn everything you need to know about stoneflies: where and when they hatch, how to fish 'em, and our favorite patterns here at VFC. You'll be ready to make the most of this incredible hatch!

You'll also learn about:

How to prepare for traveling to fish places you've never been to before
Why VFC exists and our goals at this company
How to pick the right guide for whatever trip you want to take
Tips for tying your own dry fly leaders
The differences between jigged and regular nymphs

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 - Stoneflies 101 Fly Selection Masterclass - WATCH NOW

Fly Fishing for Cutthroat Trout: The Complete Guide | Ep. 129 May 28, 2025

Show notes

Cutthroat trout are the meanest, nastiest, gnarliest trout that ever roamed planet earth!

Okay, they're not. In fact, they've got a reputation for being kinda easy to catch.

But cutthroat are so much more than just eager dry fly eaters. They're one of the West's native trout, they're hugely important to some of the most unique ecosystems on earth, and catching them in the high country is one of the sport's greatest experiences.

This week on Untangled, you'll learn why so many anglers hold the cutthroat in such high regard. From learning all about their life history and exploring their native range, to tips on how to catch them today, you'll end this episode ready to become part of the cutthroat's epic story.

You'll also learn about:

Tips for picking the right rod to use when teaching little kids how to fly fish
Why are there so many dry flies for sale when most of a fish's diet is subsurface?
Tips for achieving the perfect mend

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the FREE Finding Fish eBook - CHECK IT OUT

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 Mend Fly Line - CHECK IT OUT

Master One of Fly Fishing's Most Important Bugs | Ep. 128 May 21, 2025

Show notes

One of the toughest decisions you've gotta make is what fly to tie on, and sometimes, that task feels IMPOSSIBLE! One of the best ways to feel confident about picking flies is to learn as much as you can about the food that fish eat.

Aquatic insects are a HUGE part of a fish's diet, and caddisflies are a bug that's almost always on the menu. But we don't give caddis the attention they deserve. In fact, most anglers don't know just how important caddis are, or how much they actually matter to trout.

This week on Untangled, you'll learn all about caddisflies -- what they look like, why fish love 'em so much, and a few of our favorite patterns. This gives you the information you need to go out and give the fish EXACTLY what they wanna eat.

You'll also learn about:

How to tie your dry-dropper rigs so the dropper doesn't slide off your top fly
Some tips for fishing during spring runoff
When and how you should use weightless nymphs (nymphs tied without beads)

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 We Fish: Spring Fly Fishing - CHECK IT OUT

How to Find Fish in Deep Water: Fly Fishing Pools | Ep. 127 May 14, 2025

Show notes

Pools - the slow, deep sections in a river - always look so inviting! They're so deep and mysterious, they've just GOTTA hold tons of fish, right?

Well, they do - but catching fish from these pools ain't always easy. If you're anything like me, you've probably left pools feeling like you could've done better, even if you put a few in the net.

This week on Untangled, you'll learn how to fish pools. The tips and tactics I'm teaching are the same ones I used when guiding, and that we've taught to thousands of anglers here at VFC. I know they're gonna work for you!

You'll also learn about:

How long to rest fish before casting to them again, if you've fished or waded through the hole before
Using fast clips (or snap swivels) with flies
How to tell what weight your fly line is
The type of wading boots you need for slippery, tough wading conditions

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

Get the FREE Finding Fish eBook - CHECK IT OUT

RESOURCE - AFFTA Fly Line Weight Chart - CHECK IT OUT

Fly Fishing Strategies for Wild vs. Stocked Trout | Ep. 126 May 07, 2025

Show notes

Do you need to use different tactics, flies, and strategies when you're fishing for stocked trout versus wild ones?

We hear a version of that question ALL THE TIME here at VFC, and it makes sense. For a lot of people, the most consistent trout fishing they have easy access to are stocked fish. So, we're taking a deep-dive into the world of stocked and wild fish. We'll look at all the differences between the two -- their appearance, behavior, and the flies and strategies we recommend for them.

You'll also learn about:

How steep the learning curve is in fly fishing, and the two things you should focus on to lessen it
Why fish sometimes don't eat caddis dry flies, even if the caddis are swarming in the air above the river
How many flies you should carry with you for a day of fishing
What counts as a "caught" fish

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the FREE Rigs & Knots Guide - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

RESOURCE - Paper about stocking trout - CHECK IT OUT

EBOOK - How to Read Rivers and Find Fish - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Game-changing Presentation Strategies - WATCH IT NOW

VIDEO - Match the Hatch with Caddis Flies - WATCH IT NOW

Answering the Most Important Fly Fishing Questions — Dry Flies | Ep. 125 Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Catching fish on a dry fly is like MAGIC -- when it actually happens.

As much fun as dry fly fishing can be, it also presents some unique challenges you have to overcome. You need to find your fly after you cast it, you need to make an accurate cast, and none of that matters if you don't have the right fly in the first place.

This week on Untangled, Spencer Durrant covers ten of the most important (and frequently asked) dry fly questions we get here at VFC. You'll learn about everything from improving your drift and presentation, to tricks for setting the hook on small flies.

You'll also learn about:

The importance of tapered leaders, and why you NEED these
The leader setup Spencer recommends for streamer fishing
Tips for improving the rigging up process so you can spend more time 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

Get the FREE Right Fly eBook - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - How to Fly Fish with Terrestrials - CHECK IT OUT

The 10 Spring Fly Patterns No One Talks About | Ep. 124 Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever been casting to a trout that's acting as cantankerous as a toddler who missed his nap? You've tried EVERYTHING, but nothing will get the fish to calm down, eat your fly, and spend a few minutes in your net.

What do you do in that situation? Pack up and go home? Admit defeat - yet again - to an animal with the brain the size of a strawberry?

Well, after this week's episode of Untangled, you'll have another trick to try.

This episode shares ten fly patterns that most anglers overlook. When the chips are down and the fish refuse to cooperate, these are the flies you can turn to.

You'll also learn about:

Sink-tip fly lines, and the best lines to use when fishing streamers in a river
What to do when you're fishing a dry-dropper rig, but the fish aren't rising very much
What flies are categorized as mayflies
Some tips for fishing a dry-dropper rig effectively
The differences between stocked and wild trout

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 We Fly Fish with Nymphs - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Fly Selection Master Class: Mayflies 101 - CHECK IT OUT

PODCAST - Fly Fishing's Most Important Fly - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Fly Selection Master Class - CHECK IT OUT

Fly Fishing for Brook Trout: The Complete Guide | Ep. 123 Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Brook trout might be the most gorgeous fish on the planet. Sure, they're usually small, and where you find one, you'll often find 300 more -- but they're pretty, and they'll almost always eat a fly.

But did you know brook trout AREN'T actually a trout? And that in some places in the world, they can grow to well over 10 pounds?

This week on Untangled, you'll learn all about brook trout. From their life history to a few tricks on finding your own trophy brookie - and some killer fly patterns - this is an episode you don't want to miss!

You'll also learn:

Why you should (or shouldn't) use a strike indicator when fishing with dry flies
How to approach a run you've already fished, after changing your rig
Why Spencer never mentions the Royal Coachman or Humpy flies
The three different types of flies that exist

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

Get the FREE Right Fly eBook - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - VFC Fly Selection Master Class - WATCH NOW

PODCAST - How to Fly Fish on Lakes - CHECK IT OUT