Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Latest Episodes:

Step-by-Step Guide to Landing Your Most Memorable Fish | Ep. 112 Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

We all dream of catching a fish that we'll never forget. You know the kind - a big one, or one that required a crazy cast, or maybe just one that surprised you. Often, these unforgettable fish are what keep us coming back to the river. But what exactly makes some fish stand out more than others?

In this episode of Untangled, you'll hear five stories about fish that Spencer hasn't forgotten. From those five fish, Spencer put together a step-by-step guide to help you make your own unforgettable fishing memories.

You'll also learn about:

Wader and boot recommendations
How often you should change your flies
The differences between 5 and 6wt rods

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the Right Fly eBook For FREE! - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

How Trout See Your Flies & What To Do About It | Ep. 111 Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered WHY a fish rejects your fly? Well, we know that presentation matters, but is there something about the fly itself that makes a trout decide to eat - or reject it entirely?

Well, you can find some answers to those questions when you look at exactly how trout see your flies. Their vision is great, but not without its faults. Understanding how trout view the world will give you more tools with which you can better fool fish. In this episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through the science behind how fish see your flies, what actually triggers them to eat, AND how this information can directly put more fish in your net.

You'll also learn about:

How cold is too cold for fly fishing
Do trout flies work everywhere, or are some patterns specific to certain regions?
What a nymph is, and what it imitates

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

GEAR - VFC Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT

ARTICLE - How Trout See - CHECK IT OUT

ARTICLE - How Trout See Pt. 2 - CHECK IT OUT

ARTICLE - Does Fly Color Matter? - CHECK IT OUT

ARTICLE - Unmatching the Hatch - CHECK IT OUT

ARTICLE - About That Hook: What Do Trout See? - CHECK IT OUT

Fly Fishing With Wet Flies: The Complete Guide | Ep. 110 Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

We spend A TON of time talking about dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. But there's another type of fly out there that doesn't get enough love. This fly is supposedly the easiest to use, AND it's the favorite of some of the world's best anglers.

I'm talking about wet flies, or soft hackles (they're the same thing).

In this episode of Untangled, you'll learn what soft hackles are, what they imitate, why you'd want use them, and how to fish them. This is another trick you can add to your skillset to help you put more fish in the net!

You'll also learn about:

How to get good drifts across large, deep pools with multiple currents
The differences between a 9' 4-weight and 9' 5-weight
How to cast strike indicators
The best strike indicators for mountain streams

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

VIDEO - How to Swing Wet Flies - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Soft Hackle Fly Fishing - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - How to Make a Reach Cast - CHECK IT OUT

PICTURE - Isaiah's Brown Trout - CHECK IT OUT

There Are NO RULES in Fly Fishing | Ep. 109 Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever been told that you HAVE to get a perfect, drag-free drift if you want to catch fish on dry flies? What about the need to keep your rod tip sky-high when you're fighting a fish? Or that you'll catch big fish if you're using big flies?

These may sound like they're rules, but there are actually NO RULES in fly fishing. There are only guidelines, and just a few at that.

On this episode of Untangled, you'll learn about some of the "rules" in fly fishing, and WHY and WHEN you should break them.

You'll also learn about:

Fishing for fish other than trout on a fly rod
How sunscreen impacts trout, and what sunscreen you should use
Some insight about spring creeks and freestone streams
What to do when fish swallow your flies

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the 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

RESOURCE - Scientific Paper about Sunscreen and Fish - CHECK IT OUT

PICTURE - Brian's Creek - CHECK IT OUT

5 Fly Fishing Skills to Master in 2025 | Ep. 108 Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

What fly fishing skills will ACTUALLY move the needle and make you a better angler? Well, if you asked 5 different anglers, you'd probably get 20 different answers! And trying to master 20 new skills in a single year sounds like too much for it to be of any use.

On today's episode of Untangled, Spencer will share the 5 skills that have made the biggest difference in his own fishing. These are things he's still working on, and they're aspects of the sport that ALL of us can learn and improve on.

You'll also learn about:

How to interpret CFS data
How much wind is too much for fly fishing, and what it feels like
Setting your drag for different fish fighting situations
How to properly position your strike indicator

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the Pocket Rigs Guide - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - Fly Selection Masterclass - WATCH HERE

ARTICLE - A Gut Check on Accuracy - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Positioning Your Strike Indicator - WATCH HERE

PICTURE - Jon's Apache Trout - CHECK IT OUT

The 12 Best Flies for Winter Fly Fishing | Ep. 107 Dec 26, 2024

Show notes

What flies are go-to patterns for winter fly fishing? And how do you know which flies you should be fishing in winter, anyways? On today's episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through which aquatic insects are most active in the winter, the flies we use to mimic them, and a few tips for how to fish them. This list of the 12 best winter fly fishing flies will have you set to start catching trout and bass!

You'll also learn about:

Why you need wading boots, and advice on buying them
Why Crocs aren't ideal wading footwear
How to size your strike indicator when fishing with nymphs
Spencer's recommendation for pants to wear during winter fly fishing
Why trout jump all the way out of the water to eat different bugs

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT

Get the FREE Right Fly eBook - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - Fly Selection Masterclass - CHECK IT OUT

PICTURE - AJ's #LiveReelLife Moment - CHECK IT OUT

Fly Fishing Troubleshooting: What to Do When Nothing Works | Ep. 106 Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

When the fish are eating everything EXCEPT your fly, what do you do? How do you save yourself from getting skunked? Well, there's a simple process you can use to troubleshoot your way out of a bad day on the water. On today's episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant will walk you through the five steps that will almost always help you put a fish in the net.

You'll also learn about:

Tips for setting the hook when fishing with dry flies
Why a dry-dropper rig is so versatile
Your main goal as a fly angler
How to find active bugs so you can pick the right fly

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the Right Fly eBook - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - How to Pick the Right Fly - WATCH HERE

PICTURE - Nate's #LiveReelLife Moment - CHECK IT OUT

Choosing the Perfect Fly Rod: The Ultimate Guide | Ep. 105 Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

Picking the right fly rod is like when your wife asks you if those pants make her look fat. How are you supposed to answer that question?

Well, we can't help with that--but we CAN help with fly rods! There's a lot that goes into the world of fly rods, and understanding the language, terminology, and prices can be daunting. Spencer Durrant has reviewed fly rods for major fishing magazines for a decade, though, and he's dumping all his experience with rods into this episode of Untangled!

You'll learn all about rod action, length, and weight, the differences between glass and graphite, why some rods are so expensive, and TONS more. This is a show you just can't afford to miss.

You'll also learn about:

Advice for fishing panfish and bass on the fly
How to fish midges during the winter
How to get someone interested in fly 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 MOMENTS - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - What is the Difference Between Leaders and Tippet? - CHECK IT OUT

PICTURE - Samuel S. #LiveReelLife Moment - CHECK IT OUT

What Makes Fly Fishing So Addicting? | Ep. 104 Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

What is it about fly fishing that keeps us coming back? Why is this sport so addicting? Is it the simple pleasure of watching fish eat dry flies, or the rush of hooking and landing a trophy trout? Tons of folks have tried to answer this question, and in a slight departure from the norm on this show, Spencer Durrant will dive into why he thinks fly fishing is so addicting.

You'll also learn about:

Different options for attaching leader to your fly line
Tips for fishing spring creeks in winter
Tips on picking the right fly during winter
How to properly fish nymphs in slow, deep water
Some general advice on fishing with streamers

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the FREE Pick the Right Fly eBook - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENTS - SUBMIT HERE

Ben's #LiveReelLife Moment - PICTURE

Winter Fly Fishing Tips: Stay Warm and Catch More Fish | Ep. 103 Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

I know, winter is cold. You've gotta bundle up like the Stay Puft Marshmallow man, and on top of that, the fish aren't all that active, either! So, why do some people just LOVE winter fly fishing? Well, it has enough redeeming qualities to make it worth the effort. The solitude and peace are hard to beat, and you can get into some fantasitc fish, too. On this episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through everything you need to know about winter fly fishing: where the fish are, what flies to use, how to stay warm, how to deal with ice in your guides, and more!

You'll also learn about: