Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Latest Episodes:

Fly Fishing Small Streams In The Heat Of Summer | Ep. 186 Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

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

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Untangled Fly Fishing Report | July 2026 Jun 29, 2026

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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

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#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

Stop Counting Fish — Here's a Better Way to Measure a Day | Ep. 185 Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

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

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

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When & Why To Use Weightless Nymphs | Tip of the Week #12 Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

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

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

Get the FREE Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT

How To Buy Fly Fishing Waders & Boots | Ep. 184 Jun 17, 2026

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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

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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

The Worst Fly Fishing Trip Ever | Fly Fishing Stories #7 Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

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

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

How To Build a Fly Box That Works on Any River | Ep. 183 Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

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

How To Read River Flows For Better Fly Fishing | Tip of the Week #11 Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

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

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The Biggest Lie in Fly Fishing — There's No "Right" Way to Fish | Ep. 182 Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

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

Untangled Fly Fishing Report | June 2026 Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

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

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#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