Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Latest Episodes:

The Best Time to Fly Fish Lakes (Nobody Talks About This) | Ep. 176 Apr 22, 2026

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Ice-off is a magical time: it's when some of the biggest trout in any body of water come within easy casting distance of shore. That means it's one of the best times of year for you to tie into what could be your new personal best trout on a fly rod! So, to take advantage of this great fishing, this week's episode of Untangled is a deep-dive into all things ice-off fly fishing: why it's so productive, tactics to find and hook fish, as well as advice on gear and flies.

You'll also learn about:

How to find new places to fly fish
The value of fishing water that gets a lot of pressure
How and why the tips we talk about on Untangled apply to other regions of the country, not just the Rockies
The best use cases for a 7wt rod
How to effectively fish nymphs in lakes and rivers

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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How To Quit Guessing Where Fish Are | Tip of the Week #8 Apr 20, 2026

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Alright, let's be honest for a sec — how often do you feel like you're catching fish more out of luck than skill?

I remember feeling that way all the time when I started fly fishing. Honestly, that feeling didn't stop until I learned this one valuable lesson: if you pay attention to WHERE you catch fish, and not just what fly they ate, finding and catching fish really starts to click. It feels like something you're doing more on purpose, and less by good luck.

Today on Untangled, I'll explain why paying attention to WHERE you catch fish is so important, and how it can help you have more predictable, repeatable success on the water.

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Do Fly Patterns Really Matter? | Ep. 175 Apr 15, 2026

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How much does the pattern you pick matter for your success on the water? Is there an EXACT PERFECT FLY that'll work amazing in one situation, and if you don't pick it, you won't have as much success as you could've?

Probably. But here's the thing - fly selection doesn't really matter that much. HOW you present that fly is what makes the most difference. To put this theory to the test, we spent an entire day fishing for four different trout species (browns, rainbows, cutthroat, and brookies) but we could only use 2 flies the whole day. No changing sizes, colors, or anything like that. We were locked in to the patterns we picked that morning.

What we learned was just how much presentation matters to your success on the water. Today, Alex Stulce and Spencer Durrantn share the lessons they learned from this challenge, and how it can help you succeed on the water as well.

You'll also learn about:

Oversizing and undersizing the line on your fly reel
How many state annual licenses Spencer and Alex have
The one fly in Spencer and Alex's boxes that they consistently underutilize
Some tips for teaching new anglers so they can find success on the water
How to spot rising trout without spooking them
How long Spencer and Alex like to fish certain stretches of river before moving on
The merits of various knots

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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The Best Mayfly Hatch Of All Time | Fly Fishing Stories #4 Apr 13, 2026

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Have you ever fished in a hatch that feels like the stories we hear, usually from the old-timers, about the days when fish ate from a never-ending buffet of bugs? Where, if you're in the right place at the right time, you can catch fish until your arms fall off?

I've had that opportunity once - and this is the story of the greatest mayfly hatch I've ever seen.

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The Pros & Cons of Indicator Nymphing | Ep. 174 Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

There's about a million different ways to rig up a nymph rig. From indicators and drop-shot styles, to tight-lining it, or throwing a dry-dropper, how do you know which method is the best?

Well, that depends on your situation, BUT - indicator nymphing is BY FAR the most versatile way to put flies in front of fish, and make them look real. So, today on Untangled, we're looking at the pros and cons of this style of fishing, and how you can better utilize it to help you put more fish in the net.

You'll also learn about:

Recommended rod & reel combos for fly fishing on lakes and ponds
How to pack and travel with your fly fishing gear on an airplane
Different setup options for fishing streamers

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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Fly Rod Action Explained (Fast, Medium, Slow) | Tip of the Week #7 Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Say you're shopping for a new fly rod. You've probably heard them all described in different ways, but one common phrase you've seen is "this rod's action is fast" or "this has a sweet, soft action."

What the heck does action mean? And how does it impact the way a rod performs on the water?

Well, it's pretty simple! So in this Tip of the Week, we're breaking down what fly rod action is, how it impacts a rod's performance on the water, and how you can use this information to pick the right rod for any fly fishing job you might run into.

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Stop Changing Flies — Fix This Instead | Ep. 173 Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

What's the real reason fish aren't eating your fly? Is it beause you didn't pick the PERFECT fly? There's a better one in your box, so you oughta spend 10-15 minutes looking for it, right?

No. Not very often will that be the case. Instead, you're most likely not catching fish becasue your fly doesn't look real. Remember, your job is to put flies in front of fish, and make them look real! So today on Untangled, we're taking a deep dive into why presentation matters so much, and some simple tips to improve just how much your fake fly looks like the real thing.

You'll also learn about:

Why we don't often talk about fishing wet flies and soft hackles here at VFC
How to match the right leader size to the right fly size
Why it's important to play fish quickly and minimize your handling time
Tips for catching brood-stock trout that have been dumped into community ponds

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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Untangled Fly Fishing Report: April 2026 Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

The best blue-winged olive hatches of the year are right around the corner! And by the end of the month, you might see some Mother's Day caddis out and about as well!

What this means is that you need to be prepared for the great spring fly fishing that April offers. With Untangled's April Fly Fishing Report, you'll be ready with all the knowledge about the hatches to expect, fly patterns we recommend, and tips and tricks for tackling the tricky weather and conditions this time of year.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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RECOMMENDED FLIES FOR APRIL

Parachute Adams 16-20
BWO 16-20
Matt's Midge 18-24
Griffiths Gnat 18-24
Sparkle Dun 16-18
RS2 16-18
WD40 16-18
Last Chance Cripple 16-18
Zebra Midge 16-20
Pheasant Tail 16-20
Hare's Ear 16-20
Fenchie 16-20
Gunslinger 16-20
Crackback 16-20
Micro May 16-20
Demon Midge 16-20
Elk Hair Caddis 12-16
CDA Caddis 16-18

Trout Aren't Eating What You Think | Ep. 172 Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

In this special episode of Untangled, Spencer and Alex are joined by Ryan Kelly, longtime guide on Utah's Green River, and one of the best fly fishing photographers currently working. You might know Ryan from Instagram (@GreenRiverFlyFisher) and you've probably seen his shots of fish rising to eat dry flies. Today, Ryan shares all that he's learned from a decade of watching fish eat through a camera's lens (as well as his two decades of guiding experience) to help you understand what trout are ACTUALLY doing during a hatch.

Why do they ignore flies? Why do they get leader shy? Why do so many anglers have trouble catching picky fish eating dry flies? Those, and many more questions, are answered in this show.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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When & Why To Size Down Tippet | Tip of the Week #6 Mar 23, 2026

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When do you ACTUALLY need tippet smaller than 4x? And if you need to size your tippet down, what's the best way to do it? In this Tip of the Week, you'll learn all about why we use certain sizes of tippet, why it's important to play fish quickly, AND you'll learn all about the different situations and tactics for sizing down your leader to get picky fish to FINALLY eat your fly.

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