How do you know what fly to use, and when to use it? Well, a lot of that knowledge comes from time on the water, and it depends on when and where you're fishing, since a lot of insects are only active at certain times of the year. But there is one fly that'll catch fish year-round, from the dead of winter, to the height of summer: the midge! 

Midges are one of the main groups of aquatic insects that form the majority of a fish's diet. This week on Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through everything you need to know about these bugs. From their appearance, to their lifecycle, and how to fish them, you'll end this show ready to take advantage of midges. 

You'll also learn about: 

• How to time it so that you're on the water for an epic, unforgettable hatch
• Tips for fishing small, brushy streams with a lot of depth changes
• How to gain confidence in your wading skills 

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 - 3 Packs of VFC Flies - CHECK THEM OUT

VIDEO - Beginner's First Time Fly Fishing - CHECK IT OUT

If your favorite river is crowded with a million anglers, or the creek is blown out from runoff, what are you supposed to do? Call it a day, go home, and watch YouTube videos of other people fly fishing? Of course not! Instead, you can head to the nearest lake or pond, and get into tons of fish. Plus, you can do it all with the same rod and reel you use for fishing in rivers. 

This week on Untangled, Spencer Durrant will walk you through a beginner's guide to tackling lakes. From identifying where to cast, learning to locate spots fish are hiding, picking flies, and all the gear you need, you'll end this episode with plenty of confidence to go spend time on stillwater. 

You'll also learn about: 

• How to catch trout that are feeding on dry flies in a nice, consistent rhythm
• How much does a fly rod matter, and when to potentially upgrade yours
• Some tips about how to grip your fly rod for improved accuracy with dry flies 

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 - The VFC Fly Flinger 9' 5-weight - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - How We Fly Fish on Lakes - CHECK IT OUT

What do you do when you're out on the water, and you run into a fish you don't want to forget? Whether it's a HUGE trout, or just a giant for that stream, or maybe the prettiest brookie you've ever caught, is there any decent way to get good pictures of it when you're all alone? 

This week on Untangled, Spencer walks you through the 4 steps he takes to get great fish pics, so you can keep the memories alive -- and show off a bit to your friends and family. 

You'll also learn about: 

• Proper fish handling techniques for catch and release fishing
• How to take the jump from beginner to intermediate angler
• Why the first few feet of your fly line might quit floating
• The pros/cons of expensive waders
• The pros/cons of felt vs rubber wading boots

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

RESOURCE - How to Handle Fish for Catch-And-Release - CHECK IT OUT

RESOURCE - Keep Fish Wet - CHECK IT OUT

VIDEO - Beginner's First Time Fly Fishing Crash Course - WATCH NOW

It’s the middle of summer, and you’ve finally finished up enough work or chores that you can run off to the river for a bit, and do some fishing. But when you pull up, you realize you haven’t fished since before spring runoff, and your fly boxes are full of tiny little dry flies and nymphs. 

That doesn’t seem like a problem — but it is! The bugs hatching during summer are different from what was coming off in spring, and these summer fish will be keyed in on big insects that look like they belong in Jurassic Park. Your great day of summer fishing starts to look a bit dim. 

This week on Untangled, we’ll brighten that picture up by sharing a list of must-have summer fly patterns. These flies will help you put fish in the net all summer long.

You'll also learn about: 

• How to effectively fish rivers as they change year-round (going from high with spring runoff, to the low flows of late fall) 
• Fishing with nymphs and streamers from a raft or drift boat
• The best way to keep your dry flies floating 
• Sharpening fly hooks, and whether this is a tactic that'll make a difference for you 

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

Do you often find yourself stuck deciding between throwing dry flies, or tossing nymphs? Well, you don't have to be! The dry-dropper rig lets you fish BOTH at once, allowing you to cover two parts of the water column in a single cast. 

A dry-dropper is one of the most effective ways to catch trout and bass in rivers and lakes, and it's what most of us here at Team VFC use, too. This week on Untangled, Spencer will take you through how to set up this rig, some of its pros and cons, and the flies he likes to use for it. 

You'll also learn about: 

• How long to spend at a hole before moving on and fishing new water
• Tips for casting streamers and getting distance with those larger, heavier flies
• Some thoughts on setting up nymph rigs 

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the Rigs & Knots Pocekt Guide for FREE - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - Dry-Dropper Setup - WATCH HERE

VIDEO - Nymph Rig Setup - WATCH HERE

How often do you walk by water that you think is too fast to hold fish? Would you be surprised if I told you that the water you THINK isn't all that great, is some of the best water on the entire river? 

In this week's episode of Untangled, you'll learn all about how to fish the pockets within that faster water. From identifying pocket water, to understanding why fish hold there, to a few tips for effectively catching fish from it, you'll end this show ready to tackle even more of your favorite rivers! 

You'll also learn about: 

• Techniques for adding distance to your cast
• Whether your leader length matters on small, brush-choked streams
• Whether fish eat mosquitoes, and if so, how to handle that situation 

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

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

VIDEO - How to Cast a Fly Rod - WATCH NOW

VIDEO - How We Fish: Spring Fly Fishing - WATCH NOW

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

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

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

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