There's more to trout fishing than rainbows, browns, cutthroats, and brookies. There's all sorts of interesting trout out there, just waiting for you! But when you get the chance to fish for these lesser-known trout, you'll probably get hung up on one thing: what flies do you need? Are there top-secret patterns that only work for these fish, but locals won't tell you about unless you buy 'em the right 12-pack? This week on Untangled, you'll learn about some of the rare trout species on the planet, and the flies we use to catch them.

You'll also learn about:

• Pros and cons of having multiple reels and spools with different line options on them
• Why your fly line sometimes gets stuck in your rod guides, and how to fix that with the nail knot
• Does hook gap size matter when fishing with streamers?
• Why you should let your streamers "die" when they initially get tagged by a trout
• What a short-strike is

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This is the first-ever bonus episode of Untangled! Starting in 2026, we're dropping two episodes of your favorite fly fishing podcast every week! And this first episode is a new format we'd love some feedback on. At the start of each month, we're going to do a monthly fly fishing report. You'll learn what bugs are active, how to fish that month, tips and tricks for dealing with water conditions, and the fly patterns we recommend.

Not every episode of our extra show will follow this format. Some weeks will be interviews, others will be deep-dives into one topic, and others will be story-driven. But we'd like the first episode each month to be full of actionable information that'll help y'all out on the water. So if you like this format, and want to hear more of it, please let us know!

Finally -- this bonus episode of Untangled is ONLY available in audio format. You won't find this content on YouTube, Instagram, or any other social media.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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Browse our 3-Pack Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT

Every angler loves a good fishing story, even if we tend to stretch the truth sometimes. But those stories are good for more than just reliving old times. You can learn A TON from your best catches, including exactly where and how you can improve. So, this week on Untangled, Spencer shares some stories (from VFC team and Skool members) about the best fish of 2025, and the lessons learned along the way.

You'll also hear about:

• How to tell if you're setting the hook too early or too late
• How to improve your hook set to lose fewer fish
• Why super-cheap fly rod combos generally aren't worth the money
• How to think about sneaking up on fish
• How much casting angles matter to your success

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

Have you ever had one of those days on the water where nothing seems to go right? You can't tie a decent knot, you lose all your flies, and you end up not catching fish? When it gets rough like that, what do you blame? Nature? Yourself?

Your answer to that quesiton likely exposes the kind of angler you are, and can help you learn how to become an even better one. This week on Untangled, Spencer shares stories and tips about the times his ego has gotten in the way of catching fish, and how you can avoid that same problem.

You'll also learn about:

• Why certain fly lines perform better on some rods than others
• The reality of being a fly fishing guide
• How to fish narrow, deep pools in tight canyons

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

There are a whole lot of reasons a fish won't eat your fly. Maybe you picked the wrong one, or you wore the wrong socks today. Or you forgot your semi-annual offering of used zebra midges for the river gods.

In all seriousness, there's often a much simpler reason fish aren't eating your fly: you've spooked them. This week on Untangled, you'll learn about how you end up spooking fish, even if you don't mean to, and a few tips for avoiding that.

You'll also learn about:

• How certain fly rods are designed for use in certain situations, and what you can expect when buying a 10' 4-weight to replace a 9' 5-weight
• How to tie flies that are more durable
• The pros and cons of using barbless hooks, and using them to make multi-fly rigs

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

EBOOK - How to Find Fish in Rivers - CHECK IT OUT

There's no NEED to stock your fly box full of hundreds of patterns, all in dozens of different sizes. Sometimes, though, a slightly different fly from what everyone else is using is just the trick to put more -- or larger -- fish in the net. This week on Untangled, you'll learn about 7 underrated fly patterns that we turn to when we need to change things up.

You'll also learn about:

• How to handle long stretches of getting skunked continuously, and how to grow from that
• How to match a fly line to your fly rod, based on what type of fishing you're doing
• Whether you should still fish with flies that don't look "perfect"

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - Winter Fly Fishing Master Class - CHECK IT OUT

GEAR - Fly 3-Packs - CHECK IT OUT

80% of a fish's diet is underwater, which means nymphing is a crazy effective way to put fish in the net. So, this week on Untangled, Spencer and Alex share everything they learned while filming their Nymphing Master Class. From insight on why fly pattern doesn't matter, to tips on picking the right strike indicator, you'll leave this episode ready to put all these tips into practice out on the water.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - Nymphing Master Class - CHECK IT OUT

What gear do you ACTUALLY need for fly fishing? And what stuff is just a waste of money? Sure, that fancy reel looks nice, and you'd probably look just like Indiana Jones in that hat. But will that stuff help you put more fish in the net? Or will it just drain your wallet?

This week on Untangled, you'll learn about the gear that Spencer thinks isn't worth the cash, AND you'll get a detailed list of the essential items for your time out on the water.

You'll also learn about:

• Tips for pre-tying leader onto flies to make it easier to rig up on the water
• How to set up a dry-dropper rig so your flies don't have drag
• Advice on fishing with streamers both on the strip and under an indicator

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

The VFC Starter Packs - CHECK THEM OUT

Fish, especially trout, really don't care about your fly pattern. Alright, A FEW fish do. The pickiest ones, and every single trout in the Henry's Fork. But most fish care WAY more about how the fly is presented, than whether you picked the exact perfect fly.

This week on Untangled, you'll learn why presentation matters FAR MORE than pattern, and a few tips for perfecting how the fish see your fly.

You'll also learn about:

• How to react when fish start jumping out of the water on lakes, and the rigs for fishing to them
• How to get your flies deep in the water without split shot
• How to cast nymph rigs with split shot on them
• How to find the right depth for nymphing, no matter what river you're fishing

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - How to Cast Indicators, Split Shot, and Double Nymph Rigs - CHECK IT OUT

The world of fly fishing with streamers is full of weird terminology, interesting tactics, and new techniques. That makes picking it up, especially as a beginner fly angler, a bit challenging. Here's the truth, though -- streamer fishing is A LOT simpler than it appears. If you can catch fish on dry flies and nymphs, you've already got most of the skills you need!

This week on Untangled, you'll get a crash course in fly fishing with streamers. From casting to setting the hook, you'll end the show ready to hit the water with confidence!

You'll also learn about:

• Why you should upgrade your fly rod as quickly as you can afford to
• Why your flies suddenly stop catching fish on certain pieces of water
• Tips for successfully fighting larger fish in rivers

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE