How often do you set up your nymph rig, ready to hit the water, only to realize that your flies are moving WAY faster than you wanted. You didn't think the water would be that fast, or that deep!

The fix is simple, right? Just put on some split shot, increase the distance between your bobber and your flies, and you'll be in business.

Well, that all depends on how much split shot you use, how fast the water's moving, and how heavy your flies are. Too much split shot, and you'll be losing your flies - and all your patience - in every snag.

So, today on Untangled, you'll learn the foundational principles, and our favorite rig, for nymphign faster water WITHOUT losing flies!

You'll also learn about:

• How to know what flies to use throughout an entire day on the water
• The rigs Spencer uses and recommends for fly fishing in lakes
• How to effectively fish a streamer on a 5-weight instead of a 6-weight
• How to set the right depth to keep your nymphs in the strike zone

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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Bounce Rig Diagram - CHECK IT OUT

Get the FREE Pocket Nymphing Guide - CHECK IT OUT

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

How much time do you spend worrying about your fly choice when you're setting up your nymph rig? If you're like most anglers, it's probably A LOT! But how much time and energy do you put into making sure your flies are drifitng at the right depth, before making a fly change? Probably not as much as you should.

Today on Untangled, you'll learn about why depth matters more than fly choice when throwing nymphs, and how this tiny change can elevate your fly fishing game to new heights.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Get the FREE Pocket Nymphing Guide - CHECK IT OUT

Get the FREE Rigs & Knots Guide - CHECK IT OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

Fly rods are really important -- they're what we use to put flies in front of fish, and they help us make those flies look real, after all. But how much do you REALLY know about fly rods? Can you explain what the core features are that separate good ones from not-so-great ones? Today on Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through the key features he's found most anglers either don't know about, or misunderstand, and why they influence how your fly rod performs.

You'll also learn about:

• How to learn about the different aquatic insects that trout eat
• How to build confidence in your skills out on the water
• Tips for casting more effectively when throwing an indicator and nymphs or streamers on your fly rod

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Watch the Fly Selection Master Class - CHECK IT OUT

How to Roll Cast and Water Load - CHECK IT OUT

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#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

It's February! That means things are changing a bit on the fly fishing front, and we've got you covered. With this month's Untangled Fly Fishing Report, you'll learn about what bugs are most active in February, the best flies to match those hatches, and some tips and tricks for the different conditions you'll run into this time of year.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

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

Browse VFC's February Flies - CHECK THEM OUT

Have you ever wondered just how effective fly fishing from a drift boat is? Are float trips worth the money? Do you ACTUALLY catch more fish from a boat, or do you only catch them in front of wading anglers who rarely, if ever, get to float the river?

All those questions - and more - will be answered on this episode of Untangled. Alex Stulce joins Spencer Durrant to talk about the pros and cons of wade fishing vs fishing from a boat, and a bunch of stories are shared just for good measure. You'll end the show with a firm idea of what style of fishing best matches your goals out on the water.

You'll also learn about:

• How light and temperature impact fish
• How Spencer and Alex would rig up for and fish a small pond with off-color water
• How to fly fish rivers with restrictions on your tackle

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - How We Fish: Nymphing - CHECK IT OUT

Do you need to tie picture-perfect flies in order to catch fish? Or should you focus on tying them to be a bit "buggy" (which is fly-fisher for "messy)?

Today on Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through why most fly tiers are too hard on themselves - especially beginners - and the few things fish actually care about when deciding to eat your fly.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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Is fly tying worth the cost and the hassle? Sure, you can tie up specific, custom flies, but wouldn't it just be cheaper to buy flies instead? Well, maybe, but we shouldn't really worry about economics here, because if fly fishing were based on good financial decisions, none of us would be doing it.

Instead, you shoudl think about the on-the-water benefits you'll get from tying your own flies. You WILL become a better angler by tying. The question utlimately comes down to how much you want to improve. This week on Untangled, you'll learn how and why fly tying can improve your skills.

You'll also learn about:

• How to tell if a new fly rod is the right one for you
• The different characertistics to look for when buying fly rods
• The value of swinging flies at the end of your drift, and the role soft hackles have in fly fishing
• Why Spencer never uses split shot on dry-dropper rigs, and avoids it as much as possible anywhere else

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Browse the VFC Tying Packs - CHECK THEM OUT

VIDEO - Beginner Fly Tying Masterclass - WATCH IT NOW

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

There's one thing that brings anglers of every stripe together - a good fish story. This is the first in a new series of podcasts from Untangled that'll tell stories every angler, from the saltwater fanatic to the panfish lover, will relate with and appreciate.

This week's story is about a little cutthroat creek, tucked high in the mountains, that suddenly vanished. Along the way, you'll learn about the area's storied history with fish stocking, hear about a cutthroat eating a mouse fly, and why it's worth it to explore and look for new-to-you fisheries.

Midges are a go-to fly in the winter, but how do you know which of the 8 billion midge patterns to pick? There's so many to choose from, and it feels like they're always dropping new ones, too!

Well, I took the time to simplify my own midge selection down to just a handful of patterns. Doing that helped me fish what I rig up with more confidently, but it also made choosing a fly A LOT eaiser. I spend less time worrying about my fly choice, and more time fishing. So, this week on Untangled, you'll learn what those 7 midges patterns are, and why they're the ones I so highly recommend.

You'll also learn about:

• How to control your hookset so you don't end up tangled in trees and bushes
• How to set the hook properly so you lose fewer fish
• The basic skills a fly angler needs to learn in order to progress quickly
• The one skill every fly angler needs to posses
• How to tell if small rivers and streams have fish in them

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

Browse Our Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT

Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE

#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

VIDEO - How to Cast A Fly Rod - WATCH IT NOW

VIDEO - How to Make A Roll Cast - WATCH IT NOW

If you want to make 2026 the year you take some giant leaps in your fly fishing abilities, then you should seriously consider keeping a fly fishing journal. Writing down what happens on the water, what flies you used, the weather, the water conditions -- it will all help you understand the interplay between various factors on the water, and it'll help you learn from both your successes and your failures. Today on Untangled, Spencer will walk you through the key details to write down, and how you can use this simple tool to help improve your experience on the water.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW

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