Why You’re Not Catching Fish [And How To Fix It] | Ep. 145

If you're consistently struggling to catch fish, you're probably trying to figure out why. Are your casts bad? Poor fly selection? Are the planets just aligned against you? While all that CAN have an impact, you're often struggling to put fish in the net because of one problem: you're not focusing on the fundamentals.  In this week's episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through the three basics of fly fishing -- casting, fly selection, and presentation -- and why you need to focus on those when nothing else seems to be working.  You'll also learn about:  Casting single dry flies, and setting up rigs for single dry fly fishing How much tippet to use when setting up multi-fly rigs  What to do when you don't catch fish from water that looks PERFECT 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

While everyone else is obsessing over pumpkin spice and college football, YOU'RE out on the water, because you know fall is one of the best times of the year for fly fishing!  And if you didn't know that? Well, this week's episode of Untangled has you covered. Fall is one of the best times to bust out the dry fly rods, target big fish on small bugs, and hunt for that new personal best. You just need to know how to overcome some of the hurdles that this season will throw at you. Today's episode walks you through 4 tips for successful fall fly fishing.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for seeing small dry flies in low-light conditions Why some fish seem to eat any dry fly, no matter what's actually hatching How to ensure your fly cast has the proper timing to create tight, accurate loops  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

So, you've picked out a fly, made a cast, and hooked a fish -- now what? Is there a mantra you can chant to help you land the trout? Some spell to calm your nerves?  It's honestly not that complicated. Fighting and landing fish on a fly rod requires some understanding of how to use your rod and reel to their full extent. Once you figure that out, you'll have A LOT fewer stories about the big one that got away!  This week on Untangled, you'll learn all you need to know about fighting and landing fish on a fly rod.  You'll also learn about:  How to deal with drag on your dry-dropper rigs, and how to improve your presentation with them How to rig up your nymphs in a double-nymph or dry-dropper-dropper rig What to look for in a guided fly fishing trip when you're a beginner angler  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

Do you need a million flies in every fly box? What about a $1,000 fly rod, or those bougie waders you keep seeing ads for? Will any of this actually HELP you catch more fish? The short answer is no. Fly fishing is A LOT simpler than it often appears, and you DON'T need a pile of the latest and greatest gear to catch more fish.  This week on Untangled, we're busting 5 of the most popular gear myths, so you can focus on what really matters: putting flies in front of fish, and making them look real.  You'll also learn about:  How the diet of big and small fish is different How to cast multi-fly rigs Some tips for fighting and landing big trout in rivers LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Gear Checklist - CHECK IT OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT

The elk hair caddis is one of the world's most famous dry flies. It floats high, it's easy to see, and trout all across the globe LOVE this pattern. But did you know there's more to it than just dead-drifting it through likely-looking water? The elk hair caddis one of the most versatile flies in the sport, but it doesn't get used that way.  This week on Untangled, you'll learn how to use the elk hair caddis to catch more fish, along with the history behind how, when, and why this fly was developed.  You'll also learn about:  Where trout move to when water warms up during the summer How to decide what flies should be in your day-trip boxes, and to downsize your fly collection to only what you need How to detect the subtle bites from wary trout  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 - Best Trout Flies - CHECK IT OUT  

Every angler I've ever met has questions about fly fishing. Whether they're a seasoned vet, or a brand-new beginner, we all want to learn and grow in this sport. And the best part about having these questions is that you never know when you'll learn something -- some nugget of wisdom -- that'll completely change how you approach fly fishing.  This week's episode of Untangled might just be that moment for you. This show is ALL Q&A, with a bunch of questions from anglers all over the country. From barbless hooks, fixing broken fly rods, and fighting fish, to dealing with crowded rivers, I bet you're about to learn something that'll make a difference on the water.  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 - Fighting and Landing Fish - CHECK IT OUT VIDEO - How to Fly Fish Pocket Water - CHECK IT OUT

THIS is the moment you've been waiting for all year long! Fish are about to start BLOWING UP dry flies, like those flies just asked their sister to the prom!  It's terrestrial season, when bugs like grasshoppers, ants, and cicadas are available to the fish. And if you play your cards right, you have a great chance of catching a HUGE fish on a dry fly.  This week on Untangled, you'll learn all about terrestrials. From tips to fishing them, to our favorite patterns, you'll end the show ready to put your new personal best in the net!  You'll also learn about:  Troubleshooting your way through fish refusing your dry flies, even when you're using an exact match for bugs you see on the water Why the in-line tandem rig is the best way to set up your dry-droppers Whether the direction of your hook set matters when fishing for trout  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

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