Trout Aren't Eating What You Think | Ep. 172

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 Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

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.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

There's more to small dry flies than just the bugs ON the surface. There are also other types of insects fish eat that sit just in the surface film, or even slightly below it. These bugs are called emergers, and they're still fished just like you would with a dry fly. But there's a few things to know about how, when, and where to use these flies that'll help you really get the most out of them. So, today on Untangled, you're getting a crash course in everything you need to know about emergers!  You'll also learn about:  How to size new waders and boots when buying them Some tips on how to find waders and boots that are worth spending your money on How to pick a new fly rod in a weight other than 5-weight The lines and reels Spencer uses for streamer fishing Spencer's recommendations for fly flines for those looking to start fishing streamers LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT Browse the VFC 3-Packs and stock up on Emergers! - CHECK THEM OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

When a trip goes pear-shaped right from the start, what do you do? Do you pack up early, head home, and get back to work? Or is it worth pushing through high water, iced-over lakes, muddy roads, and enormous distances just for the hope of finding water that might be fishable? In this latest Fly Fishing Story, Spencer Durrant takes you on a journey across the Pacific Northwest as he and his friend Ryan McCullough try to find fishable water during spring runoff. What they ended up finding just might surprise you.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT

It sure would be awesome if fish always ate a big ol' grasshopper! But they spend A TON of time eating small flies. In particular, they'll eat tiny dry flies a lot during spring and fall. So, how do you take advantage of the big fish that you see rising to eat what looks like tiny specks out there on the water?  Well, a lot of anglers mistakenly write off using tiny flies, because they seem like they're too much work. You need angel-hair thin tippet to tie them on, you need a magnifying glass to find them in your box, and you have next to no hope of seeing them while they float, right? They've gotta be more trouble than they're worth? Well, not really. Once you understand how to fish small dry flies, you open up a new world of fish you can catch — including some giants.  So, in this first part of a two-part episode, we're taking a deep dive into fishing small dry flies. You'll learn how to rig them up, how to pick the right one, and other tricks of the trade to make these microscopic hooks work in your favor.  You'll also learn about:  Why you should upgrade your fly rod when you can, and what features to look for How to tell if you have a good, drag-free drift on nymphs when fishing directly upstream Why fish refuse dry flies that are too large for what's currently hatching LINKS FROM THE SHOW Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT Browse the VFC 3-Packs and stock up on Cripples! - CHECK THEM OUT Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE

Have you ever been in an amazing hatch, with bugs going off EVERYWHERE and fish eating with reckless abandon, only to leave the river empty-handed? The fish didn't just not eat your flies, they flat-out IGNORED you. What's up with that? Aren't these hatches supposed to be the stuff of legend that fly fishing is all about?  Well, yes, they are. But if the hatch is TOO good (too many flies on the water at once) it's tough for your fake one to stand out. If the fish can't see it, how are they supposed to eat it?  That's where this little cheat code comes in: it's called unmatching the hatch, and it can be the difference between putting fish in the net, and going home skunked.  Today on Untangled, you'll learn all about unmatching the hatch, including when and how to use this tactic as dry fly season gets underway.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT  

Picking the right fly is one of those things in fly fishing that's made out to be A LOT harder than it actually is. You don't need a degree in entomology, you don't need to have every aquatic insect memorized, and you certainly don't need to be some sort of expert to pick the best fly for a given fishing situation. Instead, you just need to rely on two simple tips that'll help you move forward in your fly selection process, even while you continue to learn more about what fish eat.  In this week's show, you'll also learn about:  How to join in on VFC's live events, including our Tying Nights How to fish rivers that see a ton of pressure Where to find fish during winter, and why they're often in that type of water The biggest stumbling block Spencer sees most anglers struggling with  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE #LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE Get the FREE Right Fly Ebook Here - CHECK IT OUT VIDEO - The FREE Fly Selection Master Class - CHECK IT OUT  

What bugs are hatching this month? What flies should you have in your box? And what can you expect from the weather? You'll get the complete rundown of what to expect from March fly fishing in this monthly fly fishing report from Untangled. With detailed descriptions of upcoming hatches, fly patterns you should tie or buy, and a few pro tips on ways to catch more fish this month, this is a can't-miss episode of Untangled.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT Get the FREE Year-Round Hatch Chart - CHECK IT OUT GEAR - Shop the VFC Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT

Winter is almost over (if it ever started where you live) which means that spring dry fly fishing is right around the corner! Some of the best fishing you'll have all year long ain't that far off. That means RIGHT NOW is a great time to prep for these hatches, which is the goal of today's episode. You're going to learn all about the timing of spring hatches (including Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, Blue-Winged Olives, and Skwalas), as well as the principles behind rigging your flies, so you can successfully fish any hatch you run into this spring.  You'll also learn about:  Why small flies seems to be recommended so much in the fly fishing world these days The best way to approach other anglers on the river when you want to chat with them Tips on how to make your flies more visible in 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 GEAR - VFC Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT

Is there a right and wrong way to organize your fly boxes? If you put your flies in a specific order, will it give you a tactical advantage on the water? Not really. BUT - it can help you find the right fly you need, when you need it. The trick is to not overthink your fly box organization, and to keep it simple. In this episode of Untangled, you'll learn how Spencer organizes his boxes, along with the princples he uses, so you can apply them to your own situation.  LINKS FROM THE SHOW Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT GEAR - Browse the VFC Fly Collections - CHECK THEM OUT