To become a dry fly fishing ninja, you'll need to complete a pilgrimage to the River Test in England, fishing only downstream drifts, from the bank, while wearing tweed.  OR - you could listen to this episode of Untangled and let Spencer Durrant teach you 5 lessons about dry fly fishing that he's learned from his years as an angler and guide. These tips will help you take your dry fly fishing skills from "okay" to "freakin' fantastic" faster than you can say Diet Coke.  You'll also learn...

Do you get nervous at the sight of BIG water? You know, a river so big that it probably qualifies for fat guy seating on airplanes?  That's completely normal! But part of your education and growth as an angler is learning how to fish these bigger rivers, and on today's episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant will walk you through 7 expert tips to do just that.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for hiking with waders and wading boots Fishing hatches on lakes Tips for adjusting the drag while...

Are you dismayed by the sight of rivers that look like chocolate milk? Does high water strike sadness and fear into your heart? Well, after listening to this week's edition of Untangled, you'll have all the tools you need to fish during runoff! Spencer Durrant walks you through what he's learned about fishing high, muddy water, and how you can apply those lessons to your own fly fishing circumstances.  You'll also learn about:  How to see your small dry flies when fishing during a hatch...

In this week's episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant reveals a secret so incredible he had to smuggle it out of Area 52 (bet you didn't know THAT existed, did you?).  Okay, it's not that secret -- it's a collection of the 12 flies that Spencer believes will catch 99% of all the trout you encounter. Make sure to listen and see if you agree with his list.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for fishing lakes Some recommendations for folks who have a hard time seeing their small tippets and...

On this episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant introduces you to the softer, gentler side of trout - a side maybe you didn't even know existed. After this show, you won't just be catching trout from your local stream - you'll be shaking fins with your friends. You'll know the different personality quirks of each trout species, and how those quirks can help you put more of them in the net!  You'll also learn about:  Different types of indicators and why we use them Tips for storing your fly...

Imagine sitting down for a one-on-one chat with a fly fishing expert. How much would that improve your fly fishing abilities? Now, imagine if you had the opportunity to chat with over 600 experts! You'd be a fly fishing ninja!  Well, Dave Stewart, of The Wet Fly Swing podcast, has conducted over 600 interviews with fly fishing experts on his show over the years. And on this week's episode of Untangled, he sits down with Spencer Durrant to talk about the five most important lessons he's...

On this week's episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant walks you through the intricacies and mysteries of one of fly fishing's most legendary hatches. You'll leave with all the wisdom and knowledge you need to catch boatloads of trout during this hatch, leaving your friends speechless at your mad skills, and your enemies absolutely gobsmacked that you've progressed so much in so short a time.  As if that's not enough, you'll also learn about:  Tips for setting the hook when fishing with...

Have you ever wondered how fly rods are built? Do you want to know what "rod action" means, and whether it matters to your experience on the water? And how much stress can you put a fly rod under before it breaks? Hank Haen and Adam Hutchison, of the R.L Winston Rod Co., join Spencer Durrant on this episode of Untangled to answer all those questions - and more! Almost anything you could want to know about fly rods is answered in this podcast, including:  Why 5-weight rods are the ideal...

Are you tired of being outsmarted by fish? Does the thought of coming home empty-handed from yet another fly fishing trip fill you with dread and angst? Well, you're in the right place, because this week's episode of Untangled will help you solve one of fishing's most confounding problems -- how to catch picky fish! Spencer Durrant has five tips that he'll walk you through to help you turn those days of frustration into epic tales of success.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for planning...

Have you ever struggled to explain to other people (friends, significant others, angry bosses) why you love fly fishing so much? Do you want to try and get a friend to fall in love with the sport, too? Well, you're in luck! This episode of Untangled features Spencer Durrant and Alex Stulce discussing why they love fly fishing, and why it's something everyone else should try.  💥 Want to Level Up Your Fly Fishing Skills? Check out our beginner friendly e-Book all about ➡️ Pick the Right Fly...

In this episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant gives you all the information and tips you need in order to fly fish in the wind. Say goodbye to tangled lines and frustrated days on the water, and hello to success, even when the wind is blowing hard enough to send you to Kansas! (Unless, of course, you already live in Kansas, in which case, we send our condolences).  On top of that, you'll also learn about:  Tips for fishing dry flies Rigging up your nymphs A few tips on building leaders An...

In this special episode of Untangled, Spencer Durrant is joined by Domenick Swentosky to talk about essential nymphing tactics that beginning anglers just can't afford to miss. Dom is the man behind Troutbitten, one of the best learning resources available to fly anglers. Dom is also a dad, a guide, and one of fly fishing's most thoughtful writers. The conversation between Spencer and Dom features in-depth discussion on basic nymphing princples, as well as advice on how to take your nymphing...

This episode of Untangled is one of the most important pieces of media ever produced for beginning fly anglers. It rivals the value of buffalo wings and Diet Coke. In this week's show, your host Spencer Durrant walks you through everything to know about catch-and-release. He shares science-based best practices for hooking, fighting, landing, and releasing trout, so that you're able to leave our fish and rivers in the best shape possible.  You'll also learn about:  Tips for tying better...

Your intrepid host Spencer Durrant is joined this week by Matthew Lourdeau, the fellow behind the Casting Across blog and podcast! The bulk of this show centers on the lessons Matthew has learned about fly fishing from teaching it to his four sons. Spencer chimes in with his bad puns and a few anecodtes about guiding, and you'll also hear talk about the most valuable lesson we, as adult anglers, can learn from kids. This is a show chock-full of good times that you don't want to miss.  Submit...

If you've struggled with poor casting performance, bad accuracy, or simply feel like you're inadequate, we have the solution for you! No, it's not another pill -- it's this episode of Untangled! Spencer Durrant, former guide and current diet soda connoisseur walks you through five tips to improve your fly casting, even if you can't make it to the river.  You'll also learn about:  Why your fly line sometimes slaps your rod during a cast Why fly rods break (and some potential fixes for them)...

By listening to this episode, you'll become a fly tying genie! We'll remove ALL the pain associated with learning to tie flies, and you'll be whippin' out bugs in no time! Alright, that might be a bit hyperbolic - but it's always a blast when Spencer Durrant and Alex Stulce get together, and they bring a great bit of insight into this episode. You'll learn about how both Alex and Spencer got started tying flies, as well as some of their exclusive fly tying tips that can't be found anywhere...

In this episode, Spencer Durrant breaks down what you NEED to know about booking a guided fly fishing trip. He explains how to get the best bang for your buck, and the mindset you need if you want to learn a TON from your guide.  You'll also learn about:  Furled leaders The differences between nylon and fluorocarbon  Tips to avoid snagging up when fishing with 3 nymphs How to demagnetize your tying tools Submit a question for the show here!  Links from the show Todd Tanner's story...

In this episode, Spencer Durrant gets reel. Get it? It's a pun...oh, alright, enough with the dad jokes. Seriously - Spencer dishes on all the criteria that you actually need in a trout reel, so that you can buy the right reel for your fishing situation. In addition to that, you'll learn about:  Some tips for beginning fly tiers, and why you should consider tying flies an investment The best fly rod for a young boy (hint: it's The Fly Flinger!)  What to do if you hook into two trout at once...

In this episode, Spencer Durrant walks you through the murky world of fly fishing next to tons of other anglers! The rules for crowded rivers are different than the etiquette you'd give on a small stream, and today, you'll learn three tips to make your experience on a crowded fishery that much better. In addition, Spencer also found two tips to help you catch more fish from these crowded fisheries.  As if that wasn't enough, you'll also hear about:  Tips for streamer fishing in murky water...

In this week's episode, Spencer Durrant preaches about the use of barbless hooks for fly fishing! Ok, he doesn't preach -- but Spencer does lay out the reasons he uses barbless hooks, and why he recommends other anglers should try them. In addition to that stirring sermon, you'll also hear about:  Tips for catching hatchery trout Whether you should limit your fly selection Tips on winter midge hatches The best flies for beginners to use Submit a question for the show here!  Links from the...

CHECK OUT ALL of Skwala's great products HERE. Use code UNTANGLED10 for 10% off your next order at Skwala! This is a VERY SPECIAL EPISODE! More special than the perfect buffalo wings! Today, Spencer Durrant sits down with Kevin Sloane and Rich Hohne from Skwala Fishing, a technical apparel brand that's gained a reputation for outstanding quality, especially with their waders. Spencer interviews Kevin and Rich to learn all about waders, including:  Why do some waders cost so much money?...

To kick off 2024, Spencer Durrant lists seven fly fishing skills that you NEED to master if you want to turn this year into your best year of fly fishing ever! You'll also learn about:  How to fish pressured rivers How to keep your tippet from tangling during your casts The best times of the year to go fly fishing Tips for fishing for brook trout in lakes  Oh, and you'll get a heavy dose of dad jokes and wing humor in this episode, so you don't want to miss it!  Submit a question for the...

We had an AMAZING year here at Untangled. To celebrate, we're highlighting some of the best moments from the podcast from 2023. Spencer Durrant takes us back to some of the greatest bits of advice (and humor), including:  All about fishing with emergers (from Ep. 46) One of our 6 Insider Tips for Success (from Ep. 32) How to approach new water with confidence (from Ep. 35) Do trout really remember being caught? (from Ep. 25) A how-to guide on landing trout on a fly rod (from Ep. 20)  ...

In this episode, our intrepid host Spencer Durrant reaches back through 2023 to give you the 8 most important fly fishing lessons he's learned. Be prepared to laugh, to weep, and to fall in love all over again with fly fishing.  As if that wasn't enough -- we have a bunch of great questions to answer on this week's show, including:  When you should buy another fly rod (hint: always) Spencer's favorite basic dry fly patterns Tips on effectively fishing a dry-dropper rig Submit a question...

In this episode of Untangled, your host Spencer Durrant launches a new format to the show, and starts off with a great discussion about how to successfully fly fish during the winter. Yes, you'll be cold -- but you'll be catching fish, so that's all that matters, right? In addition to learning about winter fly fishing, you'll be treated to:  Recommendations for reels for light fly rods Best flies to start tying How to get your fly line unstuck from a tree An overview of Euro nymphing...