Untangled: Fly Fishing For Everyone | Ventures Fly Co.

Brookies are the favorite of tons of anglers. They're gorgeous, and the big ones can be extremely frustrating AND rewarding to catch. But they're also one of the biggest threats to the long-term survival of native fish like  cutthroat trout. Brookies are more aggressive than cutties, so in places where the two fish live side-by-side, brookies outcompete cutthroat for food. Eventually, the cutthroat just can't persist on the landscape, and they disappear. So, to help cutthroat and other native fish like gila and apache trout, sometimes fisheries managers ASK for you to kill brook trout. Does killing a few brookies REALLY help cutthroat? And is this a sound practice, or do fish biologists in the West just have it out for brookies? Today on Untangled, we'll dive into all of this and explain what really goes into conserving and protecting our native fish.
You'll also learn about: 
What stomach pumps are, and why Spencer thinks they're unethical 
Camp traditions and recipes for fishing trips
How to get the most out of backpacking trips to go fly fishing
How to tell if you've spooked fish from a given fun
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Why are so many of the flies we tie, use, and sell, all brightly colored, when most of the real-life bugs trout eat are drab and dull? Why do our fly boxes look like they'd be more at home at a middle-school craft fair, or a tea party, than on the river? Well, it all boils down to how trout perceive color. Understanding this key detail of trout biology can help you better understand how and why trout react so well to certain fly patterns. 
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
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VIDEO - How Trout See Color - CHECK IT OUT

ALEX STULCE RETURNS! And as he joins Spencer on today's episode, the two talk about the hopper fishing strategies that too often get ignored. Things like adding drag on purpose to make the hopper look like it's alive, to fishing them in shallow, nervous water. These are the little things that WILL make a difference in your fishing this summer, but that most folks don't ever discuss. 
You'll also hear about: 
Everything going on behind-the-scenes at VFC, including updates on products, live events, and new releases
Tips for fishing etiquette when you're brand-new
How to guesstimate the depth of a river when setting up a nymph rig
How to tell if you're getting a bite, or just ticking the bottom
The great knot debate between the Clinch and Loop knots
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
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The days when you catch something unexpected — your new personal best, for instance — seem to come out of nowhere, like letters from the IRS. And not unlike mail from the tax man, I think every angler has at least SOME level of fear that they won't be prepared to meet those memorable fish when they decide to show up. 
Of course, not every unforgettable fish has to be huge — it can be a particularly gorgeous brookie, or a wild rainbow trout that's shaped like a football, or a brown all colored up for pumpkin spice season. 
But those big ones? That show up out of nowhere, when you're fishing the farm pond, that tiny creek near your house, or the stretch of river you've always skipped, because it just didn't look fishy? 
Those are the fish that make your palms sweaty, get the butterflies swarming in your stomach, and put you right back in that dark, loud gym on the night of your first school dance. That feeling never goes away, no matter how long you've been fishing; or at least, it hasn't for me.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
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Fly fishing apps are for those lazy anglers who just want someone to tell them where to go, what flies to use, and how to fish. They're for people who prefer automatic transmissions, boneless chicken wings, and Downton Abbey. 
Right? 
Well, not exactly. That was my attitude for a LONG time, until this year. I started using one app, and it honestly made me change my tune. These apps can be really helpful, for anglers of all skill levels. 
Today on Untangled, you'll learn why I changed my mind about fly fishing apps, the ones we recommend here at VFC, and how to get the most out of these tools. 
You'll also learn about: 
Tips for correcting a cast that always seem to land to the left or the right
The gear Spencer recommends for backcountry fly fishing trips
Etiquette for fishing with a larger group of anglers
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
Get TroutRoutes PRO Free For One Month - CHECK IT OUT
Join the VFC Online Community - CHECK IT OUT
QUESTIONS FOR THE SHOW - SUBMIT HERE
#LIVEREELLIFE MOMENT - SUBMIT HERE
Get the FREE Field Guide - CHECK IT OUT