5 Simple Tips to Make Your Next Fly Fishing Trip A Success.

Learning to fly fish has it’s challenges. From managing the fly line, trying to place accurate casts, setting the hook, and trying not to get tangled on everything, it can be overwhelming. Luckily, with a patient friend or a good guide you can flatten that learning curve and enjoy the process.

The following 5 tips do not involve fly fishing specific techniques or knowhow, but they can help make your next trip more enjoyable and successful. Grasping these basic concepts make focusing on the mechanics of fly fishing easier and less stressful.

Make sure to fish upstream and downstream of structure to find where the fish are laying.

1.) Understand what upstream and downstream is. I know this sounds basic but it can be tricky for folks who do not have much experience on the water. As you travel down a river, you are traveling downstream. Upstream is the direction from which you came. This is important because if your friend or guide is telling you to cast, “upstream of that log” they want you to cast in front of it. If they tell you to, “cast downstream of that boulder” they want you to cast behind it. Having this basic understanding will help you better communicate with the rower and hopefully find success.

The bow is always 12 o’clock no matter the direction the boat is pointing. photo credit: https://tdgil.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Boat-with-Clock-Face.png

2.) Know how to tell time on a boat. You might be thinking, time on a boat doesn’t change, but that’s not what I’m talking about. What I mean about telling time is knowing relative direction from the boat using a clock face as a reference. The bow (front) of the boat is always 12 o’clock. No matter where the boat is pointing, whether its pointing upstream, downstream, or at any bank, the bow of the boat is always 12 o’clock. This is very important because your guide or friend may point out a fish cruising past or something interesting to cast to and knowing that 1 o’clock is slightly off to the right of where the boat is pointing will help you understand what they are talking about. Having standard terminology where everyone is speaking the same language is crucial to effective communication and will make fly fishing more fun!

If you’re unfamiliar with distances, give yourself a point of reference and some target practice.

3.) How far away is 20’? Having a basic understanding of range and distance will help you dial in those casts, spot fish, and structure. If you’re not familiar with how far away 20’, 30’, or 40’ is, grab a measuring tape and head outside. It’s as easy as stretching out the tape and pacing out the distances from a starting point. While you’re there, you can place targets and then use them as practice for casting.

4.) Moving on a boat can be tricky if you don’t have a lot of experience. Some boats have aluminum hulls, others are made of fiberglass or wood, and some are rafts. Be familiar with what kind of vessel you’ll be on and ask the owner or guide how best to walk around. It’s important not to rock the boat as much as possible and to limit noise by avoiding stomping around or jumping down from a deck. Noise and wake can spook fish away and make the fishing less enjoyable. Skiffs and other boats that are more narrow may require you to move down the center for safe walking. Always walk around safely and when the boat isn’t moving.

Keeping an open mind and trying something new will often help you reap the results.

5.) Last and not least, keep an open mind. Fly fishing, like most other sports and endeavors, requires continuous learning and trying new things. If you’ve hired a guide, listen to what they have to say. If your buddy fishes a section often, they probably know what they are talking about. If you’ve caught fish with a certain fly, try experimenting with a different technique to expand your skill set. Finding success with a new fly or technique is extremely rewarding. Life long learning is fun and fly fishing should be fun too!

Cheers,

Allen