Don’t overdo it. Long casts aren’t needed on most of the streams fly fishers frequent. Accuracy is more important than distance 99 percent of the time. Focus on fish that are within 20 feet, which can be easily reached with a 7- to 8-foot rod and a nice easy cast.
Easy on the backcast. One of the most common mistakes in fly fishing is overdoing the backcast. If you pull the rod too far back on the backcast, it can cause the line to hit the water behind you and spook the fish all around you in the process. It’s best to stop the rod by the 1 o’clock position so that you may straighten the line behind you and then make a precise forward cast.
Avoid the wind. Wind can be a fisherman’s worst enemy, unless of course they’re casting 50 or 60 yards with a little help from Mother Nature. In most other cases, wind seriously alters casting accuracy. To avoid the wind, fish early in the morning and in the evening when it’s less windy. That’s also when fish, and the bugs they chase, are more active. If you find yourself casting in the wind midday, try to fish with the wind at your back and make the most of tailwind.
Hang with the locals. There’s no better place to learn the ins and outs of a fishery than from local guides and fly shops. Use this resource as often as possible and be sure to spend a few bucks on locally made flies, all of which could lead to more guide-offered tips for your next trip. When I’m fishing a new water, I always stop in the local fly shop, buy a shirt or hat and stock up on a dozen of the local fly selections recommended by the resident guide.
Get away from the crowds. Fly fishing is a solitary hobby, and the fishing is always better when there’s less pressure. While the honey holes may have more fish (likely stocked), the upper stretches hold the wild and holdover fish that actually prefer flies over bait — unlike stocked fish that are raised on pellets in tanks far, far away.
