Everyone likes making a little adjustment that produces big results. It is remarkable how there are so many mini-disciplines within fly fishing which, when one engages in them, open up doors of angling opportunity.
Today I’m sharing four things you can spend a little time on that have the potential to make big changes in your fishing. They’re the kinds of things that some people geek out over or focus on to the extreme. But singular devotion isn’t necessary. You can dip your toe in these four sub-fields and gather skills and information that will make you a more efficient and effective angler.
If you want more details and examples, head over to your favorite podcast catcher and listen to 3 Ways to Improve Angling Efficiency. But check out those three, plus one more, below:
Learn more about fly tying.
An immediate benefit of taking up fly tying is understanding the “anatomy” of a fly. Simply by watching a few quality YouTube tutorials or sitting in on a tying class, you’ll get insight into the how and why of fly construction. This information is essential when it comes to tying effective flies. It is also very helpful when it comes time to picking flies to fish. Why do some float high? Why do some suspend in the surface film? Why do some sink quickly? One of the quickest ways to find out is to go under the hood in the world of fly tying.
Learn more about fly casting.
Like a broken record, I’ll once again advocate for taking a few minutes to work on your fly cast will pay off significantly. But it isn’t about simply getting out in the yard and flailing around whilst getting some fresh air. If you can’t shoot line at a certain distance, hop online and see what the experts say. If your presentation snaps to the left consistently, ask a guide what you can do. If your loops are collapsing and you’re getting tangled up, well that is an easy fix… but it is easier seen than explained! Once you find the answer, put it into practice.
Learn more about fly gear.
Equipment is not the destination of fly fishing. But it is an integral part of the journey. Familiarizing yourself with some of the finer details can make your gear purchases and selection better. For example: five-weights aren’t all the same. On one hand, you can see which lines are constructed for finesse, distance, or all-purpose use. Or, you could do a little bit of research on grain weights and tapers. One is good, the other is better. Synthesizing that data with your rods, your cast, and your usual fishing destinations will help those purchases be worth it.
Learn more about fly lives.
You’ll catch a lot of fish if you can grab a bug out of the air and find a fly in your box that approximates that real insect. You’ll catch even more fish if you have a rudimentary grasp of that same bug’s life cycle. That information, coupled with historic trends for the calendar and environmental triggers for insect life, will help you fill fly boxes and prospect for trout. You need not fret over Latin, just get a general sense of what is going to be crawling or flying when.
Is there a simple step that has yielded great results for you? Let everyone know in the comments below: