Fly Fishing Tips to Increase Your Catch

All anglers want to catch more fish and are looking for ways that might put their catch numbers up above those that they are fishing with. Fly fishers are no exception. I'm often asked to pass along some tips that may help an angler increase their catch when fly fishing.

Tip #1 - Stop False Casting So Much!

I regularly see fly fishers do the back and forward cast far too many times before letting their fly land on the water. For some reason, they believe that all those extra back and forth casts are going to significantly increase the length of their line off the tip of the rod. For the average fly caster, all this false casting just means more time that the fly is in the air instead of in the water.

Your fly won't catch fish when it's in the air!

Tip #2 - Study The Water Before You Fish

While you are putting your gear together, study the water you plan on fishing. Do you see anything hatching? Watch the water and how it flows. Look for where the fish might be holding and see if you can spot any activity. Often, anglers will put their waders on and begin to march right out in the river - right over some prime fishing areas! Just because you have waders, doesn't mean you need to always be standing right in the river when you're fishing.

Tip #3 - Practice Knot Tying When Not Fly Fishing

It's much easier to tie on a new tippet or change flies when you have practiced your knot tying before getting to the river. If you can tie knots faster, you will spend more time fishing than fumbling around.

Tip #4 - Have a Variety Of Flies (But Not Too Many!)

Some of the top fly anglers I know will take only a fraction of the number of fly patterns that many others take out with them in their boxes. Having too many patterns can be a distraction. Sometimes when the fish don't seem to be taking, those that take dozens of different patterns out on the water spend an inordinate amount of time staring at their fly boxes. They can't decide what to try!

Take a few different patterns based on the entomology of the area you will be fishing. Perhaps some with different colours, and definitely different sizes. Often the smallest fly pattern will take very large fish!

Learn to fish the patterns in your fly box well. Experiment with different retrieves and depths of water.

If you have never yet tried the sport, consider getting a few hours of professional fly casting instruction. It is not as difficult as it looks! Visit and learn more about fly fishing.

Author: Ian Hugh Scott
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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