Fly fishing is equal parts art, science, and patience. Whether you’re just getting started or have spent countless days on the water, there’s always room to improve your skills and deepen your understanding. Here are five practical things you can do to become a better angler—on and off the water.
1. Fine-Tune Your Casting Techniques
Let’s face it, casting is the best part about fly fishing, and having a good technique is paramount to your success on the water. Most experienced anglers will tell you that a good presentation outweighs having the right pattern in most situations. A good presentation starts with solid foundational casting techniques. Whether it’s a basic overhead cast or a more advanced roll cast, practice is essential. Set up targets in your yard and work on accuracy and distance control. Consider recording yourself or taking a casting lesson—often, a second set of eyes can spot bad habits you don’t notice.
Pro Tip: Master the double haul for better line speed and distance on windy days.
2. Understand the Insects (“Match the Hatch”)
Anglers that find success regularly are often in tune with what the fish are eating during different times of the year. Having an understanding of basic entomology is a must. Learn to identify common aquatic insects like mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies in their different life stages. This is often done by turning over rocks, using a siene net, or simply watching bugs that are in and around the water. Carrying around a hatch guide will shorten the learning curve and provide a fun way to get young kids involved in your adventures.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to the time of year and time of day—hatch activity often follows a pattern.
3. Improve Your Knot Game
A lost fish from a bad knot is frustrating—and preventable. Practice tying essential knots like the improved clinch, double surgeons, and blood knot until you can tie them quickly and confidently. A good knot can be the difference between landing a trophy and telling a story about the one that got away.
Pro Tip: Make sure to periodically refresh your supply of tippet & leader. The materials that make up our lines often degrade over time when subjected to UV light and high temperatures. Good knots won’t make much of a difference if you’re using bad materials.
4. Learn to Read Water
Reading water means identifying where fish are likely to hold. Look for seams, riffles, undercut banks, and behind rocks—places where food flows and fish can hide. Understanding water dynamics will help you place your fly more strategically, increasing your chances of a strike.
Pro Tip: Fish don’t just hang out in deep pools. Don’t overlook shallow runs or fast-moving pocket water. If it looks deep enough to hold a fish, toss a fly in and see what happens.
5. Keep a Fishing Journal
Logging your trips can reveal patterns over time. Record details like weather conditions, water temperature, what flies you used, hatch observations, and your success (or lack thereof). You’ll be surprised how often this historical knowledge can inform future outings.
Pro Tip: Include photos of flies and locations to build a personal reference library.
Fly fishing is a lifelong journey, and part of the joy comes from the experiential education. Whether it’s new casting or rigging techniques, new fisheries with tricky pockets, seams, and currents, or new flies to use, there is always something to learn. One of the best ways to accelerate your education is to book a trip with a fly-fishing guide. If you’re in the Park City area, don’t hesitate to stop by the JANS fly shop for recommendations about current conditions and hatches. See you on the water, and tight lines!
By JC Weeks, General Manager, Fishwest
