Tips from a fly fishing guide: 5 simple things you're probably overlooking.
Flymen guide Ben Rogers of Chasing Tails Fly Fishing.
“Oh, why didn't I think about that?”
I've heard it more times than I can count.
As a fly fishing guide, you become proficient in many aspects. The daily checklists that plague your morning routine become second nature. However, to some fly anglers that are fishing only a few times a month, these seemingly simple to-dos can slip the mind.
Here are five of the best ways to make your day more productive, all of which I've noticed many anglers overlook.
1. Change your leader frequently.
I get it, you only fished a few days with it.
Nevertheless, I make it a priority to change my leaders every time I go out. This should seem like a no-brainer, but it's overlooked more often than not. You should be changing your leader or tippet after every snag or if you remove split shot.
Some anglers go the inexpensive route with their leaders. This basically means you have nylon. Nylon degrades rather quickly and is not abrasion-resistant. I've learned this the hard way.
Fluorocarbon leaders are worth the few extra bucks. They're much stronger and less visible to the fish, which also helps you get away with heavier leader and tippet sizes.
2. Learn your knots.
Early in my career as a guide, one of my first clients was given the nickname Mr. Clinch by the shop owner. No lie, from leader to hook eye, all he used were clinch knots.
Now, I know the clinch knot is time-tested, easy to tie, and generally strong. However, learning your fundamental knots is important in becoming a self-sufficient fly angler. Your leader setup will be stronger and perform better when the proper knots are utilized.
Besides the clinch knot, the most important knots all anglers should know are the improved surgeon's knot, blood knot, nail knot, and a non-slip loop knot. By learning these knots and how they can benefit your rig, you enhance your angling confidence, as well as the ability to know what knot to use to render certain results.
For example, a non-slip loop knot used for nymphs gives a little more freedom of motion. Whether you are tight line, euro, or suspension nymphing, it has shown to help with more technical drifts.
3. Sharpen your hooks!
I cannot stress this enough. Keep your hooks sharp!
You can have on a strong, new leader and do one hell of a hook-set, but it’s all for nothing if your hook point is dull. Most fish have tough mouths, and they only get tougher the older and bigger they get.
It's a habit every angler should have. Whether you buy flies already tied or tie your own, give them a good sharpening before you put them in your fly boxes.
The foam in your box or your fly patch will ultimately dull the hook point. If your fly has been in the water, it's dulling, plain and simple.
Buy a portable sharpener, keep your hooks sharp, and make your hook-sets count.
4. Stop and observe.
When you get to a stretch of water, it takes discipline to delay casting.
It doesn’t matter if you're fishing streamers or not – stop and observe for at least ten minutes. Once you settle down, it’s amazing what you'll see.
Make a strategy of how you'll fish the water you've approached. Take a bio assessment, check for insect activity. Try to spot fish in the water and observe their behavior. Are they actively feeding? Where in the water column are they suspended? Time their feeding pattern. This will make your casts more efficient.
You'll also learn more about that particular habitat as well. You can later make notes of any insect or fish activity you witnessed. This will help you gather an understanding of that area, giving you a greater advantage your future trips.
5. Fish before you step.
We've all heard the saying, “the grass is always greener on the other side”.
When it comes to fly fishing, the opposite side of the river always seems to have a better appeal to most. Fight the temptation!
When you get to a section of water, assume that there are fish right at your feet by the bank. Methodically cast and fish your way to the middle of the drink. If you immediately walk into the middle of the stream or river, you are creating vibrations by displacing water and substrate. This alerts fish to a potential threat, spooking fish that other wise could have been caught. This might also inadvertently put the other fish down that are nearby.
My rule of thumb is cast before you step. I’d rather catch a fish than spook one.
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About Ben Rogers:
Ben Rogers is the owner and head guide at Chasing Tails Fly Fishing. He's an ambassador for Soul River – an urban-focused fly fishing company dedicated to conservation of wild steelhead fisheries –, a signature fly tier for Holly Flies, and a contributing editor for various fly fishing publications. After serving in the military, Ben put his specialized skills learned in the Army to good use by working in fly shops and guiding other anglers in the great outdoors and has now been been fly fishing for over two decades. Ben has also volunteered as a guide for Project Healing Waters, working with fellow wounded veterans using fly fishing as a therapeutic tool for recovery, and is a Trout Unlimited member.
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Ben Rogers
Comments on this post (19)
Thanks for the advice to fish before you step into the water. I want to try fly fishing this summer. It would be fun to do a guided fishing trip so I could learn some techniques. https://headsupflyfishing.com/services/guided-trips/
— Greta James
I am often to running a blog and i really respect your content.
Your blog is very informative and educative.The article has actually peaks my interest.It is nice article and Your content is very helpful.Thank you for sharing us.
— Mackenzie Stuffy
I appreciate you providing some basic tips on how you would be able to catch more fish such as sharpening your hooks. It is recommended to always make sure to sharpen your hooks even before you put them inside your fly boxes to ensure that no fish would be able to escape once you got them hooked. There are some fish that have extremely strong teeth and mouth which can wiggle around to get themselves free. Having sharp hooks would give you a much better chance of catching a lot more fish and ensure they’re trapped. If I were to go fishing, I would make sure to keep this in mind. Thanks. http://payableguideservice.com/The_Trips.php
— Bobby Saint
Nice
— David Walters
My husband used to go on fishing trips with his dad before his parents divorced, and he wants us to go and try it out again. I like how you suggest to look at what the insects are doing and figure out if the fish are trying to eat them. Your tips seem so helpful, that we’ll just have to find ourselves a fishing guide to help us out. https://fishtawakoni.com/the-fishing/
— Amanda Drew
Thanks for doing these post. This summer I hope to become a kayak fisher. Living in Colorado means trout and more trout. I like camping so maybe I can branch out to some warm water too. : )
— Deborah Briggs
I would love to know more about fly fishing to be able to impress my dad on our next fishing trip. Thanks for the tip about the importance of learning the different knots. Another thing that will help is practicing casting before the real thing. http://wyoming.fish/trips.html
— Jade Brunet
I’ve looked over your site, and read your articles. Everything looks great and knowledgeable. I’m a member of Donegal Trout Unlimited and looking forward hearing you speak at our next meeting.
Tight lines,
Bill Nolan
— Bill Nolan
Ben’s a good friend of mine and one of the best fisherman I know. Great advice Ben! If I can offer any more it would be to inspect your tippet often for nicks or stretching and replace if there is any variance, especially with floro. A 10" trout might not be a problem but there’s always the chance for a big one, and that big one will bust your tippet faster than you can blink if it’s not 100% intact. A leader saving tip for using split shot is to keep a tag end off your blood or surgeons knot and attach them to it. I use that technique for steelhead, I run a leader to a small swivel, improved clinch knots on either swivel end and keep the tag end of the leader about 2-3" long and attach the splits to it. It won’t nick your leader, if you get stuck on the bottom the splits easily pull off saving your line and fly and I tend to think it gives a better drift. Last one for nymphing, learn to make your own leaders, it’ll save you money, the straight sections of line will sink faster and you can customize them to the water you’re fishing. Tight lines!
— Dennis
Hi Brandon,
Thank you for bringing the spelling error to our attention (we made the change) and sharing your advice regarding leaders.
— The Flymen team
1. Hate to be the spelling police, but this is an educational article for fishermen. The bottom of a stream is SUBSTRATE, not “sub-straight”.
2. Most fly fishermen using hooks smaller than 6 use a IMPROVED CLINCH, as a regular clinch knot will unravel leaving a pig-tail. There is no such thing as an improved surgeon’s knot, but there is a triple surgeon’s knot.
3. Given that fluorocarbon takes 2-3 times as long to break down in the environment, I see nothing wrong with anglers using nylon for the butt-sections of their leaders. It is unlikely that you need to replace that section on every trip since it is usually rated at greater than 12 lbs. Regardless of material, anglers need to learn how to “stress-test” all leader/tippet material before use.
— Brandon Price
To keep it simple… really simple… one can use the Huff 100 knot. This knot is done by making a overhand knot but instead of going through one time… one passes the line through 5 times…. NOT FOUR OR NOT SIX BUT FIVE . this results in a knot for all reasons and all seasons… its 100% and can be tied behind your back in a moving boat at night with no lights on!!! Again.. this is a 100% knot.. and the only other knot with 100% is the Bimini……!!!!
— Terry Baird
I greatly appreciate your helpful notes and common sense approach to fly fishing. I am looking forward to future postings. Thanks for sharing….
— Paul Schmidt
Excellent reminders. Thanks for sharing. Happy holidays.
— Ron Biesecker
Well done well said keep the good worke
Thank you for sharing
Tony.
— Tony cassar
Appreciate the advice. Look forward to future posts. Thank You.
— Tom C.
Great ideas! I use nylon leaders when I’m practicing on freestone water that is put and take stockers I just can’t bring myself to fish flouro much way way over priced! But that’s just m. If I was doing a drift and guiding I’d most certainly have some aboard. For just me I do just fine with the less expensive. Again great tips keep em coming. Have a great holiday season. Merry Christmas!
— Brent hatcher
Hey guys I think this is a great thing your doing. Keep up the great work your doing. Thanks for sharing this with us all.
Best Regards, Ken
— OldBear
great stuff
— thomas taylor