9 proven ways to make sure you stay a mediocre fly angler

#4  Always make the longest cast possible

On several occasions, I’ve fished with fly casters of astonishing skill, capable of effortlessly zinging out 70-foot casts. At first, I was in awe, until I noticed they didn’t any catch more fish that the rest of us. In fact, they caught fewer. Long, elegant casts look very cool, especially when filmed in front of a sunset or some mountains. But when long casts hit the water, problems ensue. All that line is hard to control, leading to sloppy drifts. Strikes are harder to detect, too, and hooksets are weaker. It also takes ages to reset and cast again, and there’s a higher likelihood of encountering snags and tangles as you do. Looking for chances to cast long also leads you to overlook closer productive water.

There are a handful of scenarios where long casts help, such as reaching distant fish in still water. In reality, though, most freshwater fly-fishing situations benefit from the shortest, most controlled casts you can make. This links back to studying the water for a minute, and planning your approach. You may have the skill to put a 60-footer under that overhanging branch, but once the fly lands, you can’t fish it very well. Instead, figure out how to get 30 feet closer—or just move to the next spot.