Fall fishing, great friends, and a simple casting insight
Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read
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Fishy Fridays by Confident Angler: One fly fishing tip, one fly to try, and one inspirational post to get you fired up to fish this weekend. 🎣
Hey Reader,
I’m writing this a week early because I’ll be off-grid steelheading all next week, and I couldn’t be more excited.
It’s really two adventures in one. The first is an annual float with a group of men I deeply respect. It’s one of those rare trips where everyone shows up ready to fish hard, laugh a lot, and be real with each other. I look forward to it every year, not just for the fishing but for the connection that happens along the way.
After that, one of my best friends and I will wrap up the float, load up the truck, and head to a new river to camp and fish for a few more days. We’ll meet up with some close friends who know it well, and I’m grateful they’re willing to show us around.
It’s going to be a special week, and I’m already feeling thankful. I’ll definitely miss my wife and kids, but I’m looking forward to coming back recharged.
Pause for the Backcast​ When I was learning to cast, one of my biggest mistakes was going too fast. I thought speed meant distance. But in fly fishing, slowing down actually helps you cast farther.
Here’s why. In spin or “gear” fishing, the lure’s weight loads the rod like a spring. In fly fishing, the fly is too light for that. It’s the fly line that carries the weight and bends the rod.
If you move too quickly, the line doesn’t have time to straighten behind you. When you start your forward cast too soon, the rod can’t load. You lose power, and the cast may collapse or make that sharp crack when the fly snaps forward.
The fix is simple: wait.
After you send the line back, pause until you feel it pull tight behind you. That slight tug means the rod is loaded and ready to fire.
It helps to practice somewhere open where you can see both the front and back casts. Watch the line straighten and learn that rhythm. The more fly line you’re casting with, the longer the pause needs to be. Once you find that timing, your cast will feel smooth and effortless, not rushed.
Egg patterns are great this time of year. When trout start to spawn, other fish feed on the loose eggs drifting downstream. The Weighted Slush Egg is simple but deadly in fall.
Try pale pink, orange, or peach colors under an indicator or tight-line rig. Fish it below gravel beds or through deeper seams where eggs collect. Keep your drifts short and natural. You’ll be surprised how many fish move for it.
I just released a new video that walks through my full fall approach. It covers the fly patterns trout key on right now, how I adjust my rigs and presentations as the season changes, and how to dress for big temperature swings. I also show how to spot and avoid redds so we protect spawning fish.
P.S. Want to know exactly what to focus on next? Take the free Confident Angler Assessment here. It only takes a few minutes and gives you a clear roadmap to grow your confidence on the water.