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 was out of town this weekend for my stepdad Dale’s celebration of life. While it was a sad reason to gather, it turned into a meaningful time with friends and family.
What stood out most was how many people he connected with through fishing. It was one of his true passions, and it came up again and again in the stories people shared.
There’s something special about fly fishing and the way it brings people together. It’s something I think about often as I shape the future of Confident Angler. My hope is to build a strong community of fishy folk all over the world in the years ahead.
Thanks for being here and reading. I really appreciate it.
Keep It Simple​ It’s tempting to think a more complicated rig, like a dry dropper or a three fly euro nymphing setup, will automatically put more fish in the net. Sure, it can increase your odds. But not if you are tangled up half the time.
Earlier this year, I was euro nymphing with a two fly setup when the wind picked up. Instead of fighting it, I clipped everything off and tied on one heavier streamer. The result? Fewer tangles, cleaner casts that could punch through the wind, and more time with my fly actually in the water.
If a dry dropper or tandem rig keeps knotting up on you, switch back to one fly until you build skill. Presenting a single fly well will outfish three poorly presented flies every time. As your confidence grows, add complexity, but there is no rush.
🪰 One Fly to Try This Weekend
​
​Foam Beetle (Size 12–16)​ Speaking of dry dropper rigs, a great option this time of year is a simple foam beetle. Few things are as exciting as watching a trout explode on the surface for one of these big terrestrials. To a hungry fish, it looks like the perfect meal that tumbled in from the bank.
I like to fish them a little differently than delicate dry flies. Instead of landing them soft, I’ll plop them down with a touch more weight, especially tight to grassy edges or under overhanging branches. That splash makes it look like a beetle just fell from a bush into the water.
From there, mix up your presentation. A clean dead drift often works, but a small twitch can sell the idea of a struggling bug. And once you’re ready, the foam beetle also makes a killer dry dropper setup with a small nymph riding below.
I know I’ve already shared a few of Grant’s videos this year, and I usually try to mix it up so you can discover other creators in the fly fishing space. But this new film was too good to pass up.
He finally made it to Alaska, chasing trout and dollies in crystal clear water with sockeye pushing upstream all around him. Every cast was chaos, with fish after fish in some of the most stunning scenery imaginable.