I finally built what I wish existed when I started fly fishing
Published 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’ve been thinking a lot lately about how long it took me to feel confident on the water. For years, I second-guessed everything. I’d spend hours researching flies, watching videos, and trying to piece it all together, only to walk away from the river wondering what I was doing wrong.
Over the past few months, I’ve talked with a lot of anglers who feel the same way. They want to improve but aren’t sure where to begin. They try to learn from random YouTube videos, but the advice often contradicts itself. And even when they do everything “right,” their confidence doesn’t seem to grow.
I get it. I know how that feels.
That’s what led me to build something new. Actually, two things.
The first is the Confident Angler Assessment, a free tool that gives you a quick snapshot of where your confidence is already strong and where it can grow. It offers a clear, personalized view of what to focus on next instead of getting lost in the noise. It only takes about three minutes to complete.
​ The second is the Confident Angler Program, a group coaching and private community experience built around my River-Ready System™. It’s a step-by-step roadmap designed to help you build real confidence in one focused season, rather than many years of trial and error.
The first Founding Member Fall Cohort is opening soon, with limited spots available, so I can provide each angler with the personal attention they deserve.
If you think the program might be a good fit, start with the Confident Angler Assessment. It’ll help you see where you’re at, and I’ll personally follow up with more details about the Fall Cohort.
I poured my heart into both because I believe more people deserve to experience what fly fishing has given me: joy, peace, meaningful connections, and incredible memories on the water. I’ll share more about both in the weeks ahead, but I wanted to offer you early access as soon as I could.
Mind the Spawn​ Friendly reminder for this time of year: brown and brook trout are in their spawning season. You’ll start seeing lighter patches of gravel in shallow riffles called redds where they lay their eggs. Try not to wade through or cast at those areas, even if you see big fish paired up.
Actually… especially if you see fish paired up.
Instead, focus on the deeper runs and pools downstream of spawning beds. That’s where other trout hang out that aren’t spawning. Fishing those zones protects the next generation and still gives you great chances to hook up with some great fish.
Pro tip: Egg patterns are hard to beat right now.
🪰 One Fly to Try This Weekend
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​Mahogany Dun (Size 14–16)​ ​While I was fishing and filming on Monday this week, I spotted a mayfly I didn’t recognize at first. Later, I realized it was a mahogany dun. On my way out, nearly every good seam looked like it was boiling from so many fish rising. I wish I could’ve stayed to try to match the hatch, but I’d bet many of those fish were keyed into them.
Mahogany duns hatch on cool fall afternoons or evenings when water temps drop into the low 50s. They’re a reddish-brown mayfly with three distinct tails and upright wings that stand out this time of year when other hatches start to thin. Fish it in slower seams or tailouts where trout can sip comfortably.
My friend Austin and I spent a calm, rainy day chasing browns on one of my favorite rivers. Nothing epic, just good conversation, refreshing rain, and some really nice fish.
Sometimes those quiet days remind you why you started fishing in the first place.
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.