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,
If you live in the US, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! We've been visiting family this week, and I always love spending time with everyone over the holidays.
But I'll be honest. Part of me is already missing the water too. Still trying to figure out how to convince my whole family to love fly fishing as much as I do. If you've cracked that code, let me know. 😂
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot this week about something that came up in a conversation last Saturday...
I had my first paid coaching call last Saturday, and it reminded me of something I don't talk about enough.
Cody, the angler I was chatting with, is about five years into fly fishing. He knows his local rivers. He's got spots where he knows he'll catch fish. But he mentioned he's been pushing himself to explore new water this season instead of always hitting the same runs.
That got me thinking about my own journey.
If you're brand new, I actually don't recommend exploring much yet. Pick one or two rivers and hammer them. Learn the fundamentals. Build real confidence before you throw in the biggest variable: fishing new water.
But after a couple years of consistent fishing, something shifts. You start thinking, "I know I'd catch fish if I just went to my usual spot... so why risk getting skunked somewhere new?"
That tension means you're ready.
I felt it for months before I finally forced myself to research new water and take the leap. It was one of the best decisions I've made as an angler. My water-reading skills jumped because I started seeing patterns across different rivers. I got more adaptable to unpredictable situations. And slowly, my whole mindset shifted.
Catching fish stopped being the goal. Exploring became the goal. Fish became the bonus.
If you're starting to feel that pull toward new water, trust it. You're ready.
(And if you want help building a plan for your next trip, that's exactly what my Trip Blueprint Sessions are for)
Sometimes, emerger patterns don't get enough love. But they can be incredibly productive. And a Soft Hackle Caddis is a great pattern to have in your fly box.
The soft hackle fibers pulse and move in the current, mimicking a caddis struggling to break through the surface film. My favorite way to fish it is on the swing. Cast across the current, let it drift downstream, and allow the line to tighten at the end. That swing lifts the fly toward the surface right when trout expect an emerging bug to make its move. You can also fish it as a dropper below a dry fly or let it dead drift just under the surface.
It's simple, it's effective, and it can work as a great alternative when fish seem to be ignoring other patterns.
This week's video is a perfect example of what it's like to fish a new river. My buddy Jonathan and I spent a full day exploring a river system we hadn't fished much. We covered miles and miles of water, switched between euro nymphing, dry dropper, and spey setups. But the main thing was we just kept moving.
We caught everything from cutthroat to whitefish. I even landed a small bull trout. But honestly, the fish weren't the point. We were building knowledge that we can use next time.
Learning new water isn't always about catching giants or a ton of fish. It's about stacking experience, becoming a more confident angler over time.
P.S. Black Friday deals are everywhere. If you're thinking about upgrading your gear or buying a gift for someone, don't just grab whatever's cheapest. I put together a Starter Gear Guide with the stuff I actually recommend. Some of it might be on sale right now. Worth a look!
Note: Some links in this email may include affiliate links. I only recommend gear I use and trust. If you buy through these links, it helps support Confident Angler at no extra cost to you.