Even the best anglers make mistakes. Whether you’re new to the game, a bit rusty after a long winter, or just need a refresher, these are the slip-ups that cost fish — and how to avoid them next time you’re on the water.
1. Fishing Too Fast
The mistake: Covering 40 metres of water in 10 minutes, spooking fish before you even see them.
The fix: Slow your pace. Charging ahead, fly rod in hand, means you’ll miss the subtle signs—and spook fish. Move quietly, take your time. Spot some likely water? Take a knee, have a snack, and keep your eyes peeled. You’re hunting, not mowing the lawn.
2. Bad Timing
The mistake: Fishing at the wrong time of day or ignoring water temperature and light conditions.
The fix: Set yourself up for success by timing your outings around hatches, ideal temperatures, and low-light periods when fish are more active. Planning beats blind luck.
3. Chasing the Perfect Pattern
The mistake: Obsessing over the perfect pattern when the fish aren’t responding.
The fix: As Bob Wyatt says, trout eat impressions, not exact imitations. Focus on a fly that looks alive and convincing, then present it well. If they aren’t buying it, change how you fish it before you change the fly.
4. Using the Wrong Tippet
The mistake: Fishing size 18 dries on 3X.
The fix: Match your tippet to your fly. Finer tippet gives you a more natural presentation, especially in clear water. It also helps a nymph sink more quickly and drift more naturally.
5. Not Checking Your Rig
The mistake: Forgetting to check your knots or leader after your last trip — or after catching fish.
The fix: Take a moment for a quick check before you start, and every so often on the water. It’s a simple habit that can save the fish of the day.
6. Tying Dodgy Knots
The mistake: Tying knots in a hurry, using the wrong knot for the job, or trusting a knot you never really mastered — all recipes for heartbreak when a good fish eats.
The fix: Learn a few solid fishing knots and practice until you can tie them confidently. A good knot is cheap insurance against lost fish.
7. Poor Presentation
The mistake: Delivering your fly without thinking about what the moment calls for — crashing it down when subtlety matters, or being too gentle when you need a splash.
The fix: Match your presentation to your fly and the fish. Subtle dry? Land it softly. Big cicada pattern or popper? Give it a healthy plop. Adjust how you deliver the fly to fit the situation.
8. Ignoring the Drift
The mistake: Getting caught up in fancy casts and forgetting that a dragging fly looks unnatural to fish.
The fix: Read the current before you cast. Mend early, mend often, and stay ahead of the drift. Control your line before the current does.
9. Botching the Hook Set
The mistake: Striking too early, too late, or freezing up altogether.
The fix: We’ve all been there, especially if it’s been a while between eats. With dries, wait half a beat before lifting (don’t pull the lips off it!). With nymphs, strike any time that indicator twitches, stalls, or moves oddly. Streamers are a different story — techniques vary depending on the situation (and/or angler), but most of the time, a solid strip set is your best bet.
10. Not Practising Enough
The mistake: Skipping regular practice on the lawn and expecting your casting to hold up on the water.
The fix: Practice before you hit the water. Trying to iron out casting kinks in front of feeding trout is neither ideal nor much fun.
Fly fishing has a way of keeping you humble. New and seasoned anglers alike have frustrating moments on the water. Staying teachable and keeping humble is the key to continuous progress, fewer wind knots, and more fish in the net.
