Like every sport, fly fishing has its innovations. Right now, one of the biggest—and the most productive—is a technique called European Style Nymphing.
Wondering how far upstream you should cast is a question that has many answers based upon the situation you find yourself in on that particular day.
Ideally, there will be a hatch going on when you want to use dries. Then you can pick a fly to match the bugs you’re seeing. Other times, though, nothing is hatching. But a dry fly may still be a good way to catch a few fish.
For a fly fisherman, there are three main types of rivers that typically hold fishable populations of trout; the freestone stream, a spring creek, and a tailwater. Each type of water will present a very specific challenge that is typical of the habitat, and there are many clues that help define the water as to which type it should be categorized.
Resting the fish is a tactic that lets the fish go back to their normal habits after being spooked or becoming aware of an anglers presence. Resting the fish also benefits the angler in that they are able to slow down and become calm after either a botched hookset or too many frantic movements.