There is so much to learn in the pursuit of fly fishing. From little tips and tricks to solving complex problems on the river, there are always ways to grow as an angler. Reflecting on my fishing experiences over the past year, I learned a lot as I fished new techniques, explored different fisheries, and changed my perspective on the sport. Here are a few of the lessons I learned in 2025 as an angler.
- Stealth is becoming a higher priority in my fishing than ever before. With so many anglers fishing our rivers and trout being naturally wary, mastering a stealthy approach continues to increase my success on any given day. Whether it be approaching fish on my knees, lengthening my leader, using a yarn indicator, or slowly moving into position, taking the extra time to give a stealthy presentation is often worth it.
- Lengthening my leaders remains a major advantage in my dry fly fishing. The longer the distance between your fly line and fly, the less likely the trout will spook because of your line hitting the water. The added tippet also makes for a more natural drift. Most of my dry fly leaders were in the 12ft range this year, sometimes bumping it up to 15ft. The longer leader makes a world of difference.
- 5x and 6x tippet are much stronger than many people make them out to be. With a soft rod and a feel for their breaking strength, I found I could fight fish much harder and quicker on these small tippets than I previously thought.
- Freshwater estuaries and lake inlets are among the most productive areas to fish in the Yellowstone Region. These areas hold many trout due to their abundance of food, cover, and cold water. Some of my biggest fish and best days over the year came from the estuaries and inlets, and I hope to explore more of these in 2026. I talked about this in my 2025 summer fishing recap.
- Big fish hang out in sloughs and slack water. While I was not able to catch any of them, I spooked many surprisingly large fish out of sloughs and slack water this year. Why they hang out in these areas, I’m not sure. But it was a consistent finding in a few of the fisheries I frequent. Maybe they are sunbathing or feeding on minnows? Whatever it is, I hope to target these areas more in 2026.
- Lower-density rivers may not have as many fish as the popular fisheries, but they may fish just as well simply because of the lower pressure they experience. This was eye-opening as I explored a few fisheries not known for their high fish counts this year. While there are obviously fewer fish in the system, they seem more willing to take a fly or make a mistake, probably because they are not fished over every day. It’s an interesting concept to consider as we head into the new year.
- It takes a long time to learn a river. Do not let one poor day of fishing form your opinion of a fishery. Give it a few chances and learn more about it. Every fishery has its time and place.
- Bears and moose deserve your utmost respect when fishing in their home. Make noise, fish with friends, and watch for signs of them while on the river. That being said, there is not a bear behind every willow. Don’t avoid fishing a stream or lake just because there is a chance of coming across a bear. Most of the time, they want nothing to do with you either, and are rather rare to see. I fished many areas known for heavy bear activity this year, yet I had only one bear encounter.
- I learned to be extremely careful with who I share photos, fisheries, and information with. There are many reasons fishermen are known to be secretive. It’s to protect not only the places themselves but also the fun of another’s fishing journey and discovery. Do the research, explore your own fisheries, and have your own adventure.
- And lastly, as we go into the new year, I am reminded that we are each on our own fishing journey. We each have different goals, tactics, and things we enjoy in fly fishing. As a former athlete, driven angler, and just a human, I catch myself comparing my fishing and success to others around me. Maybe you do the same. It is human nature to compare. But that shouldn’t take away from your fishing experience and the journey you are on. We each pave our own path and enjoy fishing for our own reasons. Some of us are chasing the big one, some learning a new technique, and some just trying to find time on the water. No one way is better than another. It is all about what drives you to get out on the water and stay curious through the journey.
I hope you had a wonderful year on the water, full of lots of learning. Let’s hit it hard in 2026 and make the best of another year in trout country.
As always, thanks for reading!
Nick
