12 Reasons YOU SUCK at Fly Fishing

[@wdtaut5650]

0:39 You gotta break a little on most casts. I was taught to think like driving a nail: You lift the hammer with your arm, drive it forward, and give a little wrist snap at the end. There's no "follow through" with a hammer. Your rod has to stop, too. And, yeah, I usually wade too close and/or cast too far.

[@georgepretnick4460]

Here's why I suck at fly fishing. I don't live in the mountain west. I can't see my tippet anymore than twenty five feet away. I'm too old and arthritic to get to some water where trout actually exist. I have considered myself a fly fisherman for almost sixty years, but I attempt to fly fish perhaps three days a year. I can't see a dry fly on the surface. I'm a good caster, but it takes me twenty minutes to tie on another fly after a tree eats my first one. I have no one else to fish with. I don't have the stamina to get to the better water. If I did walk down a steep hill side, by myself, its questionable if I could reliably get back out.

[@robertmanuel5273]

Holy smoke dude! You stole all my reasons in one comment. I can relate to everything you said....every day!!! I especially like the part about getting to the "fishy spots" and not getting back out. So frustrating.....because the best sports ARE ALWAYS on the other side!

[@georgepretnick4460]

@@robertmanuel5273 Robert, sucks to get old. I'm not nursing home level, yet, but I am an arthritic mess.

[@augustwest9339]

#6: Drinking too much liquids and having to pull down your waders to piss.

[@coreytohme9861]

I thought that made them bite?!?

[@treswright142]

How did he miss this one?

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

I wear zippered waders, because I’m a grownup.

[@electrontube]

I should check, but I'm pretty sure my waders have a butt flap. p. s. - I worked with a dude named Les Moore. he was in the Navy, completely unrelated to my butt flap waders.

[@ScreaminReels216]

My mistake is forgetting to drink water while baking on my boat all day then wondering why I am tired after catching a 8 inch trout😂

[@edwardcowan7012]

Good advice, being new to fly fishing I don’t make the last 2 mistakes. I never cast far or is 2 flies at once. I’d just lose more tackle like that, lol.

[@idaho.onthefly]

i fish tandem streamer rigs but it’s always a big articulated streamer up front and mini single hook streamer trailing. i see a lot of fish that are timid to eat the big one, and then crush the little one. i don’t foul hook them often. i also keep my articulated streamer hanging down from the mainline, which is attached to the smaller one. so the smaller streamer is hanging way higher up in the water column. killer rig for spookier fish

[@electrontube]

I'll have you know that I spit on everything. especially my knots. but I do the rest of that stuff, a lot. except I can't cast that far, because I suck at fly fishing.

[@Odhege8262]

I’ll often fish a streamer with a wet fly partridge hackle behind it…they usually eat the wet fly. But i absolutely suck at fly fishing and I know this.

[@randyeggleston7138]

The knot tying is actually my Achilles heal I guess. I’m just a slow learner but I love learning new ones, not that I need them. Like most I only use 4 to 5 different ones. But I stick to those strengths and never vary. Knot tying is an art, you’re perfectly sane to say they need to be perfect. It’s the weakest link.

[@gurumagoo]

I have to disagree about the tandem rigs. I'm not exactly talking about giant streamers, but I routinely run two or three #16 baby buggers about 10 inches apart. I've only rarely ever snagged or foul hooked a trout like this. These aee also barbless hooks. I can see that happening with bigger stuff, but not #16s. I find that it's more effective at triggering pursuit. Fish that are sluggish or not in a feeding pattern will react to it. I often find that multiple trout will attack my flies, and the one I see chasing it, very often isn't the fish that hits it. I've caught some awfully big browns and rainbows this way. It's just better at getting their attention. It isn't at all uncommon to get multiple fish on at once. If I'm running 3 baby buggers, it's usually the first and the third. My best fish lastyear was a 32" rainbow caught on the middle fly with a 16" rainbow on the first hook.

[@mrintresting256]

Brilliant stuff….ive been flyfishing for 50 years and i still make some of these mistakes…especially trying to cast too far….such a macho thing!

[@robertmanuel5273]

Is it bad that I only fish hi-vis flies because they're the only ones I can see in the foam line? Otherwise its the indicator route and while I don't mind it, it's just not the same as the joy of something hitting that dry fly! I've bookmarked this video so that I can watch it each night before I go fishing as a technique reminder. As they say, if you're arm or shoulder is tired, you're doing it wrong. Keep up the good work!

[@ابوعمراننت]

Good evening, my dear friend, I am following you from an Arab country. We do not have a method for fly fishing We have carp in the river, but we catch them using the traditional method of yellow corn or wheat flour dough...but you have to be patient for long hours until you catch. I want advice from you, my friend. What is the most favorite fly for carp, and what is the most favorite smell for carp that attracts it to it? Do you advise me whether the fly should be on the surface of the water or go down to the depth? Please reply.. Your friend Abu Imran

[@theoutdoordad7395]

Double streamer rig is the go to for shad fishing, sometimes triple rig- yeah, it sucks but it does work.

[@vedan304]

Awesome vid, loved the you don't need to cast 70ft!!! so on point. Also, in BC you can't fish and tandem rigs and I just feel it would create more problems then benefits casting double rigs. Again great vid!

[@Grimey_Fishing]

Ben, what size tippet should I use with the Rapala Husky Jerk and is fire tiger only for dirty water conditions? 😅

[@anthonyclark6118]

Awesome😂. Happy to say I’ve never fished a tandem streamer rig because I bend my wrist to much in my cast and my knots suck 😮😮.

[@ChangHer-qx2df]

Tandem streamer rigs in the surf for perch is always a winning ticket

[@chriseggs3447]

I guilty of the double streamer. But a clouser with a little peacock leach trailer is great for short striking fish. Fish that won’t commit to the big fly, will often slash the trail fly, and fish on. Yes, in the mouth

[@roymorris4110]

Yep it's a fact....I too "suck at fly fishing" and have violated a few of the things mentioned. I have however found, when teaching kids to cast, that if they put their index finger straight out on the handle they are less likely to break their wrist...just food for thought.

[@pecosnick45]

I fish tandem streamers in lakes and have never had any of the problems described. 90% of the time its the rear fly that catches the fish which is a realistic leech. The front fly I usually make a big bright attractor. But I can see where you would be coming from in regards to river fishing.

[@1114flibby]

I never spit on my knots and have never had any issues. I typically use pretty light tipet so I think that makes the difference.

[@mgeiman]

People suck at fly fishing because they don’t fish. They rely on the industry and social media to tell them how to fish rather than learning themselves.

[@SteveWhite-nh7vc]

I live in Panama but was raised in Wyoming. I suck at all of these. I have peed in my waders and if you fart early in the morning it’s still there later. I get to flyfish every year in Wyoming. Going to Bariloche on 2025 to flyfish. Have friends there. Should be good.

[@rustyknott-W.D]

Thirty feet and in, always. If you can put your fly on target within 30 feet, you'll be successful. I once hooked a fish once at fifty feet; it didn't end well. I have a callous in the middle finger of my rod hand from stripping line. I know I use too much wrist but I can put the fly where I want it.....mostly.

[@scots2129]

I didn't know tandem streamers was a thing. I have to try it now. Thanks Ben!

[@obaoighill]

Do reasons 6 through 12 have something with not being able to count to 12, or is is this some weird metric thing that I can't understand because I'm not Canadian?

[@alanrasmussen4097]

Thankfully I suck at fly fishing because my "addictive/compulsive" personality could not afford another hobby. i.e. My dining room full off bass tackle. Informative and direct. I left a like.

[@dalesheehan9404]

That was great! How can I get one of those shirts?

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

hugeflyfisherman.com/shop/

[@Hrogthar]

I have a secret, that's who ALL streamer fisherman really are.

[@ChrisNaff-he3mx]

Hate to say this, but a recent knot study showed that NOT wetting the knots produced a stronger connection in the test machine! I'll try to find the reference and post here asap.

[@chasecook3854]

Iirc, that's true because if you seat the knot correctly and don't lubricate it, the mono can basically weld together from the friction. The problem is that you have to seat the knot correctly and that's hard to do all the time without lubrication. From experience, I think we all know a little spit makes the knot tighten and seat very easily whereas a dry knot takes some finesse sometimes. Imo, reliable and repeatable is better than peak strength.

[@gemstatefisherman3409]

Bull trout love tandem streamers! And almost always take the trailer fly.

[@TheKrazykris]

My issue with sucking at fly fishing is that I don't get to go often enough to get any better.

[@ShirleyOnTheFish]

Don't need water to practice casting

[@Skip-n1c]

You fall and snap your $2500 bamboo fly rod.

[@gregwhit4032]

That made me cry just thinking about it.

[@robkettner]

Or your dad who was storing your bamboo rods for safekeeping while you were busy raising kids in a tiny house proudly tells you he got $30 a piece for those 2 rods at his garage sale. The only thing I could come back with was “Dad, do you remember all the dents and dings I put in your cars during high school? Well, now, we are even.

[@FishDR]

Inherited stress when fishing bamboo from the 50s

[@jorgesven5197]

Hi Ben....Sorry but I pass all of these four...maybe I suck in some of the next ones....Try your best !

[@jimpurvis4420]

I feel better now thanks, Dr Ben 😂

[@davidmay8302]

One important one you missed was Investing more money and time in acquiring fly fishing gear instead of putting in time on the water, practicing, or taking a casting lesson or hiring a guide.

[@richardfisher3656]

Wow I do suck ! You nailed me on all of them !

[@somerandomguy706]

#1 guilty #2 I've gotten way better about this since I started doing double davy knots. Don't know why. #3 I've literally never seen anyone strip line in that way. Crazy stuff. #4 Definitely used to be me. Now I'm probably guilty the other way around of never making longer than a 20' cast. #5 streamer fishing isn't fly fishing.

[@TroutBumTaylor]

Truth on the wrist braking

[@chaseonthefly]

You’re right I should be fishing a triple streamer rig

[@pdkonkol]

#1 - you don’t switch flies, tactics, etc… every 10-15 minutes without a fish. You start to just cast and cast and cast…and you kind of enjoy it even if you’re not catching fish. Don’t do it. I set a 10 minute timer and change it up

[@nicholasvargas1661]

Single hook streamers forevahh

[@rogerbird7015]

Good ones!

[@murky912]

I hit "like" before I even watched this one

[@mikekrol7485]

My man Ben spitting facts to the masses. I'm so guilty.

[@ThomasKennedy-pt3tp]

30’ casting…you need to put a clause in there for saltwater.

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

Maybe for you

[@ThomasKennedy-pt3tp]

@@HugeFlyFisherman Also today I was fishing with my 3 weight, and I basically use my wrist with only a small arm movement. So then I started thinking about, it and when I go from my 2 to my 11, I go from using only wrist movement to opening my whole chest and arm, and using my left hand to double haul…so it varies with the weight of the the rod.

[@jdotten]

Ben made this entire video just to sneak a hawk tuah reference in there 😂

[@miked.r.6671]

Ha Ha! Where can I order one of those Hats/ Hoodies ? 😂

[@HugeFlyFisherman]

hugeflyfisherman.com

[@LeakyWadersAdventureClub]

I suck because i usually end up hitting the fish whistle way too hard and forget what im doing

[@marklarsen4424]

I suck more after a six pack, but it's more fun, then I take a nap.

[@jameshill8548]

You must be on the Mars calendar. 😂😂😂😂

[@rzwerlein]

Thanks for confirming I don’t suck 🤣

[@oobikenobi5328]

:You suck at fly fishing", yes, yes I do, lol. After all these years trying still can't cast other than some small roll cast. Not even sure it's a real casting technique. I keep trying though as I do enjoy it.

[@JamesBrenowitz]

Love it

[@rjohnson5120]

Don't wet the knot with your mouth. Drag it through the drool on your chin. Of course this only works if you are a crayon eater like me.

[@philwistrom9200]

I do none of these…

[@ramshackleproductions7908]

12 reasons? My counting also sucks I guess

[@drewlyman9995]

Ha. Jokes on you, I broke my wrist in the Army (while taking a crap, true story) and it made me a better fly caster.

[@chubbycarter3776]

How do I come fish with you and drink so I don't suck😅

[@gmlesak]

5 reasons or 12 reasons?

[@tedrzepski3789]

guilty

[@hooliganflyfishing1435]

Maybe its not me that sucks at flyfishing maybe flyfishing just sucks

[@apermanachannel]

Yang membutuhkan jala timah dan alat pancing , bisa hubungi saya 🙏

[@tinoyb9294]

Those Jensen video dudes fish two streamers. Total bush league. Same with the hopper, copper, dropper, flopper, mopper, bopper rigs. If you can't get it done with one fly, you really suck at fly fishing!

[@SteveDaws-ed7kx]

Hawk tuah and fly fishing 😂

[@SteveSmith-br3vu]

I dont nymph. Refuse to.

[@tenkarapondfishing4611]

I think I'm getting there myself. Dry fly fishing is SO much more satisfying, and clearly what fly fishing was originally intended for. To make the perfect cast, with the perfect loop, and land a dry fly in a natural way.....is what a fly rod and line do best.

[@justinthefisherman1334]

Are you saying hawk tuah 😂😂

[@WorldsGoneInsane]

Did I miss reasons 6-12?