I’ve been sight fishing for tailing redfish, and while I’m getting plenty of shots, the fish often refuse my fly. I’ve tried switching patterns, adjusting my retrieve, and even downsizing my leader, but I keep seeing the same result—either they spook, or they simply keep feeding without reacting. What should I change to start converting these shots into hookups?a

Most anglers think of mending as something you do to fix drag on a dry fly, but I’ve heard some advanced nymph anglers use mends to control depth, not just drift. I understand basic mends to extend a dead drift, but how can I actively use mending to adjust the depth of my nymphs and keep them in the strike zone longer?

I love throwing big streamers for trout and bass, but my accuracy falls apart when I’m trying to put the fly right against a log, under a branch, or tight to a cut bank. With smaller flies, I can land them exactly where I want, but once I switch to bigger, heavier patterns, I feel like I lose control. What can I do to improve my accuracy when casting big flies?

I just got back from a trip to the Florida Keys, and while I had some shots at bonefish and permit, I really struggled with my presentations. Sometimes I cast too far ahead, other times too close, and a few times I spooked fish by stripping too aggressively. When you’re sight fishing on the flats, how do you make the perfect presentation to moving fish?

I’ve heard a lot about articulated streamers and how they’re great for big trout, but I’m not really sure what makes them better than standard streamers. What’s the big deal with articulated patterns?