Start with the rise, not the cast. Watch where the fish feeds and whether it returns to the same lane. On a river, follow a patch of bubbles through that lane before putting your fly there. On a lake, watch the fish’s direction and leave the fly ahead of it; polaroiding deals with that approach in detail.

Broken water forgives a more conspicuous dry. Smooth water exposes the leader and every correction you make. Choose a position that lets you reach the fish across as little conflicting current as possible. Often the best improvement is a shorter cast from a better angle.

A floating line and tapered leader are the straightforward starting point. Use a tippet that turns the fly over but leaves a little freedom at the end. A longer, finer tip can help on smooth water; if it repeatedly piles up, shorten it until you can place the fly reliably.

Try an Adams for a modest mayfly-shaped offering, an Elk Hair Caddis when you want more buoyancy, or a Stimulator to search broken water. These are starting choices, not a hatch forecast. Match the size and posture of insects you can actually see.

Dry the fly before treating it. Use floatant suited to its materials; CDC needs a compatible product. Dress the parts meant to stay above water, rather than coating an emerger’s sinking abdomen. FlyLife’s floatant guide explains that distinction.

Land upstream of a river fish with enough room for the fly to settle into its lane. Keep the thick fly line away from the fish’s position. Begin with a short drift you can control, not the furthest cast you can make.

Watch the bubbles alongside the fly. If the fly overtakes them, falls behind or slides across them, something is pulling it. The plate compares relaxed tippet and an undisturbed fly with a tight tippet and visible wake. Drag can also be too slight to leave a wake, so compare movement as well as appearance.

Lift spare line off nearby fast water where you can. Where the cast must cross another current, use an early mend before the leader straightens. End the drift once control is gone. Let the fly move clear of the fish before picking it up for another cast.

When a fish takes, wait for the mouth to close and lift smoothly. An abrupt strike at the first flash of a nose often takes the fly away.

The fly lands beautifully, then immediately skates. Shorten the cast or change your angle before changing the pattern.

Every mend moves the fly. Make the correction earlier and move less line. If the lane is too awkward, reset your position.

The fly keeps drowning. Dry it properly and check the dressing. A saturated fly and a dragging fly need different fixes.

You keep casting over the fish. Pause. Watch another rise and make the next presentation count.

Choose your fishing position before concentrating on a rise. NSW DPIRD’s fishing safety advice recommends checking weather and water conditions first and avoiding risks to recover tackle. Keep that assessment separate from how promising the drift looks. Check the current rules for your jurisdiction before fishing.