1. Choice of equipment Rods, reels, fly lines, fly floatants, clothes, glasses, and other useful items.

I like a rod with a slow to medium tip for dry fly fishing. For me, a softer tip is so important when fishing 5X and 6X tippets. But it's also nice to have some power in the rod. Gone are the days when the entire rod is either fast or slow. Many of today's rods have a soft tip and a relatively fast butt section allowing for added performance without feeling like you're casting a broomstick. I've been fishing Winston rods for the last 20+ years. The softer tips provide excellent shock absorption when setting the hook on large fish. They load well with 20 feet of line out the tip, and the Boron butt allows for effortless casts of 60+ feet when needed. They are also some of the most beautiful rods out there. What's not to like?

When choosing a reel, I prefer one that can go down to zero drag. Too much start-up inertia is fatal when fishing light tippets. My favorite reel is the Tibor Tailwater. Sadly, it was discontinued several years ago. Its caliper drag system maxes out at maybe 6 pounds of pressure. It's always smooth and never stutters or grabs. It's about five complete turns of the drag knob to go from zero to maximum pressure. I like that because I can adjust the drag knob a quarter turn while fighting a fish and not worry about applying or removing too much pressure by mistake. Galvan is another favorite for that reason. Turning a Galvan drag knob 1/8 of a turn adds maybe 1/4 pound of drag pressure. Contrary to what people say, the reel is not just for holding the fly line. A decent trout can quickly run you well into your backing, and the fish will be lost if your reel hesitates ever so slightly!

I use liquid, gel, and dry shake floatant. I usually start with gel because I apply it to the entire length of the leader and the first foot or two of the fly line. Your leader and line will absorb water after a while and begin to sink. Also, the tag ends from your knots can break the surface tension of water, allowing your leader to start sinking. When your leader starts to sink, your fly drags, and the fish will laugh at your presentation. And remember to reapply floatant to your leader when it starts to sink....I usually reapply every 10 to 15 minutes. Powder desiccant is second to non when drying and re-floating your fly, especially on one that's been eaten.

I prefer a vest when dry-fly fishing. Everything is right there at your fingertips. With a chest or sling pack, you constantly slide the pack back and forth and have to unzip a bunch of compartments. With a vest, aside from your fly fishing accouterments, you can bring snacks, a light raincoat, small pair of binoculars, etc., all in the back pocket. And you can hang your net off the back, so it stays out of the way but have it ready at a moment's notice. I also carry an extra hemostat, nipper, 3X readers, and floatant. I always have a backup for anything I constantly use.

I don't wear bright colors when fishing. Stealth is critical when stalking rising trout. I try to match the background for the particular stream I'll be fishing. When fishing a Spring Creek with nothing but grass-lined banks, white and blue shirts are what I'll wear depending on cloudy or blue skies. When fishing a tree-lined stream, greens and browns blend in nicely.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of crap for this, but I usually fish bright orange WF fly lines. I only find that my line spooks a fish when I cast it between the sun and the fish. It causes a shadow no matter the color. Sure, a fish can see a bright line on the water, but with a 20-foot leader, it's nowhere near its field of vision. Perhaps I'm lucky, but I don't believe I've spooked a fish due to the color of my fly line. Bright fly lines don't spook fish; bad casting does!

2. Leader material, build-up, length, and knots.

I don't tie up my leaders from scratch anymore. While hand-tied leaders might have better turnover, the bigger/thicker knots pick up debris on the water and cause the leader to sink. I decided years ago to embrace technology! I like Rio, Trout Hunter, and Scientific Anglers leaders. I start with a 12-15 foot 4X leader, cut off the first 6-10 inches, and add 1 1/2-2 1/2 feet of 5X and 2 1/2 to 4 feet of 6x, depending on the situation. If I think I can get away with it, I'll start with a 3X leader and taper out to 5X. The most significant benefit of a long leader is that it allows more margin for error. If you're fishing an 8-10 foot leader and you overthrow your fish because of the wind or a lousy cast, there's a chance you'll line the fish or perhaps another fish you didn't see. With a 16-20+ foot leader, you can overthrow your target by 6+ feet and likely not spook the fish. A long leader also acts as a shock absorber when setting the hook on large fish.

5X and 6X tippets are stronger than people think. Next time you're fishing with 6X, attach your fly to a tree branch. Lift your rod and try to break it. You probably won't be able to unless you point your rod at the fly and pull or lift the rod quickly, with slack in the line. The problem with 6X is that it weakens at the eye of the hook after a while. Remember to re-tie your fly to your tippet after hooking/landing a decent fish or catching your fly on a branch. Also, always remember to check for wind knots!

When putting leaders together, I use a double surgeon's knot and a regular clinch knot for flies. They both work just fine if tied slowly and are moistened thoroughly. I don't use 7 or 8X tippet. I don't carry it in my vest. I often find that with a good cast and proper drift, 5X does the trick. And I fish some of the most heavily fished streams in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

3. Approach and stealth.

Rising fish are always on alert! The water on a spring creek is usually not moving quickly over rocks and branches, making lots of noise. It's relatively quiet under the water, and a trout's lateral line will pick up the slightest vibration from your footsteps. Heavy footsteps may not spook the fish, but it puts them on alert. Move slowly, quietly, and with purpose, like a heron. I spend half my day crawling on my hands and knees, keeping low and trying not to be seen. A good pair of kneepads become more valuable the older I get! When walking along a Creek, stay back from the edge. You will usually find two paths near the bank. The most traveled is usually 2-3 feet from the stream. The other is about 10-12 feet further back and barely noticeable. That's the path I always take. And don't forget about the angler coming after you. Stay away from the bank and avoid spooking fish when your day is done, and you're heading back to your rig.

4. Reading the water.

Learning to read the water takes time and experience. Luckily for the novice dry fly fisher, the fish will tell you where they are when feeding on top! However, reading the current is something else entirely. Although it's more straightforward, it can be challenging to figure out. You can only begin to figure it out once your line lands on the water. Then, you adjust accordingly with different mends and casting techniques with each successive cast.

5. Casting ability, which casts are essential.

When turning over long leaders, the ability to double haul is quite helpful and essential on windy days. Learning to double haul is a little intimidating, but it doesn't take long to figure out. Most people single haul on their backcast and don't even know it. A few 10 to 15-minute sessions at your local fly shop will have you double hauling in no time! The Reach, S, and Parachute casts are three to master. All are essential for spooky fish and get you that extra few seconds of drag-free drift so often needed. And while not a cast, stack mending is also a valuable skill to have.

Most anglers worry too much about how far they can throw the line rather than how they throw it!

6. Entomology, what should we know.

No doubt about it, understanding an insect's lifecycle enables you to catch more fish! So read every book you can find on the subject. Get yourself a bug net, carry a hatch guide in your vest, and turn over rocks and logs! There's nothing like time on the water to understand what's going on beneath the surface. But be patient; it takes time!