Fly fishing is one of the most preferred freshwater fishing methods, and it is especially effective for catching trout. Many anglers might be hesitant to try fly fishing because it may appear to be difficult, but if you understand where to fish and how to cast then you can have some pretty amazing success. Below I'll give you five great trout fly fishing tips, and we'll simplify the art of fly fishing for a much improved fishing experience. Come join me!

1. One of most important things to keep in mind when fishing for trout is to look for them in spots where there is plenty of protection against other predators. Trout are pretty clever, so they are going to hide in places where bigger fish cannot see them. These places are generally under and around big rocks, undercut banks and floating logs.

2. Another great thing to be aware of when searching for trout is their desire to be in oxygenated areas of the river where there is the highest amount of food for them. This translates into cold water where the current is moderately strong enough to produce a high level dissolved oxygen. You can often find these areas just slightly downstream from a big group of rocks or some other obstacle in the river. Don't forget to look for these areas in the middle of the river and close to the bank as well.

3. One of the most important skills to master when it comes to fly fishing is the cast. It is easy to get overwhelmed and think that the casting technique must be complex and involve lots of movement, but the fact is that usually the simpler the better when casting your line. The next time you are on the river, try only taking your hands back enough to straighten your line behind you, and then just come back forward nice and easy. When you come back too far then it's easy to have a sloppy cast, and this usually scares away the trout.

4. Sometimes you might find a spot on the river where you know plenty of trout will be located, but that particular area could be hard to reach with a normal cast. Many anglers will just move on to the next spot if they encounter this, but I'm here to tell you that you don't have to do this! Stay right where you are and pull your line with your off hand so that you have a lot of slack. You can hold your line in one hand and cast with the other. Once you cast as far as you can, perform a little extra flick of the wrist toward your target, and that extra slack will allow your line to get there. You may have to practice this technique a couple of times, but this may be the difference between landing a big brown trout and coming home empty handed.

5. This is one of my favorite tips that I absolutely want you to know about. If you already do, then keep doing what you're doing! If not, this will dramatically help you locate and snag your prized trophy trout. When you're fly fishing on a river, look for the fish to rise and make small splashes in the water. Once you see this, it is a great idea to mark that spot with some kind of static landmark, like a rock or a tree. Try to be ready to cast your line immediately after spotting a fish, and make sure you cast at between 5 and 15 feet upstream from where you see the fish. This is because the trout will typically drift against the stream after rising to the water's surface. The distance depends of course on how long you cast after spotting the fish, but this technique will greatly improve your ability to catch your trout.