1) Unlearning conventional casting habits: Most of us learned to fish with a conventional spinning rod, and that's okay! Yet, bringing the rod up slowly, and forcing the fly and line down like we used to do results in a poor cast, and your line either tangled, or slapping the water and scaring off the fish. Humans learn through repetition, so after a casting lesson and some instruction from one of our guides, you'll have your fly cast dialed in and be on the fish before you know it. 2) Setting the hook two hard; pulling the fish out of the water: It's ok to get excited, that's one of the best parts of fly fishing, yet trout have delicate mouth's, and we're not bass fishing. Even the most seasoned angles will set the hook too hard when the levels of adrenaline start flowing out there on the river, and when it happens we often break the line, or pull the hook out of the fish's mouth. When new fly fishers get their first trout on the line, the instinct is to often set the hook with all their might, or raise the rod high into the air and pull the fish out of the water, which also causes the same results. If you make this common mistake, you'll hear us yelling, "keep'em wet!" 3) Too much line in the water or in the air: We can't catch fish when our line is waving around in the air, in a tangled mess at the end of our rod, or stuck in a tree. Furthermore, the more line we have on the water, the more the current is pulling our fly under, or through the water unnaturally (drag). Long fancy casts are fun, but not needed or a best practice when it comes to catching fish. 4) Bending at the shoulder or wrist when casting: Oftentimes new casters will bring their arm through the correct motion to cast, only to move their wrist or shoulder out of position. By tucking your elbow in place and keeping a firm wrist, you can help ensure your rod and line go to the intended target.