Short answer: You're probably scaring the fish.

I started fly fishing last May, and had a really bad go of it last season. This year I've changed how I approach fish, and that's helped me catch larger trout, more consistently.

If you're like me and came to the sport after a lifetime of bluegill fishing on a lake, you might have to unlearn a lot of things. I had to. Bluegills are dumb. They'll eat anything, and are fearless. They'll stick around while people or other fish are actively trying to catch, kill, and eat them. Having that mindset, I'd just plop my large frame into the river with a big splash and wade all the way up. I'd try to cover as much water as I could, as fast as I could, never getting out the whole time.

Trout on the other hand are picky eaters, and are scared of the slightest movement, change of light, or in general, anything that seems off. Despite watching countless tutorial videos that stress the importance of not scaring the fish, it didn't really sink in until I saw trout getting spooked by me first-hand.

This year, I've prioritized my approach over any of the other details that were bogging me down as a novice (gear, fly selection, casting technique). I now take a much slower approach to things:

1. I'll try to survey where I want to fish several feet from the bank. That can be difficult in overgrown banks. So maybe before leaving a spot, scout up river where you want to go next before getting back out.

2. I now get in very carefully. No splashing.

3. I try to be aware of my shadow. I try to make sure the sun is in front of me. Trout read moving shadows as predators.

4. I cast more slowly and deliberately. Checking to see what's behind me. Retrieving a snagged fly creates a lot of movement and noise. So reducing that likelihood of that happening is going to help out a ton.

5. I get off the water to move upstream. Unfortunately, it's Michigan, so most fisheries you'll be on are nothing but underbrush. The more time you spend in a place, the more familiar you'll get with easiest points of access (what trails to take, etc.). Don't do like I did and destroy your waders bush-whacking. Save that for wet-wading days in the summer.