The Fly Casting Skills Development Program was devised in mid-2018 by Fly Fishers International as a fun program to improve your fly casting and through it, your fishing. It includes a Foundation level for beginning casters then progresses through Bronze, Silver and Gold and covers the casts used by most anglers in a variety of fly fishing situations. The Bronze level program is designed for the novice fly caster (but not beginner) while the Silver and Gold levels are aimed at improving the casting skills of intermediate and advanced level fly fishers.
If you wish, you can learn the casts in the program by yourself. It will be self-evident to you whether you are getting the casts right.
Each level has well defined expectations for each task against which you will be tested which is entirely optional. Should you wish to, you can receive achievement certificates and badges for each level from Fly Fishers International. With the exception of the gold level, you do not have to pass all the tasks in one test. You can sit the test and pass four of the seven tasks one day for example, practice those you did not pass and re-sit the final three tasks another day. It is intended to be a low stress, fun way of advancing your casting.
1. Pick up and lay down cast on your dominant side to a target at 35 feet
2. Pick up and lay down cast on your non-dominant side to a target at 35 feet
3. Horizontal pick up and lay down cast
4. Shooting line from 35 to 40 feet to a 40 ft target
5. Casting to targets at 25 and 35 feet and deliver a fly to within 2 feet of the centre of targets
6. Roll cast on your dominant side minimum of 35 feet
7. Distance cast to at least 50 feet to within 4 feet either side of an extended measuring tape
If you would like Capital Fly Casting to teach you the casts, casting tuition is $50 per hour. Capital Fly Casting can facilitate an unpaid, independent examiner. To book your lesson, simply e-mail us at info@capitalflycasting.com
In order to be awarded your Fly Fishers International certificate of achievement and badge, you must be a member of FFI. Join here