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Mission
The mission of Fly Fishers International is to foster the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters through conservation, education, and inspiring a growing community of fly fishers.
Vision
Fly Fishers International will play a meaningful role in the global fly fishing community by collaborating with individuals, organizations, and industry leaders to have a positive influence on the evolution of the sport. FFI will accomplish this vision by building partnerships, increasing its membership, building financial support, and enhancing the impact of its programs.
Join/Renew Fly Fishers International
If you are drawn to fly fishing, please support the only organization that actively works to preserve the legacy. You will help ensure that fly fishing can continue to instill the kind of passion it does today in so many of us.
Fly Casting Skills Development (FCSD)
The purpose of the Fly Casting Skills Development program (FCSD) is to give all fly anglers a guide to learning and improving casting skills that address increasingly advanced fishing situations.
It starts at the Foundation level, for true beginners who might be picking up a fly rod for the first time. It progresses through 4 levels: Foundation, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These provide broad, progressively more challenging, fishing casts covering skill categories of loop control, accuracy, roll cast, presentation, change in direction and distance.
Better casting skills open more fishing opportunities with less frustration. All fly anglers can benefit from improving their skills and should be proud of their accomplishment. There is even an opportunity for recognition of casting accomplishments with an award document and a pin for Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.
Special mention should be made that this is a separate program from the Casting Instructor Certification Program. The FCSD program is not an examination and is meant to be done at the participant’s own pace. Achievement of any of the 4 levels does not certify any teaching ability on the part of the participants. Simply stated, FCSD is something that a Certified Instructor might teach students to help improve fishing success, not what one learns to become a Certified Instructor.
Casting Education program
4 levels: Foundation, Bronze, Silver, and Gold
A guide to learning and improving casting skills that address increasingly advanced fishing situations.
Improved casting skills -> Increased fishing opportunities -> More fish(?)
Start at the beginning and proceed in order
For some this means Bronze. It is tempting to skip ahead to Silver and Gold, but keep in mind that each level has unique skills and casts that build upon each other, so one could miss out by skipping over a level. Also, instructor experience reveals that those who struggle have fundamental flaws and inefficiencies in their casting. Spending a little time on Bronze and developing proper casting form will make everything easier, and most importantly, help you put the fly where you want it to go!
Special note on Foundation level
This level is a great starting place for those picking up a fly rod for the first time, or beginners with little fishing experience. You will learn the foundation of fly casting: loop formation and control. FFI strongly recommends beginners start here.
Go at your own pace
This is not a test! Do not be intimidated! If you simply want to work on one cast a day, week, month, or whatever, that is fine! A facilitator (an observer at Bronze, or a Certified Instructor or documented Gold Recipient at Silver and Gold) can confirm your achievement and check them off as you go. Get and keep a confirmation form, especially if you want the recognition pin and award document. It is your development, and it is about progress, not perfection. Also, remember not to “over practice.” Twenty to 30 minutes at a time is plenty, more than that can lead to fatigue, injury, and bad habits.
Dive in
Try something in Bronze. If it is too challenging, get help, shorten the distance, or go to Foundation level. Since it is self-paced, you can set aside as much time as you desire out of your fishing schedule to achieve these skills. Take your new skills with you fishing and spend more time catching with less frustration. Keep after it—the rewards are great!
Certified Casting Instructor
History and overview
The Casting Instructor Certification Program (CICP) was established in 1992 by leaders of what was then the Federation of Fly Fishers.
The CICP was developed to enhance the overall level of instruction in fly casting by increasing instructor knowledge, casting proficiency, and teaching ability. A secondary goal was to create a common understanding of casting terminology and casting mechanics that would serve the fly casting community in North America and internationally.
Certifications
There are four Casting Instructor Certifications, including single-hand Certified Casting Instructor, single-hand Master Casting Instructor, Two Hand Casting Instructor, and Two Hand Master Casting Instructor. In addition, Master Casting Instructors can qualify to become an examiner to certify all instructors.
Until recently, getting certified was the only FFI program to improve casting.
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