Fly Casting Education Program

FCEP Award Deadlines:

• Nominations accepted starting April 15
• Nominations close June 1
• Award recipients notified by July 15

Submit Nomination   

The Fly Casting Education Program (FCEP) of Fly Fishers International (FFI) has seven different casting education awards to present to worthy individuals each year. The FFI is a volunteer organization and the success of the FCEP is due to the support and dedication of our volunteer members who believe in what we do. We should give worthy individuals casting education specific awards in appreciation for outstanding service.

Some specific areas are casting education over a lifetime, mentoring Certification Candidates, teaching FFI members and all fly anglers, and administrative and leadership work. Three of them evoke our history by memorializing past CICP and Casting Board of Governor leaders--Mel Krieger, Jay Gammel, and Floyd Franke. Two awards (Lifetime Achievement and Jay Gammel) may be given to individuals outside of FFI which recognizes the valuable contributions outside the FFI community. Multiple nominees may be selected for any award each year and no award must be awarded annually. 

Nominations come from the global membership of FFI, FCEP Team members, and CICP members. The nominating document must stand alone. The sponsor, the person who submits the nomination, must document in the nomination multiple specific examples of how that individual or individuals fulfilled the criteria. The Awards Team will act impartially: awards are based upon the facts in the nomination and not on the general familiarity of that individual with the Awards Committee. A nomination is usually more effective if multiple letters of support are obtained that document the breadth of the nominee’s contributions to the program. Awards are recommended to the Leadership Team of FCEP which makes the final decision.

Click here to understand the Nomination and Selection Process.  Multiple nominees may be selected for any award each year and no award must be awarded annually. With the exception of the Lifetime Achievement and Jay Gammel Awards the nominee must be a FFI member. 

Below is a brief description of the seven awards and the past recipients.  There is a hyperlink after each award description to the Criteria and Requirements for that award.

FFI Lifetime Achievement in Fly Casting Education Award

This award is presented to individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to fly casting education.  Contributions may include teaching, innovation in fly casting techniques, writing, motivation and sharing their knowledge of teaching to advance goals of the Fly Casting Education Program. In 2019, this award was elevated to be presented by the FFI Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Casting Board of Governors and since 2024 the Fly Casting Education Program.

FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award

This award, honoring Mel Krieger, a well-known figure in the instruction of fly casting and author of the original Fly Fishers International Casting Instructor Certification Program, is presented in recognition of those who have dedicated themselves to fly casting instruction, have shared their knowledge with others, and made significant contributions to the FFI Casting Instructor Certification Program and the FFI Fly Casting Education Program.  In 2019, this award was elevated to be presented by the FFI Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Casting Board of Governors and since 2024 the Fly Casting Education Program.

Floyd Franke Award For Contributions to the FCEP

This award recognizes significant contributions to processes and organizational components of the FCEP, and it has roots in the Casting Board of Governors (CBOG) and the Casting Instructor Certification Program. In 2024 it was adopted for the entire Fly Casting Education Program. Floyd Franke advanced the mission of the CICP on several levels through his contributions as a Governor and later as the Chairperson of the CBOG. Floyd had vision, proposed practical solutions to real problems, and implemented those solutions.  He foresaw that high standards must be maintained and laid the foundation for the Code of Conduct and established an Ethics Committee. He helped establish the Two-Hand Casting Instructor program, Governor Membership terms, and opened governance committees and program activities to participation by all MCIs.  Floyd looked for people who got things done without considering name recognition or celebrity status. He had a major role in making the CICP a respected and valued component of FFI worldwide.

Jay Gammel Award for Fly Casting Instruction

The Essentials of Fly Casting was the first published work that analyzed fly casting from the instructor’s perspective. When the FFI published Jay and Bill Gammel’s Essentials in 1993, the 24-page pamphlet changed the teaching of fly casting forever. This award recognizes individuals who have developed instructional materials that advanced fly casting instruction whether or not they are an FFI member.

Casting Instructor Certification Program Mentoring Award

The CICP Mentoring Award is awarded to a FFI Certified Instructor(s) for long and continued support of the CICP through mentoring.  Mentoring involves assisting and preparing Certification Candidates toward FFI instructor certifications (CI, MCI, THCI, THMCI) through casting and teaching tuition sessions (individual or group) to further improve candidates’ casting knowledge and skills. Instruction may be virtual, in person, or both. Mentoring also includes sharing casting knowledge voluntarily with individuals, groups, or clubs to improve members’ casting skills.

Fly Casting Education Program Recognition Award (formerly CICP Instruction Recognition Award)

This award is presented to a certified instructor who has contributed significantly to the FCEP community through their unselfish devotion and passion to help individuals and groups learn to enjoy the sport of fly fishing. Contributions may include teaching involvement with the FFI’s Learning Center in such areas like the Fly Casting Skills Development; teaching and working with Veteran groups, Women or youth groups, First Responder groups, and/or Special Needs groups; the development of unique teaching programs; or their involvement with FFI Councils, clubs or regional casting programs.

FCEP Leadership Team Recognition Award (formerly Governor’s Pin)

This award is given in recognition of an individual’s vision, steadfastness, initiative, creativity, and ability to inspire those being led toward a goal. This may be through administration, committee involvement or program implementation. The award is decided by vote of FCEP Leadership Team members. Leadership Team members are not eligible for this award.