We're glad you’re here. You’re in the right place if you’re looking for Resources for Teaching. On this page there is access to materials for beginning and experienced instructors. The Fly Casting Education Program has many Certified Instructors that are accomplished teachers, and they have shared information here. They also often share their knowledge and expertise in our professional journal, The Loop, and there are continuing education opportunities available, especially online. If you are already an FFI member, we thank you for being a valuable part of FFI. If you are not already an FFI member or need to renew, we invite you to do so. Then you will be able to access this entire resource!
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Included here for instructors is the original pamphlet, cover to cover, that was published by Fly Fishers International, which was then Federation of Fly Fishers in 1993. Jay Gammel and his son, Bill, spent hours watching video to discover what truly makes casting work regardless of casting style. They were able to summarize in 24 pages what had previously been countless pages of text. The Five Essentials of Fly Casting formed the foundation of understanding casting, and therefore understanding casting errors. This original manuscript is reproduced here to honor Jay and Bill Gammel’s tremendous contribution to our sport and fly casting instruction. In 2016, Bill Gammel was interviewed, in part, about his view of the Five Essentials 23 years after this pamphlet’s publication. It can be found in the July 2016 edition of the Loop, and we encourage you to read it. Also, Bruce Richards revisited the topic in the Fall 2023 edition of the Loop. Finally, the reader should note that since publication in 1993 some of the definitions and terms have changed. Please refer to the current FFI Fly Casting Definitions for the most up to date terminology and definitions.
We believe learning is a life-long endeavor. The FFI Fly Casting Education Program has Continuing Education (CE) meetings on a wide range of topics such as Introducing Kids to Fly Fishing, Spey Casting and the Five Essentials, and many more. The CE Zoom video library is available to FFI Certified Instructors and Candidates only. We welcome and encourage you to continue your learning. If you don't see a topic you are interested in please let us know, email us at casting@flyfishersinternational.org.