CE Zoom Recordings
 

Welcome to Continuing Education Zoom Page.  

Just in case you missed a CE Zoom or want to review a past CE Zoom, this page will contain recordings of all CE Zoom Events. 

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

March 1, 2025 How Casting Works - Rod Bend and Acceleration with Bruce Richards

On March 1, 2025, Bruce Richards, MCI hosted a Q&A session to expand on  answers to questions that arose in the February 1st Continuing Education session  entitled How Fly Casting Works: The Mechanics and Physics of Fly Casting. In the March session - How Fly Casting Works – Part 2: Rod Bend and Rod Acceleration, Bruce dove deeper into questions from the February session and addressed new questions with helpful examples and graphics. Topics ranged from the relative contributions of the rod's lever and spring functions to the practical implications of rod stiffness in generating line speed and how varying lines can affect the rod’s performance. Bruce reminded the group that rods can successfully cast a wide variety of line weights and tapers and that testing these variations is an effective way to learn what works best in which fishing situation. 

Bruce Richards, MCI, is a renowned figure in the fly-fishing community for his expertise in fly line design for Scientific Anglers, and his contributions in advancing fly casting techniques and education. He has been teaching fly casting for over four decades and played a pivotal role in developing and managing the Casting Instructor Certification Program (CICP) for Fly Fishers International. In collaboration with his colleague Noel Perkins, Bruce co-developed the Fly Casting Analyzer in 2003.  This innovative tool measures the casting stroke of individuals  and provides valuable insights for both the teaching and learning  of fly casting. 

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

February 1, 2025 The Mechanics and Physics of Fly Casting with Bruce Richards and Noel Perkins

On February 1, 2025, Noel Perkins, Ph.D. and Bruce Richards, MCI covered a mix of mechanics and physics topics, explaining in plain language how fly casting works and how understanding and applying these concepts can improve both teaching and learning. Loop shape/efficiency, wind resistance, and energy transfer were each interpreted and applied to real casting and fishing problems and to teaching principles and tools such as Gammel’s five essentials. More than 150 attended the session which included a lively and informative Q&A session that generated more insights about using basic physics and biomechanic principles to improve the cast and its contribution to the joy of fly fishing.

Noel Perkins is an emeritus professor of engineering at the University of Michigan, still pursuing his interest in wireless sensors for human motion analysis. Bruce Richards is widely recognized in the international fly-fishing community for his expertise in fly line design (Scientific Anglers) and his contributions in advancing fly casting techniques and education and leading FFI’s certified instructor programs. Bruce and Noel co-developed the Fly Casting Analyzer tool in 1993 and co-founded Cast Analysis LLC to produce technology for analyzing and teaching fly casting.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

January 4, 2025 Understanding Spey Lines with Todd Somsel

On January 4, 2025 Todd Somsel, MCI, THMCI), and L-3 Examiner covered the essentials and history of spey lines - Traditional, Scandinavian, and Skagit. He outlined the features, history, and pros and cons of each type of line with advice on matching them with rods, casting them in different settings, and in instructing students about how to use them.

Todd is an experienced guide and a Pro Staff member of R.L. Winston, Ballistic Fly Lines and Scientific Anglers. He is a founder of the PNW FlyCasting Academy, co-founder of PNW Spey Lines and 2020 recipient of the FFI Governors Mentoring Award.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

December 7, 2024 Movement Analysis of Distance Fly Casting with John Waters

On December 7, John Waters - CI, MCI, Casting coach, and medal-winning competition fly caster from Melbourne, Australia, explained what he has learned in his many years of fishing, teaching, and competing with an emphasis on distance casting. He related findings from his amazing PhD study at Swinburne University in Melbourne about distance casting biomechanics and casting instructor experiences in teaching distance casts. John explained how his findings could help us improve our students’ and our own distance casting and make the casting journey more productive and rewarding.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

November 2, 2024: Sunshine and Shade: How We React to the Sensory Environment When We Fish and Its Connection to How We Should Teach with Mark Surtees

On November 2. 2024  Mark Surtees - MCI from the United Kingdom, presented insights from science and practice on how we react to the sensory environment and how they can help guide how we should teach. Mark covered the Perception Action Cycle (PAC) as an underpinning framework for designing and delivering fly  casting and fishing lessons. He explained how the related concepts of Cognitive Load and Focus of Attention can help in understanding and communicating the cast to improve students’ learning experiences. Mark showed how these concepts and tools can help us instructors decide what to teach, how much to teach, and how fast we teach it because they accurately reflect the way people learn motor skills.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

October 5, 2024: The Importance of Tension in the Cast with Graeme Hird

On October 5, 2024, Graeme Hird - CI from Perth, Westen Australia explored the importance of controlling tension throughout the cast and how tension control offers much greater loop control than most of us expect or use. It goes beyond removing slack into active management of the line/rod tension to help achieve casting objectives. Graeme showed us ways to get more from our casting with less effort. He explained principles and practices for linking line design into casting mechanics to dramatically improve casting and teaching results.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

September 7, 2024: Introducing Children to Fly Fishing with Molly Semenik and Marion Hiller

On September 7, 2024, Molly Semenik – MCI/THMCI and Marion Hiller CI from the USA shared ideas and tips for creating successful fly-fishing outings with children. Their topics included steps to help kids learn about fly fishing and the environment; preparing for fly fishing outings; staying safe; and making it fun. They covered equipment selection, casting cues, giving praise, and other important pointers.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

August 3, 2024: Rick Williams - Spey Casting and the Five Essentials

On August 3, 2024, Rick Williams - MCI, THMCI, L3 Examiner, and FFI Senior Casting Advisor from Idaho - provided useful perspectives about applying the 5 Essentials and the 6-step problem- solving method to two-handed (TH) casting. Rick showed how these tools map over into TH and single-handed spey casting and pointed out opportunities for applying them in practice. He emphasized the roles of pause, casting arc, and smoothness in applying force in the TH context. Rick encouraged the casting community to consider developing a special version of the Casting Essentials for two-handed casting.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

June 1, 2024: Tim Rajeff - Right Rod Roundup

On June 1st, 2024 Tim Rajeff MCI, founder of Echo rods, former competitive caster, and world-renowned instructor, shared his perspectives on rod action, power, and choosing the right rod. Tim emphasized that “action is where the rod bends; power is how much it bends under a given load .” He encouraged us to judge rod stiffness in partial line weight equivalents (e.g., 5.3 instead of just 5) and provided a line weight chart. View the recording for Tim's perspectives on rods, line tapers, weights, and casting situations. 

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

May 4, 2024: Chris Hague & Brian McGlashan - The Utility of Spey Casting

On May 4th, 2024 Chris Hague (UK) & Brian McGlashan (Scotland, UK), both MCI and THMCI certified instructors explored the utility of spey casting. View this recording for examples of using single and double-handed spey techniques to improve the efficiency and versatility in the fly fisher’s repertoire. Learn how spey casting can help us cover more water, deal with winds, defeat bankside barriers, and expend less energy.  

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

April 6, 2024: Bruce Chard - What a CI Needs to Teach a Saltwater Client

On April 6th, 2024 Capt. Bruce Chard, MCI and Keys flats guide for more than 25 years spoke about what casting instructors should teach saltwater anglers. Bruce emphasized the importance of teaching for casting versatility and quickness in all directions. View this recording to learn more about handling slack and helping the student "come tight to the fly" and "tight to the fish" for success in saltwater.  

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

October 15, 2023: MCI Study Guide Zoom Q+A session

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

April 2, 2023: Fundamental Casts of the MCI Study Guide presented by the authors of the Study Guide, John Clark, Brian Henderson, Mark Surtees, Dom Hewitt and Sekhar Bahadur

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

March 11, 2023: iPad as Mirror Revolution with Macauley Lord.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

February 18, 2023: Lee Cummings and the Triangle Method

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

October 15, 2022: Overview of the New MCI Study Guide with Sekhar Bahadur, Brian Henderson, John Clark, and Mark Surtees

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS: CastingisAwesome!

Leaning Into Learning

This series will teach you how to improve your level of instruction by adopting the knowledge and skill that coaches and sports instructors have long relied upon to produce results. You will hear that successful teaching depends on understanding how students actually learn and that simple changes based on the science of the learning process can have dramatic results. These programs are custom tailored to fly casting instruction. They are engaging, innovative and insightful and will give you a practical understanding of how to become a more successful instructor.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

Part One, presented June 4, 2022:

Part Two, presented July 2, 2022:

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

May 14, 2020 DMAIC: Teaching Efficiency and Power in Fly Casting by Jeff Wagner

Jeff Wagner, MCI and CBOGE, makes a presentation on how to develop better lesson plans.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

April 11, 2020 Fly Casting Skills Challenge (FCSC) What, Why, and How by Jonathan Walter 

Jonathan Walter, MCI and CBOG, will give an overview of the FCSC, discuss its many uses and goals, and provide insights on how to conduct a skills challenge.

PDF of slideshow click here.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

February 29, 2020 Leveraging the Learning Center by Molly Semenik

Molly Semenik MCI, THCI, and CBOG presents the FFI Learning Center (LC) with a focus on the Casting Resource Area.  Molly will point out the numerous benefits and ways in which to utilize the LC not only for yourself but for your students and instructor candidates as well.

PDF of slideshow click here.

PASSWORD TO VIEW VIDEOS:  CastingisAwesome!

If you have any questions - contact FFI Casting Coordinator (casting@flyfishersinternational.org)