Learning Center Update

The Fly Fishers International Learning Center continues to grow.

Many new fly fishing skills, educational and instructional materials have been added to Learning Center website (www.flyfishersinternational. org/learn). The Learning Center features current videos, manuals, and slide presentations for casting, fly tying, fly fishing skills, and conservation.

Amongst all of the new fly fishing resources in the Learning Center is the new Saltwater Fly Tying Manual, as well as eight new casting instruction videos.

The Saltwater Fly Tying Manual was an initiative by the FFI Fly Tying Group to adhere to the “All Fish, All Waters” principle. Seven expert authors were assembled from around the country within Fly Fishers International to create a manual of 23 saltwater flies that could be used throughout the coastal states. Each author supplied step-bystep instructions with photographs on how to tie the fly, plus background information about the pattern.

“The goal was to create a manual where tyers could download and learn the patterns and FFI clubs and councils could teach fly tying classes for saltwater patterns,” explained chair of the Fly Tying Group, Jerry Coviello.

Eight new instructional videos have been added to the Fly Casting Video Library. Master Casting Instructors Bruce Richards and Dok Arvanites teach practical fishing casts and techniques useful for minimizing drag, changing casting direction, casting heavy flies and sink tips, dealing with obstructions and stuck flies, and for managing fly line while casting and fishing.

“Learning these casts and fishing techniques will add to your enjoyment of fly fishing and will surely improve your catch rate,” said Ron Mayfield, FTG Board of Governors member.

Jim Sommercorn, who sits on the Casting Board of Governors subcommittee, helped review the fly casting skills development program and the production of eight new casting instruction videos, including Directional Change Casts; The Belgian Cast; The Roll Cast Pickup; How to Control Your Fly Line; The Reach Mend; The Curve Casts; How to Put Slack in Your Fly Line; and Off-Side Casting.

These eight new casting instruction videos will be added to the existing lineup, which includes the titles Pickup and Lay-Down Cast; False Cast; Roll Cast; Fundamentals of a Cast; and Resources Needed to Give a Class on Basic Fly Casting.

Many more new fly fishing educational and instructional material have either been recently uploaded to the FFI Learning Center or are in progress.

The FFI Fly Fishing Skills Program is provided as a resource for individual fly fishers who pursue individual learning and participation in formal fly fishing skills workshops, or formal training as a FFI Fly Fishing Skills Instructor and includes four tiers for anglers to grow into:

Level 1: An opportunity for an individual fly fisher to explore, identify, and study fly fishing skills in the FFI Learning Center at their leisure;

Level 2: Fly Fishing Skills I: an opportunity for an individual fly fisher to participate in a formal Beginning Fly Fishing workshop during the FFI Virtual Expo;

Level 3: Fly Fishing Skills II: an opportunity for an individual fly fisher to participate in a formal Fly Fishing Skills workshop during the FFI Virtual Expo for experienced fly fishers.

Level 4: Fly Fishing Skills Instructor Development Program: an opportunity for an individual to participate in a two day formal workshop designed to provide the teaching competencies in order to teach fly fishing skills (not connected to the Virtual Expo).

The Fly Fishers International Learning Center continues to grow. Our hope is that you will take advantage of the thought and energy put into creating the online resources so you can continue on your own journey of life long fly fishing learning.

Dutch Baughman

FFI Board of Directors & Education Committee Chair