Class Schedule September Casting Fair  – Registration will open Friday Aug. 2

Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver WA

The Washington State Council of FFI will hold a Fly Casting Fair Sept. 21 in the center of the Clark College campus in downtown Vancouver WA. The day-long event will offer Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Women Casting and Spey Classes. There will be a free Walk-in Casting clinic and Casting Skills Development Course led by FFI certified instructors.  Please bring your own equipment.  The recommended rod is 9ft 5wt rod with a 7.5′ leader with a yarn fly attached. We will have a minimum number of loaner rods.  The WSCFFI highly recommends that you wear a hat and sunglasses or other protective eyewear.  Sunscreen is recommended.

For the best experience, register for one of the following 90-minute casting classes:

Beginning Fly Casting Class

Brad Cleaves, CI,  Instructor, Morning Class, 9 a.m.

This class is for those new to the sport or with limited casting experience. This class will cover the basics beginning with the pickup and lay down and the fundamental overhead cast. From there the focus will shift to the techniques to make a confident cast on rivers and lakes. Instructors will rely on brief demonstrations then shift to individual help for each student to identify and overcome problems. And if you don’t have a fly rod, don’t worry. We’ve got a loaner for you to use.

$40, 10 participants morning class

Women’s Fly Casting Class – 9:00 a.m.

Mary Ann Dozer, Instructor, MCI, CI, Level 1 examiner

Marion Hiller, Instructor, C.I.

This class is designed for women anglers with beginning to intermediate fly casting skill and fishing experience who want to learn what it takes to improve casting skills and become a more effective angler. Students will gain insights to improve the foundational cast: the pick up-lay down cast, the overhead cast: false casting, accuracy casting: effectively casting to different distances. Students will leave with exercises to practice for continued progress.

Suggested gear: one rod: 4-6 wt. rod, a floating line if possible, and 7.5 feet tapered leader with a yarn fly attached, and eye protection.

$40,  10 participants

Intermediate Casting Class –  9 a.m.

Beth Jappay,  Instructor, C.I.

In this class you will learn techniques to self-improve your overhead cast. You will learn the 5 essentials of a cast and how they each influence the outcome of a cast. From there you will learn how application of these essentials enables a caster to shoot line, perform a single or double haul, perform aerial mends, and improve your accuracy. For this class you must have solid experience fly casting. This is not a beginners fly casting class. The gear required for the class includes a 5 to 7 weight forward floating fly line, 8.5 to 10 foot fly rod, 7.5 feet of leader with yarn attached, and eye protection.

$40, 8 participants

Walk-in Casting Clinic – All Day

Don Simonson, MCI, CI, Level 2 Examiner

Expert instructors engage with you one-on-one in a relaxed outdoor setting to teach techniques for overcoming a problem and perfecting your cast.

$7 Donation appreciated

Casting Skills Development Course

Aaron Culley, C.I.

The Casting Skills Development Course is a fun way to improve your casting skills in a self-paced interactive fashion. You can engage with instructors at the site to work through the skills step by step. Better yet, you and your friends can engage together working through steps and challenging one another to advance your abilities. The Skills Development Course moves through four levels from beginner to advanced. Those with solid foundational skills can work up through the levels to Bronze, Silver and Gold abilities and win FFI recognition for your level of achievement.

$7 Donation appreciated.

 

Lunch Time Casting Demonstrations 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Spend some time with the designer of ECHO rods and former casting competitor Tim Rajeff. He will review rod design and how to know what type of rod is best for your casting style.

No Charge, open to all

Advanced Distance/Performance Casting Class 1:30 p.m.

Join Tim Rajeff for 90 minutes of distance and performance casting. Tim will spend personal time with the students to focus on aspects of casting that the students most want to cover. Bring your trout rod and a heavier rod if you want to work on saltwater casting techniques. Be ready to have some fun while you achieve the next level in your casting.

$50,  6 participants

Single-handed Spey Casting Class – 9a.m.

Dwight Klemin, MCI, THMCI, CI

This class is designed for experienced casters who want to expand their fishing range with single-handed spey techniques. The class will cover the seven steps for a Spey Cast which include the four main repositioning moves for a successful Spey Cast. The focus of the class is to improve participants’ ability to deliver casts that cover the water and put flies in position to catch fish. 9foot 6 or 7 weight rod with WF line and a 71/2 — O-X leader.  Instructor will supply additional (Special Tippet)

$50, 6 participants

Beginning Fly Casting Class – 1:30 p.m.

Ryan Smith, C.I.

This class is designed for individuals, couples and parents and kids with beginning fly casting and fishing experience who want to improve casting skills to become a more effective angler. Students will gain insights to improve the foundational cast: the pick up-lay down cast, the overhead cast: false casting, accuracy casting: effectively casting to different distances. Participants will leave with exercises to practice for continued progress.

Suggested gear: one rod: 4-6 wt. rod, a floating line if possible, and 7.5 feet tapered leader with a yarn fly attached, and eye protection.

$40,  10 participants

 

Introduction to Fly Tying

Forrest Koponen, Dean Potter and Russ Flaskerud 1:30 p.m.

The thrill of catching a fish on a fly you tied is like no other. Tying your own flies adds a new dimension to your angling experience. Tying a fly may appear intimidating, but it is not. Especially, with experienced tiers to teach you the basics. This course is an introduction on “How to Tie a Fly”. All the equipment and material will be provided. You will spend the majority of time learning the basics of how to handle and prepare materials, use tying tools and basic tying techniques. The class is open to all from 5 to 95 years young. Don’t worry if you’ve never tied before, we will show you how easy it is.

 $25, for the morning and afternoon classes, 10 participants per class

 

Attendance for all classes is limited. Don’t miss out – Click on the “Class Sign-up” button to signup for a class.

Participants in casting classes or the other events are welcome to bring their own fly rods. Please attach yarn to your leader. No hooks please. If you don’t have a fly rod, you will be able to borrow one for the classes.

FFI would appreciate a $5 donation from members of the public for participating in the Walk-In Clinic and Skills Development Courses to help cover the costs of the Fly Casting Fair.

You can also make a $30 donation to the FFI Washington Council to help support our mission is to ensure the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters continues by focusing on conservation, education and a sense of community.