Master Fly Casting Instructor Performance Test
Effective 4/10/09
Equipment: All equipment will be supplied by the person taking the test.
Rod: 9 ft. maximum (2.74 meters)
Line: #7 floating maximum (177-193 grains)
Leader: 7-1/2 ft minimum with yarn fly (2.27 meters)
Note: The candidate must demonstrate the good form expected of a Master Certified Instructor, which would instill confidence in students and instructors. While a maximum of three attempts per task is permitted, successful candidates will accomplish most tasks quickly and easily on the first attempt, with good demonstration and when requested, clear, concise explanations. The successful candidate must attempt all tasks, and fail no more than two. The distance task must be passed.
Candidates will be requested to explain and demonstrate how they would teach some or all of the casts included in this performance test. Examiners have the right to ask candidates to expand or give greater detail on any task, to confirm knowledge or skills.
All tasks must be performed with the same rod and line. In the event of equipment failure other equipment may be used only with approval of the examiners. Considering wind, casting direction will be at the discretion of the candidate. Lengths of line to be cast are specified in each task, include the leader, and measured from the caster to the fly. Marking the fly line to indicate specific distances required in the accuracy tasks is prohibited. Hitting a target while executing a task is required only when specifically requested in the task.
The Master candidate must be a current FFF Certified Instructor.
Task 1. Demonstrate your ability to vary the size of your casting loops, starting by casting wide loops, then making them increasingly narrow over five to six false casts. Casting 45 to 50 feet. No hauling allowed.
Expectations: Good, consistent loops front and back; no tails; slow/medium speed . On this task, narrow loops are considered to be approximately 2 feet (0.6 m) or less in height; wide loops to be approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) in height.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Tailing loops
(__) Narrow loops to big
(__) No variation in loop size
Comments: ________________________________________
Task 2. Demonstrate a series of casts progressing from the vertical position to the horizontal position. Make two false casts at the vertical and work down in a series of steps to the horizontal position. Each step must have at least two false casts. Casting approximately 40 feet (12.2 m). No hauling allowed. Repeat on the opposite side of the body.
Expectations: Narrow loops front and back; loop size approximately 2 feet (0.6 m) in height; no tails; line speed adequate to keep loops in plane and aerialized.
Passed (___)
Failed (___)
(___) Tailing loops
(___) Loops too big
(___) Varying loop sizes
(___) Inadequate line speed and/or poor aiming
Comments:______________________________________________
Task 3. Casting approximately 40 feet (12.2 m), demonstrate controlled slack line casts, first with a series of wide slack waves then with a series of narrow slack waves. No hauling allowed.
Expectations: Wide slack waves should be approximately 6 feet (1.8 m) in width; narrow waves approximately 2 feet (0.6 m) in width. No tails; slow to medium speed.
Passed (___)
Failed (___)
(___) Waves very inconsistent; could not control wave width
(___) Tailing loops
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 4. Casting approximately 55 feet (16.8 m) of line, present the fly with an aerial mend at 15 feet (4.6 m). Mend may be to the right or left at the examiner's option. No hauling allowed. Repeat with aerial mends at 25 feet (7.6 m)and 35 feet (10.7 m).
Expectations: Demonstrate good line control; consistent loops front and back; no tails; slow/medium speed. Demonstrate the ability to place a single, distinct mend (bow) at different points along the line. The line should land on the surface relatively straight, other than at the mend point.
Passed (___)
Failed (___)
(___) Unable to control placement of the mend; very inconsistent
(___) Tailing loops
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 5. Using the same hand, demonstrate an overpowered and under-powered curve cast with the fly landing approximately 30 feet (9.1 m) from the caster. No hauling allowed.
Expectations: Line and/or leader should land in a distinct curve. Curve casts are made by rod motion prior to loop formation; they are not aerial mends.
Passed (___)
Failed (___)
(___) Line/leader not landing in a curve
(___) Aerial mend instead of a curve
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 6. Demonstrate a normal roll cast in which the leader straightens completely at approximately 50 feet (15.2 m). Allowances will be made if casting on grass — candidate may opt to cast with or without anchoring the leader or use a grass leader. Repeat from opposite side of the body. No hauling allowed.
Expectations: The D loop should be dragged into position slowly and come to a complete stop; not done as a switch cast with a dynamic, thrown D loop. Consistent loops with the top of the loops no higher than the caster's head.
Passed (__)
Failed (___)
(___) Leader did not fully straighten
(___) Loops too big
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 7. Demonstrate a roll cast using a single haul, shooting line to achieve a distance of 55 feet (16.8 m) or more. Allowances will be made if casting on grass -- the candidate may opt to cast with or without anchoring the leader or use a grass leader.
Expectations: A dynamic, thrown D or V loop, e.g., a 'flick-lift', positioned approximately 180 degrees from the target, is expected on this task. Consistent loops with the top of the loop no higher than the caster's head.
Passed (___)
Failed (___)
(___) Leader did not fully straighten
(___) Loops too big
(___) Did not haul
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 8. Casting approximately 35 feet, demonstrate a roll cast pickup, as would be used, for example, with a bass bug. Allowances will be made if casting on grass. No hauling allowed.
Expectations: Line, leader and fly are fully aerialized.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Fly or line hit water on the roll cast.
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 9. Demonstrate the single spey cast, explaining when and where to use this cast. Cast to a minimum distance of 40 feet (12.2 m). Use a single-handed rod.
Allowances will be made if casting on grass -- the candidate may opt to use a grass leader. Hauls not permitted.
Expectations: The cast must be executed in a smooth manner, demonstrating a proper lift, position of the anchor and formation and alignment of the D or V loop in line with the target. The candidate must be able to explain the conditions that would determine when and where this cast would be used including wind direction and bank position. No tailing loop on the forward cast.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Did not know when or where to use (bank/wind direction)
(__) No Lift (dragged line into place)
(__) Anchor piled or L shaped
( __) Poorly formed D-loop (not in plane with forward cast)
(__) Tailed Forward Cast
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 10. Demonstrate the double spey cast, explaining when and where to use this cast. Cast to a minimum distance of 40 feet (12.2 m). Use a single-handed rod.
Allowances will be made if casting on grass -- the candidate may opt to use a grass leader.
Expectations: The cast must be executed in a smooth manner, demonstrating a proper lift, position of the anchor and formation and alignment of the D or V loop in line with the target. The candidate must be able to explain the conditions that would determine when and where this cast would be used including wind direction and bank position. No tailing loop on the forward cast.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Did not know when or where to use (bank/wind direction)
(__) No lift (dragged line into place)
(__) Anchor piled or L-shaped
(__) Poorly formed D-loop (not in plane with forward cast)
(__) Tailed forward cast
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 11. Starting the series with fly in hand, present the fly accurately to targets at 40, 30, and 55 feet, (12.2, 9.1, 16.8 m) in that order, false casting between targets. To score, the fly must hit 30-inch (76 cm)targets at 40 feet (12.2 m)and 30 feet (9.1) and a 48-inch (122 cm) target at 55 feet (16.8 m). Allowances will be made for adverse conditions. The candidate is allowed three successive lay-downs at each ring to score in a single sequence through all three targets. Hauling permitted. Repeat over the opposite shoulder.
Expectations: Good line control and accuracy with consistent loops on both front and back. No tailing loops. All casting will be aerialized, and hitting the ground counts as a lay-down. The candidate may not drag the line on the ground in an attempt to measure the cast.
Passed ( __)
Failed (__)
(__) Poor line control
(__) Inconsistent, unequal loops
(__) Tailing loops
(__) Missed targets: (__) 40 feet; (__) 30 feet; (__) 55 feet
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 12. Demonstrate continuous double hauling on a minimum of 5 false casts while casting approximately 55 feet (16.8 m).
Expectations: Smooth, consistent hauling front and back producing consistent loops. No tailing loops. Slow to medium speed.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Hauls erratic or abrupt (bouncing the rod tip)
(__) Tailing loops
(__) Haul length and speed significantly different between front and back
(__) Haul timing incorrect
Comments: __________________________________________________
Task 13. Demonstrate a cast at a minimum distance of 85 feet (26 m). Hauling permitted.
Expectations: Smooth casting and hauling. Consistent loops front and back. No tailing loops. The caster should make this look easy -- without appearing to struggle to achieve the distance.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Distance not achieved within three attempts
(__) Tailing loops
(__) Loops not similar front to back
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 14. First, explain and demonstrate a saltwater quick cast from a flats skiff. Begin by explaining the purpose of the cast. Address all steps in line preparation and executing the cast and include every step in the process. End by presenting the fly at a minimum distance of 60 feet (18.3 m) with no more than 3 false casts. Secondly, explain the line handling challenge that an angler faces when wading an ocean flat. Hauling required.
Expectations: The explanation should match the demonstration and be focused at students/anglers who have never fished from a skiff. The demonstration should exhibit good line control with consistent loops after the initial pickup. Line and leader should straighten completely. No tailing loops.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Poor loop control
(__) Tailing loops
(__) Demonstration did not match explanation
(__) Explanation incomplete or unclear
(__) Line prep demonstration/explanation incomplete
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 15. Explain and demonstrate the casting technique used to cast a heavily weighted fly or sinking-tip line. Hauling permitted.
Expectations: Explain why the casting technique differs from casting full-floating lines and un-weighted flies and explain how the technique differs. Include the following considerations in the explanation: line pickup, types of casts appropriate, loop size and speed, false casting, and shooting line. The demonstration must match the explanation and should be focused at the student level.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Explanation unclear or incomplete
(__) Demonstration did not match explanation
(__) Tailing loops
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 16. Explain and demonstrate change-of-direction casts, e.g., from a downstream position to an upstream position.
Expectations: The demonstration should include a minimum of two different casts, to change direction from left to right, and from right to left. The change of direction should be significant -- 45 degrees or more. False casting to achieve change of direction is acceptable as one of the two different casts to be demonstrated. The candidate should explain why the demonstrated casts were used and their advantages and disadvantages. The demonstration must match the explanation and be focused at the student level.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Explanation unclear or incomplete
(__) Explanation did not match demonstration
(__) Change of direction less than 45 degrees
(__) Poor loop control and/or tailing loops
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 17. Explain and demonstrate casting with a strong head wind, tail wind and wind from either side. Hauling permitted.
Expectations: The problem presented by each wind direction should be explained. At least one cast to overcome the wind must be demonstrated for each wind direction. The explanation should include why the cast was selected (advantages), how the cast should be made, and the characteristics of the cast, e.g., loop size/shape, rod plane, line speed, trajectory, etc. The demonstration must match the explanation and be focused at the student level.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Explanation did not match demonstration
(__) Characteristics of the cast not explained
(__) Explanation unclear or incomplete
(__) Tailing loops
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 18. Explain and demonstrate how to cast loops with parallel legs, explaining why loop legs get out of parallel and why this is bad.
Expectations: The explanation and demonstration should include the two common causes for loops with non-parallel legs in the vertical plane and the most common cause for loop legs being out of parallel in the horizontal plane. The demonstration must match the explanation; be done slowly; and be focused at the student level.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Explanation unclear or incomplete
(__) Demonstration did not match explanation
Comments: ________________________________________________
Task 19. Explain, demonstrate and teach, at a minimum, the following causes and corrections for tailing loops on the forward cast. Specifically demonstrate: (1) Insufficient rod arc, with no creep; (2) Insufficient rod arc, due to creep; and (3) correct rod arc, power applied abruptly. Casting distance - approximately 40 feet (12.2 m) . No hauling allowed. Examiners have the option of requiring a tailing loop on the back cast.
Expectations: Good, consistent loops front and back prior to tailing; slow/medium speed. Concise explanations must match the demonstration.
Passed (__)
Failed (__)
(__) Unable to demonstrate specific task
(__) Explanation unclear or incomplete
(__) Explanation did not match demonstration
Comments: ____________________________________________________
Task 20. Demonstrate casting with the non-dominant hand. First, demonstrate casting in the vertical plane at a distance of approximately 40 feet (12.2 m) with loops approximately 3 feet (0.9 m) in height. Then, demonstrate a normal roll cast with loops no higher than the caster’s head at a distance of approximately 40 feet (12.2 m). No hauling allowed.
Expectations: A simple demonstration of basic proficiency with the non-dominate hand. No tailing loops.
Passed (___)
Failed (___)
(___) Tailing loops
Comments: ________________________________________________
This version of the MCI test is effective 4/10/09 - To download a copy of the MCI Performance Test & Evaluation form click here