The EFFA Basic Instructor Test

An EFFA Flycasting Instructor is certified as a highly qualified instructor which could master all the demands of the Flycasting Instructor Test.

This test consists of a practical part (casting limits) and a theoretical part with questions covering the substential flyfishing knowledge.

All candidates have to be properly dressed when attending the exam:

Properly dressed means:
- all clothes should be clean and should have no holes in them.
- Long trousers, except at very high temperatures.
- proper shirt or fishing jacket.
- eye protection device (sunglasses or equivalent)
- proper foot-wear (trekking boots or wellingtons if neccessary for an outdoor exam)

rod:	Single hand fly rod which can be bought in a tackle shop max. 7 weight, length: 7 to 9 feet No change of the rod during exam is allowed ! (Exception: in case of damaging)
line:	floating line not to exceed line weight # 6, length min. 25 m No change of fly lines during exam is allowed! (Exception: in case of damaging)
leader:	7 to 9 feet
fly:	well visible fly yarn (1 cm minimum)
costs	100,- Euro

Each participant has to care for a suitable equipment.

Flycasting Performance Test

(all limits have to be mastered, 3 attempts are allowed)
Women: 20% minus in length on casts exceeding 18 m

Please notice:

If nothing else is demanded always two false casts have to be made prior to presenting the fly.
A false cast always consists of a back cast and a forward cast.

The target diameter(ring) for presentation casts is 1(one) meter.
Backhand cast: The rod hand must cross the middle of the body axis line during casting. It is not allowed to twist the reel 180° during the cast!
The fly must always land in front of the leader and the leader must land in front of the fly line(exeption: trick casts).
Wether line nor leader nor fly may touch the ground or water during false casting.
If tailing loops can be recognized during an attempt(exeption: demonstration of a casting mistake) the attempt will not be valid even if the target distance is reached.

Proceedure: Hold 20 m of fly line incl. leader in the air:

The rod tip is placed at the base line. 18,5 m of line(incl. leader) are pulled out of the rod tip. Then the candidate makes a knot into the fly line next to his reel. After that he can choose the direction in which he wants to cast. He starts making false casts continiously releasing line until he reaches the knot. Having reached the correct length he should then show several false casts with nice loops (no tailing loops, no touching of the ground). The examiners will check the overall performance.

Casting Demands

20 m cast without use of line hand
Hold 20 m of fly line (leader included, measured from the base line) in the air with a proper loop, with hauling
21 m Backhand Cast with double haul
27 m distance cast with double haul
Pick up 15 m of fly line off water, smoothly with a minimum of water disturbance and drop back straight on water
Roll cast forehanded 15 m
Switch cast forehanded 18 m
Roll cast backhanded 12 m
Switch cast backhanded 15 m
False cast 5 or 6 times finally presenting the fly to a target 6 m away demonstrating good timing and a controlled loop
False cast 4 times finally presenting the fly to a target 10 m away demonstrating good timing and a controlled loop
False cast 4 times finally presenting the fly to a target 14 m away demonstrating good timing and a controlled loop and a controlled loop

Casting instructional testing: line lenght 15 m (incl. leader)

Execute a slight tailing loop - explain why it tails
Execute a bow cast - forehand and backhand
Execute a parachute cast - explain the reason for this cast
Execute the reach cast - explain the reason for this cast
Execute a collapsed cast - explain why it collapsed
Execute a wide, open loop - explain why it is open
Execute a tight, parallel loop - explain why it is tight
Demonstrate how to pick up fly line off water, smoothly with a minimum of water disturbance
Demonstrate a proper cast with a shooting head and explain why and when to use it
Cast 15 m of line (leader included) in various planes (horizontally and vertically with explanation)

Teaching skills:

The testee have to demonstrate how to teach the following casts, insuring that proper form is explained and instruction is clear and concise.

Teach: basic cast
Teach: roll cast
Teach: Switch Cast or Underhand Cast or Forward Spey
Teach: double haul
Teach: present the fly (lay down)
Teach: reach cast
Teach: extend and shorten line and fly (while both line and fly are in the air) from 15 m to 8 m and back to 15 m

In all phases of this test it must be demonstrated to the examiners that a high level of abilities and proficiency in flycasting, line handling and teaching skills are evident.

Theoretical Test

The following questions cover the field of knowledge that is necessary for a basic instructor. This catalogue is not complete. Other questions out of this field could be asked, too.

All decisive questions have to be explained

Is it necessary to stop the rod on the backcast while falsecasting to form a good loop on the forward cast ?
How are loops formed ?
What happens if you don't stop the rod on the forward cast ?
How are tailing loops formed ?
Is it best to have a beginner false cast many times prior to laying down the fly ?
Is it better to instruct and correct a beginner by watching his/her casts continuously or is it better to allow him/her sufficient time for self discovery ?
Does your arm or your wrist do the major work when casting?
Is the backcast important as well or is the forward cast the only important part of a cast ?
Does it matter if your back cast not straightened out, when you start your forward cast?
Is a single haul made with your casting arm only ?
Is the speed of your backcast important for your forward cast ?
Does the straight path of the rod tip during acceleration contribute to achieving a well-shaped casting loop ?
Is line speed the most important factor in casting distance?
Will a properly executed reach cast result in a straight line from the rod tip to the fly ?
Does your casting stroke have to be kept as short as possible to cast long distances?
Does any good cast have to result in the line and leader being straight?
Can loop problems be cured by applying power to the rod smoothly ?
Do "wind knots" occur more often on windy days ?
Are "wind knots" caused directly by the wind ?
What does a caster do wrong when he finds "wind knots" in his leader ?
Do you feel the line to be straight on your backcast because it "tugs" the rod ?
Should you watch your backcast from time to time ?
How many false casts have to be made before laying down the fly ?
How do you get a sinking line out off the water to preparing it to make another cast?
What happens if you twist or open your wrist on your back cast ?
What can you tell me about the stops if you want to cast a tight loop ?
What do yo have to do if you are a beginner and you want to catch fish ?
What is the advantage of a single haul ?
Which is the most useful cast ?
Do you need certain requirements to become a good caster ?
Which is the best place to stop the rod and form the loop on the forward cast when you present the fly?
What is most important for a good back casts?
How do you cast a heavy nymph or a streamer ?
What is the mark of a good caster ?
What is the most common cause for tailing loops ?
How are wide open loops caused?
What is required for effectively cast into the wind ?
Why have most of the beginners problems with the roll cast?
What is the most common casting mistake of a beginner ?
What are the advantages of a tight loop ?
Is a smooth cast most efficient while casting a basic cast ?

Methodics of fly casting:

Describe the basic mechanics of fly casting !
How would you go about teaching a student to achieve a narrower casting loop ?
At what point should you start the forward cast ? Explain why !
Describe the sequence of executing a proper reach cast !
Describe what you belive to be the proper way to instruct a beginning fly caster and why !
What are the two most common casting mistakes made by a beginner ? Describe how you eliminate them !
Describe how to make a proper roll cast !

Material:

When fishing at 12 m, which line roll casts best ? DT,WF,L,DT/WF
When fishing at 18 m, which line roll casts best ? DT,WF,L,DT/WF
Which line is haviest at 9 m ? WF-6-F / DT-6-F / ST-6-F / WF-6-S Type V ?
What are the advantages of a WF line ?
What is the advantage of putting the correct type and amount of backing on your reel ?
Which are the most common fly fishing knots ?
Which is the most common backing material ?
For which sort of fishing is a sinking line a good choice ?
What are the advantages of a carbon rod ?
What is the best fly line for you to use generally?
Which is the knot to use for connecting a leader to the fly line ?
What does balancing the tackle mean ?
Are short rods easier to cast for a beginner ?
Is it easier for a beginning fly caster to use a heavier reel ?
Are light or dark fly lines the better choice to teach fly casting ?
Are sinking or dry lines the better choice for learning to fly cast ?
Is a sink tip line a good choice for instructing beginners to fly cast ?
Is a very short leader of 2-5 ft. easier to cast than a 7 1/2 ft. leader ?

General:

Name some safety rules for flyfishers