For Inclusion in the Hackle Bender, Winter Issue, January 2025, Education Eddy

Casting Skills Development at Boise Valley Fly Fishers

I want to take this opportunity in the first edition of the new year to introduce myself. Brian asked me to step up when Don and Joy decided to take a well-deserved break from heading up Casting Skills Development at BVFF. Many thanks to them for everything they’ve contributed over the years. Big shoes for me to fill!

Some of you might recognize a slight accent as I’m from someplace east of here. I’m fairly new to Idaho, having moved here a year ago, so I’m definitely a novice when it comes to Idaho waters. Feel free to educate me! I do love fly casting, however… and I also love to teach. I passed my FFI Casting Instructor exam back in 2018 and the following year completed the Joan Wulff Casting Instructor School. I gotta tell you, Joan, despite being tiny and (now) late nineties, could strike fear into your very soul. Somehow, you can sense when she’s looking at your casts… then, when you turn around, she’s walking toward you (oh no)… and when she gets next to you and says, ‘what ARE you doing!?’ - boom! ---> crushed.

So, what do I see happening at BVFF in regard to casting skills development? We will continue to hold events for the excellent FFI casting skills program - foundation, bronze, silver, and gold. I’d love it if we got several through the gold level, as that expands our available team for future challenge events. In addition, Brian and I are thinking up some fun ‘casting socials’ for all skill levels where we can have informal casting ‘games’ aimed at building skills and camaraderie. We are open to suggestions too, so please let us know if you have any ideas. How about fly casting ‘golf’?

I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2025, and please stop by to say ‘hi’ at the expo later this month.

Michael Elsden