Fly Fishing Instructor Qualifications - Information

What to Expect from a Beginners Lesson

A GAIA accredited instructor has a proven ability to teach and iron out problems for anyone wishing to start fly fishing.

Whether you are a total beginner, someone who has fished in the sea or freshwater before and wants to try fly fishing, or someone who hasn’t fished for years. A GAIA instructor will help you to understand the tackle required and teach you the basic casting skills that, with practice, will lead to a long enjoyment of fishing with an artificial fly.

Casting a fly is the first hurdle and your GAIA instructor will be able to help you achieve the skills required. They will also help with fitting flies and casts to situations so you can continue to grow into the sport.

Your first step is to get in touch with a local GAIA instructor. Send them a message and arrange a convenient time to have a chat. Let them know what you hope to achieve, where you would like to fish, and they will be able to work with you to achieve your goals.

Most GAIA instructors can supply you with tackle and have access to water suitable for beginners. They will help you navigate the daunting tasks of selecting suitable equipment, obtaining licences and permissions and will, in all probability, become a valued companion on your first steps to joining the fly fishing community. 

FIND YOUR LOCAL INSTRUCTOR AND GET IN TOUCH NOW

Becoming a Casting Instructor

Casting a fly rod is obviously essential to learning to fly fish and your skills as a fly caster along with your knowledge of fly fishing will be tested to a required standard. As with any sport, practice and training are essential to keep one’s skills tuned to a high level.  GAIA will offer you opportunites to work in the company of your peers to achieve whatever level you desire.

In terms of our membership, we are a broad church made up of folk from various backgrounds. Some of our members work in the fly fishing industry mainly as guides, others are in the tackle business or operate solely as casting instructors. Some own, manage or work in fisheries. Others help out with juniors and local club members on a part time or voluntary basis, or are simply members who wish to keep their casting skills at the highest level and help others to do the same.

Whatever your reasons for setting out on this path you will be welcomed. However, be warned... The workload is high and you must expect to have to dedicate a lot of time to the task. Of course, you can set your own pace as to when to take assessments and your work with local groups and individual mentors will enable you to assess your progress.

What we can promise you is our commitment to see you succeed and give you all the support you need in order for you to reach your goals. The rest is down to you!

Step by step guide to becoming a GAIA Casting Instructor

Associate Membership

If you have decided you would like to become a GAIA instructor but haven't previously been in touch with a member of our organisation please use the enquiry form below.

So many fly fishing casts have been developed for so many fly fishing situations. 

Roll cast, overhead cast, single & double haul, single Spey, double Spey, snake roll, snap T, snap Z, circle C, underhand cast, skagit casts, Belgian cast, parachute cast, pile cast, wiggle cast, reach cast, curve cast, tuck cast,  hook cast, the list goes on.  Perhaps you've already mastered a few? 

GAIA and APGAI Instructors can help perfect the skills required to perform these casts with maximum efficiency and minimal physical effort.  But as we all know, casting is only part of fly fishing. GAIA Instructors teach fly fishing techniques and because we have the largest network of instructors in the UK and Ireland, we're not just local, we can get you around. 

Perhaps you fancy targeting a new species or trying out a different technique?  GAIA and APGAI Instructors are there to help you move out of your comfort zone and put theory into practice.  

Every now and again fishers want to do something different maybe fish for exotic species in some equatorial paradise or try for salmon on some remote arctic river.  There are so many fish to be caught on a fly in an amazing variety of locations both exotic and closer to home.

If the tackle requirements and techniques are completely different from your local water, say GT’s off a tropical Atol or maybe big sea run trout on some windswept South American tundra, you can bet your travel money that preparation and different techniques learned in advance will make it so much more fun.

Throwing a shuttlecock with a broomstick in a high wind or casting what seems like a pound of lead with a double hander is not something that is easy to just pick up when you arrive at your expensive destination. This is probably a job for an APGAI registered instructor, so use Find APGAI Instructor to locate one near you.

There are a growing number of fly fishers targeting coarse fish, particularly Pike and Carp so if you are struggling with the different tackle or basic knowledge of these species GAIA will have someone nearby to help you along the way.

FIND YOUR LOCAL INSTRUCTOR AND GET IN TOUCH NOW

Becoming a Junior Member

GAIA warmly welcomes Junior Members, the very future of fly fishing. If you are between 16 and 18 years of age and want to improve your skills and begin the process of training for a GAIC instructor's certificate, you can apply for Junior Membership. The great news is it's absolutely free.

Junior Membership gives you all the great benefits of Associate Membership but without the annual fees.

You will be sent the GAIA Portfolio and introduced to GAIA regional activities in your area. You can contact members for information and join mentoring sessions.

You will have to wait until you are 18 years old to take your GAIC practical assessments, the successful completion of which will make you a full Member. The reasons for this are restrictions in our insurance.  However, you can build your portfolio and do a lot of the work required to become successful in the company of  GAIA instructors and Associate Members.

For more information about Junior Membership read Becoming a Casting Instructor and/or Becoming a Fly Dressing Instructor. The process will be exactly the same for Junior Members.

All GAIA Instructors go through a rigorous training process in order to gain membership. By these means we ensure the highest possible standards, right down the line.

Although our instructors will of course vary in style, experience and areas of expertise, we all use recognised teaching methods and techniques. This means that for those choosing to start fishing, develop new skills, target new species and visit exciting new fishing destinations GAIA will always be able to help. We pool knowledge and share information which means our instructors and their clients get to enjoy the very best experiences fishing has to offer.

There is no prescribed GAIA method, every pupil is treated as an individual. As we all differ in ambition, physique, dexterity and disposition, so too must effective teaching.

At GAIA we readily acknowledge that no one instructor, target species or piece of water can teach everything there is to know about fly fishing.  We wholeheartedly embrace diversity.

Evolution in teaching methodology, continual development and open lines of communication are key to our organisations success. Ultimately they allow us to achieve our goals and teach our clients how to achieve theirs' efficiently and effectively.

We understand fishing as a leisure activity. It's about getting outdoors in nature, it's about enjoyment and it's about fun. 

GAIA Instructor's Certificate (GAIC)

GAIC is the minimum requirement of a GAIA Instructor. The Standard of this qualification is therefore set very high. It is achieved by a combination of portfolio development and practical assessment. Attainment requires dedication and a considerable investment in time and effort.

Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructor (APGAI)

APGAI is progressive of GAIC. It is achieved by continued portfolio development and additional practical assessment to standard of the APGAI syllabi. It is awarded to instructors showing comprehensive technical knowledge and practical skills in game angling.

Experienced Anglers

The average angler has developed a casting style that works for them and is fairly happy with their ability to enjoy their fishing. Every now and then something goes wrong, sometimes when pushing for extra distance or presenting the fly accurately in tight corners. Sometimes an inexplicable hook develops, hindering accuracy.

Other times it just all goes to pieces. There are a wealth of books and multimedia aids to help you put your problems behind you, but none of us can easily watch ourselves.  It can be very hard to self correct without actually being able to see where and when things are going wrong.  Having a friendly analysis of your cast, from a trained eye, will make that extra yard or pin point delivery, so much easier to attain.

Friendly advice is always available to you, have a short session with a high level instructor to get to the root of those problems. An experienced GAIA or APGAI instructor will be able, in very short order, to nail your problem.   With a little help and some practice you will be able to eliminate that annoying glitch and avoid the dead ends that can cause an impasse.  So often the identified issue or niggle is a symptom rather than the root of your problem.

FIND YOUR LOCAL INSTRUCTOR AND GET IN TOUCH NOW

Becoming a Fly Dressing Instructor

Tying flies enhances the knowledge and overall experience of learning to fly fish.  Matching the hatch, imitating food sources and creating effective lures is a requisite skill of fly fishing, and your skills as a fly dresser along with your knowledge of entomology will be tested to a required standard. As with any sport, practice and training are essential to keep one’s skills tuned to a high level.  GAIA will offer you opportunities to work in the company of your peers to achieve whatever level you desire.

A successful candidate must demonstrate that they are able to employ their tying skills to create specific flies that represent the actual flies fish are feeding upon. They must show a real understanding of the different entomology groups and forage fish and explain what techniques and materials can be used to develop fishing patterns that will catch fish.

The GAIC for Fly Dressing is available to anyone who wishes to expand their passion, skill and knowledge of fly tying. Of course it's not only about being a highly competent fly dresser, individuals must develop their communication and hone presentation skills to a point where they can effectively demonstrate and pass on their expertise to others.

We offer everyone who wishes to pursue this qualification encouragement. However, it is essential to be aware that a great deal of time and effort is likely to be required to meet the GAIC standard. That said, you will be able to set your own pace and choose when you are ready to sit for assessments. Working with your mentor will enable you to assess your progress and readiness effectively.

What we can promise is our commitment to see you succeed and give you all the support you need in order for you to reach your goals. 

Step by step guide to becoming a GAIA Fly Dressing Instructor