Far Bank fly fishing community has debuted the inaugural season of a free, comprehensive and feature-film quality educational fly fishing video series hosted by the legendary fly casting evangelist Simon Gawesworth.
The 2022 season of the the Far Bank School is dedicated to “new to fly” anglers, with four hours of bite-sized chapters as well as longer episodes focusing on top tips and techniques, on-the-water hints, in-depth studio analysis, guest talent, and beautifully shot casting footage from the Far Bank Loop Lab.
Coupled with Gawesworth’s expertise and personable, easy-to-follow teaching technique, the Far Bank Fly Fishing School is a new direction in fly fishing instructional videos that coincides with a recent surge in new fly anglers.
“Since 2020, we’ve seen one of the largest upticks in fly fishing interest in the last 30 years, but it takes more than just putting a rod and reel in someone’s hand to convert the curious into the committed and to start bringing them into bigger conversations about conservation and stewardship,” said Gawesworth, Far Bank Education and Engagement Manager.
In 2020, according to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, fly fishing participants went on 97 million outings, a 27 percent increase from the year prior. Average annual outings for fly anglers also increased by 14 percent. Fishing license sales also surged nationally during the early pandemic, with states reporting increases of up to 25 percent in 2021 as the joys of “social fishtancing” caught on.
“When you get better and better at fly fishing, there’s this kind of evolution. At first, you just want to catch a fish. But eventually, you don’t even care if you catch a fish. You’re out there to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the clear water, the fresh air,” added Gawesworth.
The Fishing Video Basics
The 2022 season of the Far Bank Fly Fishing School includes six chapters, covering all the basics needed to get out on the water:
- What is Fly Fishing?
- Basics of Fly Fishing Gear
- Essential Knots
- Making the First Cast
- Basic River Fly Fishing Tactics
- Basic Lake Fly Fishing Tactics
Source: www.outdoorsportswire.com
