6. Preparing for the performance exam

The CI exam tasks do not require any special gear, but it makes sense to optimize what you use to make task performance as easy as possible.

Rod The test limits the rod to no longer than 9 ft. and rated for a 7 wt. line or lighter. Most 6 or 7 wt. rods will work fine for the CI exam, when paired with an appropriate fly line. There is no one perfect combination, you just need to find one that casts well for you and allows you to make all the required casts.

There is a very common misperception that stiff rods are needed to make long distance casts. That is definitely not true, very stiff rods make distance more difficult for most casters and all the shorter casts are more difficult too. Using a less stiff rod, or a stiff rod with a heavier line, makes all exam casts much easier. The article Rod and Line Matching for Best Exam Performance explains this subject more fully. Richards, B. (The Loop, Summer 2024).

Line Most standard or long head WF floating lines work well for the CI exam. Recommended are special “instructor” or competition lines made in bright colors which make them easier for examiners and students to see. Line weight is limited to 7 wt., as rated by the line manufacturer (lines no longer need to meet AFFTA weight standards for 7 wt. lines). Remember that there is no requirement that you must use a 7 wt. line on a 7 wt. rod. For many casters, a 7 wt. line on a 6 or even 5 wt. rod will be the ideal rig. A 6 wt. line on a stiff 5 wt. rod usually works very well too. Try different rod/line combinations to find the one that works best for you. Pick a rod/line combination that makes the distance cast easy but also works well for the other tasks at shorter distances. It is highly unlikely that a true 7 wt. line on a stiff 7 wt. rod will be best for you.

3 But please be aware Mr. Richards was writing when only relatively light AFFTA compliant lines were allowed on the CI Exam.

Leader Leaders must be at least 7.5 ft. long. Tapered leaders are not required but are necessary for good casting performance. A leader that performs very well would be 0X or 1X. Long and light leaders are troublesome for the Exam and for teaching. Some commercial bass and bonefish leaders meet those specifications right out of the package.

Fly The fly will be a simple piece of high visibility yarn, like egg yarn. You want the fly to be big enough to see but not so big that the drag makes it hard to cast. A yarn fly that is about ½” long works well for most casters.

b. Practice Kit

Prepare a practice kit and include a 100’ tape measure, colorful low-profile soccer cones, rollcast anchor tool for grass (optional), a copy of the performance exam, extra tippet, yarn, a writing utensil, this study guide, a notebook (paper or electronic), and optional tools or props. Be sure to include sunscreen, eye protection and water. Safety is an important factor to incorporate and portray.

c. Plan for Practice and Study

Consistent and effective study and practice is essential for you to successfully pass the Performance Exam. Time spent in several short practice sessions (30-60 minutes) is better spent than the same aggregate amount of time in fewer sessions. Your practice should be focused on specific tasks that you are working to master. In other words, have a goal you hope to accomplish during each practice session. Making videos of practice sessions can help ensure that you are doing what you set out to do. As you master a skill or task, be sure to continue to practice it as you work on additional tasks. Suggestions regarding the order in which to study and to practice various skills are provided below. Do not hesitate to alter these suggestions if you find a different routine to be more productive. It is important to remember that Task 1 (pick up and false cast) is a foundation cast which reappears throughout the Exam, and we recommend you spend a disproportionate amount of time on it throughout your preparation. Some prefer to focus initially on Task #1 until it is nearly mastered before moving on.

Learn the information presented in the study guide. It is designed to provide you with explanations of the concepts and practical skills to allow you to pass the Written and Performance Exam.
Learn the definitions that pertain to the Casting Instructor exam.
Study and master the concepts presented in Chapter 2, Casting Mechanics and Techniques.
Learn To Perform tasks 17, 1, 2, and 3. These tasks (teach a PULD, demonstrate narrow, wide loops and tailing loops) all require understanding basic casting mechanics and require that you master pick-up, loop formation, and false casting.
Learn To Perform tasks 7 and 8 to develop the ability to cast in multiple planes and at multiple speeds.
Learn to extend the line from 20 ft to 45 ft. without hauling. This will help build the skill needed to accomplish task 12 targets (on-side accuracy) and will require learning how to adjust your casting stroke as line distance changes.
Once you can do this, then work on keeping 50 ft of line in the air with good loops. Task 21 now allows you to haul, and we suggest you take advantage of it. (So does task 12, but we suggest hauling only if needed). Take care not to over practice at distances beyond 40 ft. to avoid strain.
Learn To Perform accuracy tasks 12 and 13. These tasks require being able to see the fly above a target, learning to cast to a target at varying distances, making on-side and offside casts, and adjusting casting arc, casting stroke length and trajectory as distance changes.
Learn To Perform roll cast tasks 9-11. These can be interspersed with the previous steps and help build the forward casting stroke. Teaching task 18 could be addressed as well.
Learn To Perform tasks 4, 5, and 6. These tasks add to the skills and knowledge of loop formation by requiring you to add aerial mends (task 4 and 6), and slack line cast (task 5). These casts and mends are very much centered on your basic false casting with the addition of rod leg manipulation (aerial mend) or trajectory change (slack line cast).
Learn To Perform tasks 14 and 15 (double hauling and casting to a distance of 75 ft). Good loop control is a very important prerequisite when mastering these tasks.
Read and understand the teaching section of this study guide, which will provide teaching tactics and a lesson plan format. This knowledge, combined with your knowledge of the Six-Step Method and other previous learning, will help enable you to successfully perform Teaching tasks 16 - 22.
Master Teaching tasks 16 - 22. Develop teaching scripts that are 3 to 4 minutes long for each task and practice them until they are organized, concise, and efficient. This will allow you to stay within the timelines specified and allow time for questions. Make sure your demonstration casts are high quality and match your explanations.