Casting
Learn From the Best
Learn From the Best
Watch first-hand as experts demonstrate an array of skills and techniques for every skill level
We ask that you bring your own rod and cast along. A limited number of loaner rods that will be available on site the day of the event.
All demonstrations will take place on the grassy lawn next to the River Park Trailhead.
Casting Classes
Women’s Casting
Times:
09:00 - 09:50 AM,
12:00 - 12:50 PM
A women’s class on the fundamentals of casting and techniques for improvement. Open to women of any experience level age 8 and up (participants ages 8 – 13 must be accompanied by a parent/responsible adult). Bring your own equipment or use the equipment provided.
Presenter: Stacy Lynn
Captain Stacy operates WOW! Fly Fishing, a business supporting the experiences, education, and industry of fly fishing. She is a licensed Captain, operating a technical poling skiff from which she guides and instructs fly anglers on the saltwater flats of the Texas Coast. The sport of Fly Fishing has been central in her life since 1995. Captain Stacy has managed several of Texas’ best fly shops since that time and has 20+ years as a professional casting coach. She is a Fly Fishers Intl. Certified Casting Instructor and a graduate of Joan Wulff’s Fly Fishing Instructor’s School, and her instruction specialties are conducting casting diagnostics and helping fly casters prepare for the challenging and exciting Saltwater Fly Fishing experience. She is an active supporter and member of many of the Texas fly fishing clubs and related organizations. She is a volunteer instructor for Texas’ Casting for Recovery program – a weekend fly fishing retreat for women surviving breast cancer – and has been a co-organizer for the Lydia Ann Fly Master’s saltwater fly fishing tournament benefiting CfR. She has been a feature speaker, demonstrator and instructor at numerous events including The Fly Fishing Show, The Shallow Water Show, Fly Fish Texas, Flat Out Fishing!, TPWD Expo, Oktoberfisch, the Houston Fishing Show, Texas Fly Fishing and Brew Fest, and several FFI Conclaves/Fairs. Captain Stacy will be the GM of Galveston Fishing Company, a new fly shop on Galveston Island opening later this spring 2022.
Casting Critical Skills
Times:
10:00 - 10:50 AM,
11:00 - 11:50 AM,
01:00 - 01:50 PM,
02:00 - 02:50 PM
This class will focus on Critical Casting Skills, including loop control. This class is appropriate for someone that has casting experience and wants to become a better fly caster. It is not intended as an introductory class.
Presenter: Rex Walker
Rex Walker is a DFW area casting instructor, fly fisher, and fly tyer. Rex has been helping people improve their fly casting skills for the past 16 years. He has worked with many of the region’s fly fishing clubs, at fly fishing events across Texas, and with both Reel Recovery and Project Healing Waters. Rex is a Fly Fishers International certified instructor and a member of TFO Rods Pro Staff. When not helping other fly fishers improve their casting skills, Rex can often be found on Lake Texoma chasing black bass and striped bass on the fly.
Beginner Casting Classes
First Cast
Times:
09:00 - 09:50 AM,
10:00 - 10:50 AM,
11:00 - 11:50 AM,
12:00 - 12:50 PM,
01:00 - 01:50 PM,
02:00 - 02:50 PM
A Co-ed class introducing a basic Pick-Up-and-Lay-Down cast for first-time fly casters. Other basic skills will be covered as time allows. No equipment or experience is required. Open to all new fly fishers age 8 and up (participants ages 8 – 13 must be accompanied by a parent/responsible adult).
Stephen Weaver
Stephen L. Weaver is president and co-founder of Good Fly Inc. and a lecturer with the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership at Texas A&M University.
Good Fly is a not-for-profit offering free fly-fishing activities aimed at giving people from stressful professions or circumstances the opportunity to enjoy the health benefits of fly-fishing. Its motto is “Casting Flies to Renew the Mind and Refresh the Spirit.” You can learn more at goodfly.org.
Steve began his fly-fishing journey on the South Fork of the Boise River 30 years ago while assigned to his first duty station in the Air Force at Mountain Home, Idaho. He has been a “Fishing Buddy” with the Brazos Valley Chapter of Reel Recovery and became a Fly Fishers International Casting Instructor in 2020.
Steve managed Birch Creek State Park at Lake Somerville for the Texas Park and Wildlife Department from 2017 to 2021.
Steve retired from the United States Air Force in 2017 after 26 years of service. Notable assignments included Chief of Antiterrorism, US Africa Command; Deputy Chief of Staff, Defense Threat Reduction Agency; Commander, 19th Mission Support Group; Director, NATO Police Institutional Advisory Team – Afghanistan; and Chief of Security Forces, Air Force Global Strike Command.
His education includes a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University, an MA in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University, and an MS in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University’s Eisenhower School. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Ted Warren
Ted is a Certified Casting Instructor and has taught for seven summers at the Gore Creek Fly Shop in Vail, Colorado. He lives on Lake Fork and enjoys chasing big Bass with a fly. He created the World Championship Bass on the Fly Fishing Tournament and fishes extensively in the Rocky Mountains for Trout.
Alan King
Alan is a registered Landscape Architect practicing in College Station, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture and sits on the Professional Advisory Board for the department.
Alan has been married to his wife Kerran since 1991 and they have two adult daughters.
Alan began fly fishing in 2002 and became a Certified Casting Instructor in March of 2020. He has been a Fishing buddy for Reel Recovery and in 2020 he co-founded Good Fly Inc, a non-profit that offers free fly casting and fly-fishing programs to reduce stress and anxiety. He enjoys teaching casting and adventure travel.
Alan has fished many locations around the country and has a passion for trout though local bass ponds are his target in Texas.
Andy Payne
Andy is a CPA and retired in 2016 from a career in financial leadership positions with numerous private companies, mostly in the energy services industry. He began fly fishing with his son in 1986, a tradition that now extends to his grandsons.
To improve his casting ability Andy joined FFI in 1998 and attended many casting workshops at Expos, eventually becoming a Certified Casting Instructor in 2012. He served on the Board of Texas Council of Fly Fishers International from 2018 through June of 2021 as Casting Director, Vice President and President of the Council. He is a life member of FFI, CCA-Texas and Trout Unlimited.
Andy volunteers his time and knowledge to teach casting at events and with clubs in the Council. He is focused on developing his knowledge surrounding use of coaching video software to assist fly fishers with their casting skills.
Andy is also working on his bucket list of places to fish.
Open Session
Time: 3 - 5pm
Come in and cast on your own
Stephen Weaver
Stephen L. Weaver is president and co-founder of Good Fly Inc. and a lecturer with the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership at Texas A&M University.
Good Fly is a not-for-profit offering free fly-fishing activities aimed at giving people from stressful professions or circumstances the opportunity to enjoy the health benefits of fly-fishing. Its motto is “Casting Flies to Renew the Mind and Refresh the Spirit.” You can learn more at goodfly.org.
Steve began his fly-fishing journey on the South Fork of the Boise River 30 years ago while assigned to his first duty station in the Air Force at Mountain Home, Idaho. He has been a “Fishing Buddy” with the Brazos Valley Chapter of Reel Recovery and became a Fly Fishers International Casting Instructor in 2020.
Steve managed Birch Creek State Park at Lake Somerville for the Texas Park and Wildlife Department from 2017 to 2021.
Steve retired from the United States Air Force in 2017 after 26 years of service. Notable assignments included Chief of Antiterrorism, US Africa Command; Deputy Chief of Staff, Defense Threat Reduction Agency; Commander, 19th Mission Support Group; Director, NATO Police Institutional Advisory Team – Afghanistan; and Chief of Security Forces, Air Force Global Strike Command.
His education includes a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University, an MA in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University, and an MS in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University’s Eisenhower School. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Ted Warren
Ted is a Certified Casting Instructor and has taught for seven summers at the Gore Creek Fly Shop in Vail, Colorado. He lives on Lake Fork and enjoys chasing big Bass with a fly. He created the World Championship Bass on the Fly Fishing Tournament and fishes extensively in the Rocky Mountains for Trout.
Alan King
Alan is a registered Landscape Architect practicing in College Station, Texas. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture and sits on the Professional Advisory Board for the department.
Alan has been married to his wife Kerran since 1991 and they have two adult daughters.
Alan began fly fishing in 2002 and became a Certified Casting Instructor in March of 2020. He has been a Fishing buddy for Reel Recovery and in 2020 he co-founded Good Fly Inc, a non-profit that offers free fly casting and fly-fishing programs to reduce stress and anxiety. He enjoys teaching casting and adventure travel.
Alan has fished many locations around the country and has a passion for trout though local bass ponds are his target in Texas.
Andy Payne
Andy is a CPA and retired in 2016 from a career in financial leadership positions with numerous private companies, mostly in the energy services industry. He began fly fishing with his son in 1986, a tradition that now extends to his grandsons.
To improve his casting ability Andy joined FFI in 1998 and attended many casting workshops at Expos, eventually becoming a Certified Casting Instructor in 2012. He served on the Board of Texas Council of Fly Fishers International from 2018 through June of 2021 as Casting Director, Vice President and President of the Council. He is a life member of FFI, CCA-Texas and Trout Unlimited.
Andy volunteers his time and knowledge to teach casting at events and with clubs in the Council. He is focused on developing his knowledge surrounding use of coaching video software to assist fly fishers with their casting skills.
Andy is also working on his bucket list of places to fish.
On the Water Casting Classes
Times:
10:00 - 10:30 AM,
01:30 - 02:00 PM,
02:15 - 02:45 PM,
03:00 - 03:30 PM
Learn how to catch a trout on the Trinity while also learning both American and European techniques.
Presenter: Frank Smethurst
Frank Smethurst has been teaching and sharing Flyfishing for literally his entire life, and that’s why he again joins TRWD Flyfest. Frank was introduced to fishing at the age of two, he started tying his own flies at age seven and at the age of twelve, began work at an influential Atlanta tackle shop. Frank went on to spend the next thirty plus years immersed in the fishing and particularly flyfishing industries. While guiding and working for various manufacturers as a rep and consultant, frank began to make fishing films and programming. Some notable programs that Frank has either produced or was featured in include: Meateater Das Boat, Jim and Kelly Watt’s Flyfishing Video Magazine, The Reel Guys, Fishing with Micah Adams, Frank’s Fishing Problem, and Trout Unlimited’s On The Rise. He has also produced and starred in feature films such as Running Down The Man, and Eastern Rises, with Felt Soul Media, and Carpland with RA Beattie. Frank has competed and placed and/or won many flyfishing tournaments. From National events such as the OLN’s Flyfishing Masters, to the more Western based Conejos Superfly, The Denver Carp Slam, The Teva Mountain Games, The GoPro Games, The Caddis Cup, The Frostbite Fish Off and The Dos Mosca. Frank lives and guides in Telluride Colorado, and has begun his latest production, American Fishing Road Trip, and has released a collection of his deadliest Fly designs with Montana Fly Company.
Accuracy Casting Contest
Time: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Participants will sign up for a chance to cast at targets, with the most accurate caster winning a prize.
Judged By: Fort Worth Fly Fishers
Winner receives a Fly Box from Fatties On The Fly, a half-day guided trip with owner Ben Tabor on the Brazos or Paluxy River, and an official TRWD Flyfest Mug. Awards will be handed out at approximately 4 PM following the conclusion of the Orvis Big Trout Contest.
Contestants with high scores are encouraged to hang around and stay for the awards ceremony that will take place at approximately 4:45pm or directly following the Orvis Big Trout Contest to see if they won and to get a photo at the stage. If contestants are unable to stay, arrangements will be made for winners following the event.
Distance Casting Contest
Time: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Participants will sign up to see who can cast the farthest distance to win a prize.
Judged By: Fort Worth Fly Fishers
Winner receives a Fly Box from Fatties On The Fly, a half-day guided trip with owner Ben Tabor on the Brazos or Paluxy River, and an official TRWD Flyfest Mug. Awards will be handed out at approximately 4:00 PM following the conclusion of the Orvis Big Trout Contest.
Contestants with high scores are encouraged to hang around and stay for the awards ceremony that will take place at approximately 4:45pm or directly following the Orvis Big Trout Contest to see if they won and to get a photo at the stage. If contestants are unable to stay, arrangements will be made for winners following the event.