Casting It Forward
River Ranch resident Jeff Ferguson shares his love of fly fishing through teaching, mentorship, and service.
For Jeff Ferguson, fly fishing is about much more than making the perfect cast or landing a memorable fish. It is a lifelong passion shaped by family, strengthened by generous mentors, and now shared with others. Whether he is helping a beginner prepare for the trip of a lifetime, mentoring future casting instructors, or volunteering with men facing cancer, Jeff has discovered that some of the sport’s greatest rewards come from giving back.
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from, and when did you move to River Ranch?
We made River Ranch home in February 2022. After living in Lake Charles since childhood, it was a series of storms that motivated the relocation. Two hurricanes, a 1,000-year flood, a massive freeze, the loss of my parents and Lisa’s parents, and another hurricane season approaching made us decide it was time for a change.
Our daughter, Drew, lived in River Ranch, so we leaned into a different lifestyle, bought a house, and made the move. It now feels like home.
How did you first become interested in fly fishing, and what inspired you to begin teaching it to others?
I started practicing fly casting in the second grade in 1964, after Santa Claus delivered my first fly rod. My dad and I fished the Louisiana marshes and the cypress lakes of central Louisiana, where he grew up. It was how we liked to fish.
Teaching fly casting caught me by surprise. I attended a fly-fishing event and met Keith Richard, a Master Casting Instructor from Lafayette who later became my mentor. Keith made me an offer: He would teach me to cast if I taught him how to fish Big Lake, my backyard at the time.
By traveling across the country and becoming involved in the sport of fly casting, I learned more about casting than I ever imagined existed. I met some great teachers and realized that I could never have become a great caster by being self-taught. My teaching path began by sharing what I had learned with others.
To become a teacher of the sport, I pursued the Fly Fishers International certification process. I practiced casting several hours a day for four years and earned my FFI Master Casting Instructor certification in 2016. Then, I felt like I knew enough to teach casting.
When did you realize these lessons had become opportunities for mentorship as well as instruction?
I have always been a student of the sport, and I travel wherever I can to learn and teach. Over time, the balance between learning and teaching begins to shift toward teaching more and learning less because those new nuggets of information become less plentiful the more we know.
There are only about 150 Master Casting Instructors in 40 countries, so prospective instructors began seeking me out. I appreciated the importance of my own mentor and have tried to remain in a pay-it-forward mode. Future instructors are the most serious casting students, and they are my favorite to teach.
I am sure some River Ranch residents wonder why grown men are in the green space on Roswell fly fishing in the grass. That is a good question. I have mentored several out-of-state student instructors who fly in monthly so I can examine their casting. We work on improvements, they go home to practice, and then return the next month for more instruction. It could be the grilled oysters at Ruffino’s that keep them coming back.
Three of my mentees earned their certifications this summer, with the latest success taking place in Naples, Florida.
What does giving back mean to you personally?
For some people, giving is a natural gift, but I am still getting better at giving back. My greatest reward from giving came through serving as an instructor and fishing buddy at an annual Reel Recovery retreat held at White Lake Lodge.
Reel Recovery retreats are held across the country for men dealing with any stage of cancer. These men are able to enjoy fishing and be less distracted by worry. I go for them, but they are the two most rewarding days of the year for me.
I also mentored two instructors from College Station, Texas, who use their casting skills to provide free fly-fishing workshops for first responders and others to help them manage stress and anxiety. I am honored to have been part of this program from the beginning.
What would you say to someone who is curious about fly fishing but feels intimidated or unsure about trying it?
Do not be intimidated. We all started as terrible casters. If you never give it a try, you are the only one who misses out on a new challenge.
Trying it is the easy part. Planning your next fly-fishing trip is the hard part. It was addictive for me, so be careful. It is also a myth that getting started is too expensive. The worst thing that could happen is that your fly rod ends up in the corner of your garage beside the golf clubs you do not use. Go for it.
Jeff’s journey is a reminder that giving back often begins by sharing something we love. With every lesson, he passes along more than casting techniques. He shares the patience, confidence, and sense of possibility that others once gave him. In doing so, he is helping the next generation of anglers and instructors discover that the most meaningful part of fly fishing may not be the fish at the end of the line, but the connections made along the way.