About · Flycasters Workshop

Gary Gambino

April 16, 2022.

As a new fly fisherman I needed help with learning how to cast properly. Everyone I spoke to pointed me towards Joe Mahler in Ft. Myers, FL. I met Joe early on a Saturday morning and by mid-morning Joe had me double hauling and casting accurately past 50 feet. In terms of his teaching ability Joe deserves the Golden Apple Award! Joe’s ability to observe, evaluate, demonstrate and tweak your cast is what sets him apart from everyone else. If you want a friendly teacher who is truly a master of this sport….or if you just want to get away from your wife for a few hours, go see Joe!

Brian Seasholes

October 23, 2021.

Joe is a truly exceptional instructor, who is able to work with any ability level and help them improve. His ability to transmit information and apply it with innovative techniques--and doing so with kindness, patience and good humor--is remarkable. If you want to begin fly fishing or simply improve, Joe is your go-to instructor. Joe represents the very best of those who continually seek to build the sport of fly fishing by sharing their knowledge.

Patrick Doty

September 19, 2021.

Joe helped me out with my first ever fly casting lesson and I could not be more satisfied with the instruction I received. Joe is a true master of fly casting and had more than enough knowledge and skills to help me develop my basic skills in a short period of time! He’s also a great teacher! He sees what you’re doing (right or wrong) and finds a helpful and relatable ways to convey what he’s seeing and it really translates in the lesson. I have the confidence to go out and try to cast towards fish now, and should be able to get close to them. I couldn’t recommend Joe as a Fly Casting instructor any more highly!

Allie V

April 14, 2021.

Joe Mahler will be a legend in my eyes forever! The fly casting lesson I took with him was the highlight of my trip to Florida, and one of the best instructional experiences I've ever had. Joe is equally as great of a teacher as he is a fisherman. He is thorough, patient and had a genius analogy for every skill he taught. I came into the lesson a bit rusty, but I left feeling like a pro. I have been casting a fly rod for almost 15 years and I am absolutely sure I learned more in my 3 hour lesson with Joe than I have in all of my years fishing. I would be shocked to find out that there was a better fly caster alive than Joe. He is exceptional and inspirational. It's worth the lesson just to watch him cast!! Joe is friendly, warm and a delight to spend time with. I cannot recommend him highly enough! Do yourself a HUGE favor and book a lesson with the legend, Joe Mahler.

Tom Stark

April 4, 2021.

When I told my fly fishing buddy I was in the Fort Myers area for vacation, he said you HAVE TO arrange a fly casting lesson with the legend Joe Mahler! I did, and I was really thrilled with what I learned! Joe is such a great guy -- easy going, fun and super knowledgeable. He is a natural teacher and his methods are amazing. Less is more with fly casting, especially once Joe shares his secrets with you. I am so excited to get out on the water and implement what I learned. Thanks Joe, my friend, you are the Best!

Charles Folkman

March 24, 2021.

My friend, myself and our 2 28 year old daughters are fly casting newbies. I called Joe and arranged a lesson. He had the patience of a Saint working with the 4 of us and over a few hours he had us all to the point where we could go fly fishing and enjoy ourselves. Several days later, Joe took us to the Everglades and fished for Peacock bass and Oscars. We had a fabulous time, catching and releasing 127 in our boat alone. Joe lined up his partner Debbie Hanson to take our daughters and they also had a wonderful time. We all plan to ask Joe for another lesson next winter when we return to Ft Myers and spend at least another day fishing with him. Joe is a great guy and we all highly recommend him for casting lessons and guiding.

elizabeth lilly

March 20, 2021.

Joe Mahler exemplifies the elegance of fly casting. His teaching condenses the grace and beauty of the perfect presentation into a foolproof formula that he readily shares, achieving a cast with maximum efficacy and no wasted energy. In the two years my son has worked with Joe, we’ve experienced his endless supply of encouragement and patience with youth and beginners and watched him coach his fellow professionals, seeing firsthand the wealth of ideas and success he shares with all levels. Simply said by my son after watching Joe coach an advanced caster, “I can’t believe how much someone’s cast can improve after just an hour with Joe.”

Blake Matherly

March 11, 2021.

The first time I saw Joe he was giving a lesson on another boat. When watching him cast I said to myself, I’m not sure who he is or how he does what he does with a fly rod, but I want to do exactly what he’s doing. We quickly became friends and he change my fly casting forever. Bottom line, he’s my personal casting instructor and I send all my clients to Joe for instruction. Not only is he a great casting instructor, he’s a great guy also.

Kevin Kuhns

March 11, 2021.

In my first ever visit to Sanibel and first time to try saltwater fly fishing, I was so glad that I spent two+ hours with Joe near the beginning of the week. Unfortunately, it was the day *after* I chartered a boat to go out and try it on my own, which didn't go so well. I just started trying to learn fly fishing in the past year, and of course I applied all of my spin casting wisdom to "throw" the line as far as I could. Joe helped me to start to to think differently about fishing with a fly rod and greatly improved my lame casting during the lesson. The rest of the week was much better, but I would like to go back for another lesson the next time I'm down there. I would recommend Joe's lessons to anyone learning the ropes of fly fishing!

About Flycasters Workshop

Flies

Joe Mahler’s StrawBoss Fly

Price: $9.00 each

How to Order

Fishing Books

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