Fly Fishing Schools: Fly Fishing School for Guides

About the Fly Fishing School

For most people fly fishing is a hobby, but, for a select few, it is a profession. Unfortunately, trying to get your first job in the fishing business is the most difficult step. The Fly Fishing Guide Market is a very competitive profession. It is almost impossible to get a job without a good connection or specialized training. In partnership with Sweetwater Travel, WhereWiseMenFish offers a guide school that will provide you with the necessary experience to land that essential first job.

All instructors are experienced, international fishing guides that have worked with Sweetwater in their international destinations and will teach you everything from running rapids in jet boats to helping you guide your clients into big fish.

The couse is limited to nine students to insure quality instruction and interaction with our instructors. This gives you the utmost attention from our instructors and increases your chances of getting a job afterwards.

Being a guide is an incredible way to both spend time in the wilderness, and earn a substantial income. The average guide will earn $2,400 a month including tips. All in all the school is an investment in your future. You can pay off the cost of this school in only two weeks of guiding, and you will have the potential it takes to get a job in the most beautiful places left in the world. It is truly an opportunity that should not be missed. Join us and let us help you to land the job of your dreams.

 <<< Click here to find out where The Fishing School Lodge is.

Fly Fishing School Schedule & 2007 Dates

There are five schools a year, taking place in March, July and October. Please contact us for exact dates and availability. Upon arrival at the lodge, everything is covered (except your fishing license). This includes room and board, and everything needed for training. You will need to bring your own fishing equipment, waders, etc. You should arrive at the school on Sunday morning. After unpacking and settling in, we will start training that afternoon. Monday to Friday will be full days of training. Saturday, we will train during the morning, and the school will end mid day. A typical day will consist of training from 9 AM to 6 PM. Depending on the focus of that particular day, many hours will be spent on the river, to practice our fishing and guiding techniques. The course will consist of six and one-half days of thorough training. 100% of last years students who sought jobs received jobs as fishing guides in Alaska and the lower 48 states. The average pay including tips was $2,400 per month in the United States.

Example Schedule:

• Day 1 (Sunday): Arrive by noon, Lunch, CPR/First Aid Training, Casting
• Day 2 (Monday): Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 3 (Tuesday): Knot tying, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 4 (Wednesday): Fly tying, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 5 (Thursday): Overview of instruction manual, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 6 (Friday): Overview of entire class, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 7 (Saturday): Finish resume, Final interview, Lunch, Course ends

Each day spent on the river drift and jet boat training will include client interaction and honing your fishing skills. We will also help you build a resume. This will be done in the evening.

Fly Fishing School Dates 2007:

• March 11th to 17th
• March 18th to 24th
• March 25th to March 31st
• July 1st to 7th
• July 8th to 14th
• October 7th to 13th

Course Content

Fishing Skills:

We will also help perfect your fly fishing techniques. Being a good fly fisherman is essential to being a guide. You must be able to demonstrate your abilities in order to instruct and explain techniques to your guests. The instructors will focus on your casting and presentation. It is not necessary that you be a fly fishing expert to come to this school. We will accept all levels of fly fishermen.

The rivers of Montana have excellent trout fishing. We will practice and help you perfect all trout techniques. From a guides point of view, trout fishing is the most difficult and is a good foundation for guiding for other species. A large part of being a competent guide is being a competent fisherman. We'll teach you the following skills:

• Fly tying: Whether you are a beginner or experienced fly tier you will learn new and unique techniques from our professional fly tying instructors. Students learn to tie nymphs, dry flies and streamers for catching trout, salmon, steelhead, bass and anything that swims.
• Knot tying: This is an often over looked skill. Students are taught the knots you need to know and how to tie them quickly and confidently.
• Fly-casting: As a guide you are also an instructor. Many of your guests will need assistance with their casting. Students learn the best methods to get your guest casting like a pro in no time. You'll learn the roll cast, reach cast, false cast and the double haul for gaining more distance.
• Fishing Skills: In addition to the above skills, studentsl learn entomology, fly selection, where fish hold and why they hold there, how to fight and land fish and much more.
• Guiding skills: Guiding is more than helping people catch fish. Client interaction is very important. Our experienced instructors will show you how to deal with the many different situations that will occur during your days guiding. You'll need to be a part time priest, psychologist, guru and marriage counselor.

Guiding Skills:

There are many complex aspects of guiding which can only be learned through experience. We will teach you: how to interact with clients, how to instruct fly fishing, what guests expect of you, and, of course, how to get them into fish. You will learn what knots to tie, how to net fish, guiding strategies, drift boat fishing, spotting fish, jet boating, motor maintenance, and advanced river reading. The school will also include CPR and First Aid certification, which is required by all guiding operations.

Drift boats are the most common form of guiding in the lower 48. Jet Boats are the primary form of transportation used on Alaskan rivers. By learning both jet boating and drift boating skills, you will increase your chance at getting a job.

The school is located on the Big Horn River near Fort Smith, Montana. It is a perfect river to train for both jet boating, and drift boat fishing.

By learning how to run a boat on this river, you will gain the experience and confidence needed to be both a jet boat, and drift boat guide. We will focus on reading water, driving techniques, rowing, and on-river outboard motor repairs.

Students will also learn how to deal with common jet boat problems such as water in your gas, draining your carburetors, repairing broken pull cords, bad spark plugs, etc. Being able to both drive a jet boat and to fix most problems on the river is an invaluable experience as a guide. This is a skill that very few, if any, new guides have when they apply for jobs.

Student Comments

"All the instructors were great! After the guide school I went to work at a lodge in Alaska. It was a dream come true. Thank you very much for the opportunity. You guys kick ass!!!"
- Mitch Jones, Oregon

"Your guide training course was very thorough. The jet and drift boat training was invaluable. Sweetwater Travel truly teaches people to become competent fishing guides."
- Peter Blackman, owner American Fly Fishing Co., California

"I came into the class as a beginning flyfisher and Sweetwater Travel gave me the foundation to improve my skills. Now I’m on my way in the guiding profession. No more 8 to 5 for me!"
- Dane Warnstadt, Washington

If you would prefer to speak to us directly regarding attending Fly Fishing Guide School, please contact us at the following:

United Kingdom Office:
Justin Maxwell-Stuart
Mobile: +44 (0)7711 519 857
Fax: +44 (0)20 7352 0942
justin@wherewisemenfish.com

United States Office:

US Country Code: +1
Telephone: 347 284 6333
info@wherewisemenfish.co.uk

Or alternatively email us via our Booking Enquiries Form to request more information.