As many of you might know, it is very difficult to become a fly fishing guide in this competitive arena. It takes a lot of time and effort, along with some very good connections to break the barrier of entry to becoming a fly fishing guide. The team at ACFF has developed this Guide School to help expedite the process of turning your passion into a profession. You will be learning from a few of the top rated guides at ACFF that have many years of experience guiding in California, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. We know what it takes to become a successful fly fishing guide and our goal during this school is to help you in developing your skill sets to better prepare you for entering the job market.
Course Overview
No matter what your experience level is with fly fishing, you can expect to build your skill set as an angler during this school. It is not a prerequisite that you are a fly fishing expert to sign up for this school. We accept all skill levels of fly anglers. The main objectives during this week-long course are:
- Fishing Skills (reading water, different techniques, etc.)
- Guiding Skills (guide clients relationship, etc.)
- Fly Tying
- Knot tying
- Fly Casting
- Drift Boat Rowing/Fishing
- Rigging / Different methods of Fly Fishing (nymph fishing, euro nymphing, streamer fishing, dry fly fishing)
- Entomology
Job Placement: The team at ACFF has strong connections with lodges and guide services from CA to Alaska and will be a valued reference in applying to future job opportunities.
**We have made it a prerequisite for any guide wanting to join our team in Northern CA to go through this course.
Dates: July 25-29th
Tuition: $2800 / Person
*** Week long all inclusive course- 5 days of instruction and on the water training, 4 nights lodging on the Lower Sacramento River, all meals for the week.
*** A 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot in the school. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the course.
Sample Course itinerary
Day 1 (Monday)
- Course intro: All students meet guides at ACFF office by 11am, get settled in go over gear, rigging etc.
- Half Day day on the water
- Introduction to rowing a drift boat, rigging rods, reading water, etc.
- Evening: Course syllabus, Q&A
Day 2 (Tuesday)
- Full Day on the water starting at 8am / Finishing by 4pm
- Drift boats/ Walk & Wade
- Evening: Knot Tying/ Rigging for different methods of fishing
Day 3 (Wednesday)
- Full Day on the water starting at 8am / Finishing by 4pm
- Drift boats/ Walk & Wade
- Evening: Fly Tying (Nymphs, Streamers, Dry Flies)
Day 4 (Thursday)
- Full Day on the water starting at 8am / Finishing by 4pm
- Drift boats/ Walk & Wade
- Evening: Casting Instruction
Day 5 (Friday)
- Exit Interviews
- Half Day on the water starting at 11am / Finishing by 4pm
- Drift boats
If you are interested in signing up or have any questions, please contact Matt Formento:
mattformento@acflyfishing.com
209.623.9281