2024 Dates announced
May 1- 6th 2024
Ever dreamed of mastering the realm of a professional fishing guide? You're not alone in that curiosity. This burning question fuels our daily conversations, igniting a passion to meet the soaring demand. Enter Western Canada Fly Fishing Guide School—an answer born from this fervent interest. With over 50 successful graduates since its inception, this school embodies the gateway to a career teeming with possibilities.
Welcome to Western Canada Fly Fishing Guide School!
Unlock Your Potential as a Fishing Guide
Embarking on a career as a fly fishing guide is both rewarding and demanding. At WC Fly Fishing Guide School, we understand that being a guide isn't solely about mastering the art of fly fishing—it's about being exceptional with people. Our school focuses on honing your diverse skill set, cultivating what we call the "Guides Toolbox"—a personalized toolkit tailored to your strengths and abilities, not fitting you into a predetermined mold.
Empowering Your Journey
Our mission is to make the transition into guiding seamless for you. How do we achieve this? By exposing you to an array of diverse situations, arming you with the expertise and adaptability needed in the field. With years of industry experience, our instructors are adept at imparting this knowledge to our students.
Personalized Learning Experience
Unlike other programs, we maintain a 2:1 student to instructor ratio. We deliberately keep our class sizes smaller to ensure that each student maximizes their learning over our intensive 6-day course. We focus on quality education, allowing you to extract the most value from every moment spent with us.
Real-Life Simulation
On the culminating day of our program, you'll partake in a pseudo-guided trip alongside a client from Fly Fishing Bow River Outfitters and one of our experienced instructors. This hands-on experience gives you a taste of what it's like to guide in a real-world scenario, consolidating all that you've learned.
At WC Fly Fishing Guide School, we believe in nurturing not just great fly fishermen, but exceptional guides. Join us on this transformative journey towards becoming a well-rounded, skilled professional in the world of fly fishing guiding.
Ready to embark on this adventure? Contact us today to reserve your spot and start crafting your own Guide's Toolbox.
Unlock Your Potential as a Fishing Guide
Embarking on a career as a fly fishing guide is both rewarding and demanding. At WC Fly Fishing Guide School, we understand that being a guide isn't solely about mastering the art of fly fishing—it's about being exceptional with people. Our school focuses on honing your diverse skill set, cultivating what we call the "Guides Toolbox"—a personalized toolkit tailored to your strengths and abilities, not fitting you into a predetermined mold.
Empowering Your Journey
Our mission is to make the transition into guiding seamless for you. How do we achieve this? By exposing you to an array of diverse situations, arming you with the expertise and adaptability needed in the field. With years of industry experience, our instructors are adept at imparting this knowledge to our students.
Personalized Learning Experience
Unlike other programs, we maintain a 2:1 student to instructor ratio. We deliberately keep our class sizes smaller to ensure that each student maximizes their learning over our intensive 6-day course. We focus on quality education, allowing you to extract the most value from every moment spent with us.
Real-Life Simulation
On the culminating day of our program, you'll partake in a pseudo-guided trip alongside a client from Fly Fishing Bow River Outfitters and one of our experienced instructors. This hands-on experience gives you a taste of what it's like to guide in a real-world scenario, consolidating all that you've learned.
At WC Fly Fishing Guide School, we believe in nurturing not just great fly fishermen, but exceptional guides. Join us on this transformative journey towards becoming a well-rounded, skilled professional in the world of fly fishing guiding.
Ready to embark on this adventure? Contact us today to reserve your spot and start crafting your own Guide's Toolbox.
"As a relatively new angler (entering my fourth year) and having a vision of first taking friends and then perhaps clients down the Bow, this course was invaluable. My objective was first to learn how to safely and effectively navigate a drift boat. With the classroom and hands-on river experience, I can confidently say that I can now do that. The group's openness was amazing; an immediate camaraderie between the instructors and the student made the learning environment very effectively. There were no egos or attitudes; we were all there on a learning journey, regardless of one's experience or abilities. The instructors' introduction videos were also a unique way of getting the students to articulate what they wanted to get out of the school. The exit interviews also confirmed that they had reached their individual goals. If you have aspirations of being a professional guide or are looking to reduce the learning curve of how to navigate a drift boat safely, this is the opportunity you've been looking for. Thank you to Dana, Quinn, Tim, and Troy for helping me advance my personal journey, and I've made some close friendships along the way, which is always a bonus."
"If you are considering taking a guide school close up the Googler because your search is over. You will not find a better and more knowledgeable group of guys to learn the craft of guiding from than at the Western Canada Fly Fishing Guide School."
"I just recently took western Canada fly fishing guide school. I had the time of my life whether you're just trying to figure out what it would be like to guide, Or maybe you're looking for the next step of your fishing career. I've never had a guiding experience in my life and was looking for some direction in which way I want to go. I can't say how much this course helped me in answering my questions. You can learn by just asking questions, but it's better to experience it first hand. The crew is amazing and they have many different ways to teach you. They have lots of instructors with different experiences and they really can help you. If you're willing to let your pride go and just learn. They have lots to share, teach and show. I would gladly recommend this course to anyone that is looking to go to the next level or gain the experience for direction."
"I took Western Canada Fly Fishing Guide School and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. They are a very knowledgable and friendly group of instructors that truly help you develop your skills and understanding of the watersheds . They are awesome guides and good people that will make your day great! I can't say enough good things about them!"
Spring Class 2022
Spring 2021
FALL 2020
SPRING 2020
SPRING 2019
Our philosophy :
A true Professional Guide embodies readiness, both mentally and physically, for the demanding journey of guiding. They exude self-assurance without boasting, fully equipped to embrace every twist and turn the day brings—be it triumphs or trials. Their demeanour and attire mirror not just personal pride, but also a deep respect for the operation they stand for. Instantly morphing into a guide and a mentor, they effortlessly lead while their clients willingly follow their guidance. But what truly sets us apart? It's not just our unwavering work ethic or unyielding patience; it's the burning passion to embrace and cherish every person we encounter. Our success hinges on our love for people—an undeniable desire to nurture, support, and uplift every individual who crosses our path.
Spring 2021
Fall Class of 2020
Class of 2020 Spring
Class of 2019
Who is this course for?
This course is tailored for anyone eager to dive into the guide industry, with aspirations to craft a career and gain a competitive edge when approaching outfitters or lodges. It's a perfect fit for those seeking a solid foundation to kick off a career in outfitting and guiding. Even experienced guides looking to fine-tune their skills within a community of like-minded individuals will find immense value here. Additionally, if you own or plan to own a drift boat and aim to enhance safety and proficiency while enjoying river adventures with family and friends, this course is your essential guide.
This course is tailored for anyone eager to dive into the guide industry, with aspirations to craft a career and gain a competitive edge when approaching outfitters or lodges. It's a perfect fit for those seeking a solid foundation to kick off a career in outfitting and guiding. Even experienced guides looking to fine-tune their skills within a community of like-minded individuals will find immense value here. Additionally, if you own or plan to own a drift boat and aim to enhance safety and proficiency while enjoying river adventures with family and friends, this course is your essential guide.
What should you expect from guide school:
- 6 days ~ 60-70 hours
- Access to Industry leaders with over 50 years outfitting/ guiding
- 10%-15% classroom time
- 85%-90% on the water
- Fly Fishing Aptitude
- Knot Tying
- Entomology and fish feeding habits
- Boat handling on a river ( rowing / Safety / Knowledge / SPEED)
- Swift Water Rescue, and river safety
- Boat handling for different styles of fishing
- General Guiding Competence, and Skills to be confident to take clients on the river
- The ability to teach each skill set to your clients, to give them the needed skill set for making the day on the water one to remember ( from casting to catching more fish )
- Fly Fishing Photography ( Fish First)
- Social Media In the industry( ethics, professional code of conduct, leveraging)
- Marketing your self in the industry
- The business of guiding / outfitting
- An inside look at how the industry works ( fly shop, outfitters, code of conduct, dealing with other industry professionals)
- Guiding from a Drift Boat
- Walk n wade strategies, and safety
- How to prepare for and handle overnight guided camping/ fishing trips
- Proficiency trailering / launching a boat ( understanding maintenance with boat trailers)
- and much more...
What's included in your Tuition?
- 6 days 60-70 hours of Instruction
- Transportation to and from the River
- River Shuttles
- Drift boats are provided
- Lunch Every day
- Course Materials
- Certificate of Completion
- Alberta Fishing Licence
- Accommodations or Food ( beyond what is stated above)
- Travel to Calgary, Alberta
- Personal Fly Fishing gear
2024 WESTERN CANADA FLY FISHING GUIDE SCHOOL DATES:
SPRING CLASS $2499 cad + gst
6 DAYS - MAY 1-6th 2024
* If you need accommodations, we have a great rates set up at our preferred vendor, ask about this when booking *