The Guide School on the Bighorn
2012 Guide School
Total, All-Inclusive Cost
- 1st person $1999
- 2nd person (SAVE $500!) $1499
“The perfect place to become a professional flyfishing guide”
Bighorn River Guides offers one of the few professional flyfishing guide schools in the United States. Even if you have no ambition to become a guide, you will make a quantum leap in your flyfishing ability. It is a great way to expand your skills, mastering the basics or expanding your knowledge of general flyfishing, casting, rowing a boat, reading the water, tying flies etc.
Your School Experience Will Include:
- LODGING – Our cabins are complete with full bath. Each cabin has a 360 degree panoramic view featuring the river, mountains, birds and wildlife.
- ALL MEALS - All you can eat meals. Any dietary restrictions will be honored
Call us to register.
Our Instructors
Michael Mastrangelo
Michael has been fishing the Bighorn since 1985 and is the owner/outfitter for the Fort Smith Fly Shop and Cabins for the past 14 years. Michael served as the President of the Bighorn River Alliance for five years. It is a non-profit organization to enhance, protect and preserve the Bighorn River. Michael is an excellent instructor. Long time clients call Michael the "troutfather."
Chad Becker
Chad has been a guide and instructor for 19 years. He has guided for salmon, steelhead and trout in the Great Lakes Region, Washington State as well as trout in Montana. Chad has instructed hundreds of people in both casting and fly tying.
2011 Spring Session is complete and was a smashing success! STAY IN TOUCH FOR OUR NEXT gUIDE sCHOOL DATES AND ENROLLMENT!
SPECIAL PROMO FOR GUIDE SCHOOL
TOTAL ALL INCLUSIVE COST $1999.00 1st person
Bring a friend for $1499.00 - a $500 savings!
Includes:
- ALL LODGING
- ALL MEALS
- ALL TAXES
- ALL INSTRUCTION
- RIVER TRAINING
- FISHING BIBLIOGRAPHY
- MANUAL
- CALENDAR
- NOTEBOOK
- BOOK ON KNOTS
- CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
- BIGHORN RIVER GUIDES HAT
Some Testimonials from sone of our Guide school attendees
I have been flyfishing for almost 30-years, mostly lakes and some rivers. When I decided to go to the Bighorn River Guide School I looked at others in my home state, but the scenery and the fishing I felt could not be beat. I had no idea what to expect out of the school. I can say it met my expectations and then some! My goal was just to become better.
At the end of the school I can honestly say that my casting techniques have been improved so much that I catch and land more fish. Reading the rivers, determining what they eat, tying flies at the river and lakes. I could go on about so much more when it comes down to it I will do this again and send my son next year!
Was it an intense program, yes but well worth it. Now I did not say much about rowing all I can say as for me it was panic mode. The instructor was patient and helped me work through it. Role-playing was fun, especially when you were the guide and every one else were clients.
Accommodations are great. You cannot go wrong with the Bighorn River Guide School. You will be taught by the best!
Catch and Release forever,
Ron from Colorado
Top 10 Reasons to enroll in the Bighorn River Guide School, as told by Kathy from Billings, MT
# 10 You never know as much as you think you know
# 9 Great accommodations
# 8 Low student to teacher ratio
# 7 Hands on , learn by doing
# 6 Patient & knowledgeable teachers
# 5 You can experience the 4 seasons in 4 days
# 4 Learn to tie fly patterns that work and actually catch fish
# 3 Ongoing Hysterical Laughter, especially when it is your turn with the oars
# 2 It's the Bighorn River, nuff said
# 1 Michael & Ellyn
What makes a person want to be a professional flyfishing guide?
- Great working locations
- “best office in the world”
- Get away from the “rat race”
- Love of the Sport
- The enjoyment you get from helping others fulfill their dreams
- The challenge of a new day on the river
- The different experiences you have each and every day
- Meeting people from all over the world
- Laboratory for Studying human nature
- Working at a career you can love
Our instructors are full time year round professional Bighorn River Guides:
- Highly skilled
- Professional
- Knowledgeable
- Experienced
- and most importantly - PATIENT
School Schedule
Sunday Arrival by 5 p.m.
Welcome party and dinner
DAY 1
- INTRODUCTION
- SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
- STUDENTS’ INDIVIDUAL GOALS
- FLYFISHING OVERVIEW
- HISTORY
- SPECIES
- GEAR
- GEOGRAPHY
- TECHNOLOGY
- RIVER ETIQUETTE
- TACKLE
- FLY LINES
- LEADERS
- TIPPETT
- KNOT TYING
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION
- BASICS OF ROD RIGGING
- CASTING
- CASTING MECHANICS
- ROLL CAST
- STRAIGHT LINE CASTS
- READING THE WATER
- WHERE THE FISH ARE AND WHY
- CASTING
- REVIEW OF BASICS
- ACHIEVING THE ROLL CAST
- STRAIGHTLINE CASTS
- SESSION 1 SUMMARY
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Day 2
- ACCOUNTING- HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY BY A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
- HALF DAY ON THE RIVER
- BOAT SKILLS
- PROTOCOL
- ROWING
- SAFETY
- SESSION 2 SUMMARY
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DAY 3
- FLY TYING
- ENTYMOLOGY
- WHAT THE FISH EAT
- MATCH THE HATCH
- BASIC FLY TYING
- CASTING
- BUILDING ON PREVIOUS DAYS CLASSES
- SLACK-LINE CASTING
- MENDING
- SESSION 3 SUMMARY
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DAY 4
- FULL DAY ON THE RIVER
- ALL RIVER SESSIONS INCLUDE ROLE PLAYING
- ROWING INSTRUCTION
- READING THE WATER
- ONSTREAM RIGGING
- PROPER RIVER ETIQUETTE
- SESSION 4 SUMMAR
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DAY 5
- HALF DAY ON THE RIVER
- OBSERVATION
- INTERPRETING RISE FORMS
- INSECT RECOGNITION
- SEEING FISH
- INSECTS ON AND UNDER THE WATER
- STOMACH SAMPLING
- PRESENTATION
- DRAG FREE TECHNIQUES NEEDED FOR SUCCESS
- FIGHTING AND LANDING FISH
- CASTING
- PRACTICE DRILLS TO TAKE HOME
- INDIVIDUAL TIPS TO WORK ON
- SESSION 5 SUMMARY
- QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
- Fishing Gear
- Rods – 4 to 6 weight, 8 1/2 to 9 ft.
- Reel with a smooth drag
- Weight forward floating line
- Wading Gear
- Clothing for variable conditions
- Sunscreen
- Polarized Sunglasses
- Hat
- Rain Gear
- Insect Repellent
- Camera and Film
- Wool or wool blend socks
CALL TO SIGN UP TODAY!
406-666-2550
50% DEPOSIT REQUIRED TO SIGN UP, BALANCE DUE WHEN SCHOOL BEGINS
