Guide School

Land Your Dream Job! One Week Course. Excellent Job Placement

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. Sweetwater Travel fly fishing guide school will provide you with the necessary experience to land that essential first fly fishing job.

Sweetwater Travel fly fishing guide school instructors are experienced, international fishing guides that have worked with Sweetwater in our international destinations and will teach you everything from rowing western rivers, running rapids in jet boats to helping you guide your clients into big fish.

We limit the size of our courses to insure quality instruction and interaction with our instructors. This gives you the utmost attention from our fly fishing guide school instructors and increases your chances of getting a job afterward.

ATTENTION VETERANS! VA Education Benefits, can help you become a fly fishing guide.  It's easy with minimal paperwork.  A current COE is required.   Sweetwater Guide School now offers an Advanced Class (Fly Fishing Guide Instructor Training) for VA Veterans that might want to advance their fly fishing guide skills, and who have attended our previous course in the past.  In order to comply with the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 Sweetwater Guide School is required to provide you with this shopping list. Please click the link:  drive.google.com/file/d/1lJ_Q-YZ8T7fJV0vk4-7oWnWS8VJJ7by0/view  Please contact us for details. Email: corey@sweetwatertravel.com or call 423-618-0735

Being a fly fishing guide is an incredible way to both spend time in the wilderness, and earn a substantial income. A fishing guide can earn over $40,000 per year including tips. All in all the school is an investment in your future. You can pay off the cost of this school in only 3 weeks of guiding, and you will have the potential it takes to get a job in the most beautiful places left in the world. 

The Sweetwater Fly Fishing Guide School limits class size, so spaces fill up very quickly.   We require a 50% deposit to confirm your spot. This includes all your food and lodging. All you need to show up with is your fishing gear and a Montana State fishing license. Final payment is due 30 days prior to the start of the course. Deposits and/or final payment will not be refunded unless a replacement is found. We accept checks, money orders or major credit card. It is truly an opportunity that should not be missed.  We offer payment plans if necessary.  Join us and let us help you land the job of your dreams.

7 NIGHTS, 6 1/2 DAYS OF TRAINING, MOSTLY ON THE WATER.  WE GO TO THE RIVER EVERY DAY. Ready to get you Dream Job? Plan ahead and Call NOW! Limited availability.  sweetwater Guide School Director:   COREY KOFF Phone: 423-618-0735  Toll free: 1-866-GO GUIDE (866-464-8433)  MAIN Office: 406-222-0624 email: Corey@sweetwatertravel.com

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A large part of being a competent fly fishing 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 to tie flies from our professional fly fishing school instructors. We will teach you 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. Losing Mr. Big because the knot you tied failed will put you in the doghouse in no time. We'll teach you 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. We'll show you 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 you will 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 fly fish 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 fly fish 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 fly fishing guide schools are operated on the Big Horn River near Fort Smith, Montana.  The Bighorn River is perfect to train on for both jet boating, and drift boat fishing.

By learning how to run a boat on these rivers, you will gain the experience and confidence needed to be both a jet boat, and drift boat guide. During our fly fishing guide school instructions, we will focus on reading water, driving techniques, rowing, and on-river outboard motor repairs.

We will also show you 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.

Other Critical Skills
Low impact use:	This component of the course highlights how to guide on public waters with a particular focus on minimizing impact to the public resource.  This includes safely playing, photographing and releasing fish, campfire safety and etiquette, wildlife proofing gear and vehicles, the importance of following angling and boating regulations and an understanding of private property and guide/landowner interaction.
Safety:	Our safety portion of the course will include proper trailering techniques including strapping boats down, following safety checklists, proper stowage of spare oars, use of bear sprays, a discussion of wildlife interaction in remote locations, bear safety and basic swift water safety.

Schedule

Upon arrival at the lodge, everything is covered (except your fishing license). This includes room and board, airport transfers(not flights) and everything needed for training. You will need to bring your own fishing equipment, waders, etc.

You should arrive at the school Saturday afternoon/evening or Sunday morning. After unpacking and settling in, we will start training Sunday afternoon. Monday to Friday will be full days of training. Saturday, we will conduct exit interviews during the morning, and the school will end mid day.  A typical day begins at 8:30 and we are off of the river at 6:30. Depending on the focus of that particular day, many hours will be spent on the river, to practice our fishing and guiding techniques. Evenings are spent tying flies, practicing knots, watching fishing videos and swapping lies.

2025 Pricing $3,600 per person for the Fly Fishing Guide Course $3,700 per person for the Fly Fishing Guide Instructor Training Course (Advanced Class-FFGIT) *2026 Pricing has not been set and pricing is subject to increase for the 2026 schools.
Last year’s students had a very high job placement with lodges in Alaska and many states in the lower 48 including Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. The average pay including tips was $4,000 to $5,000 per month.

Schedule: (subject to change)

• Day 1 (Sunday): Arrive by noon, Lunch, CPR/First Aid Training, Casting
• Day 2 (Monday): Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 3 (Tue.): Knot tying, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 4 (Wed.): Fly tying, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 5 (Thurs.) Overview of instruction manual, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 6 (Fri) Overview of entire class, Drift boat training, Jet boat training
• Day 7 (Sat.) Final interview, 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 and get it to the lodges and outfitters who hire our graduates each year.

2025 Spring	2025 Summer	2025 Fall
March 9 - 15	May 18 - 24	Aug 31 - Sept 6
March 16 - 22	May 25 - 31	Sept 7 - 13
March  23 - 29	June 1 -7	Sept 14 - 20
April 2 - 8 (Advanced Class)	June 8 - 14	Sept 21 - 27
*2026 Pricing has not been set and rates are subject to increase.	June 15 - 21	Sept 30 - Oct 6 (Advanced Class)

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Student and Employer Comments

Hello Sweetwater Guide School, I just wanted to send an email thanking you for how much of a blast I had while at guide school!  The whole experience was amazing.  The instructors were extremely nice, informative and most importantly fun. I learned more in a week than I could have in years.  The jet boating and the guides manual that was handed out will surely come in handy when I am up in Alaska.  Speaking of which, I want to thank you for that as well.  Without your help, I would have never got  the job I have now in Alaska.  I leave on the 7th and I must say I am incredibly excited.  Overall the experience of guide school was great, well worth it and has provided me with amazing new friends. Again, thanks for being so awesome and helpful through the whole process!   A. G Washington State

Hey Guys, I want to give you an update on my season here in Italy.  I had my first guests of the year for a total of 5 trips and so far it has been exceptional!  I have had nothing but great response from the guests.  They appreciated the quality of service and the fishing.  I cannot thank you enough, two guest re-booked trips  and I feel so much more confident with everything I learned at Guide School.  Your course has changed everything for me and coming to guide school really paid off!  You guys are awesome!   T. W.  Graduate/Italy

Hey guys, Thanks for the amazing week!  I will recommend the Sweetwater Guide Training course to all of my friends.  Even if they don't want to become guides it's the best way to learn rowing, knots, fly tying and best of all... how to catch more trout!  The instructors are all world class and very patient.  I'm excited to get started with my first job that you helped me land.  I'll do Sweetwater proud! Thanks again! R.M.  summer Guide School

Dear Sweetwater Guide School, I wanted to let you know how impressed and happy I was with the guide school. While I went in as one of the "greener" students it was perfect for finding a good place to start what I hope to be a long career. Every single instructor did a phenomenal job. Not just the wealth of information each of those guys have but their passion for Sweetwater and growing the sport is infectious. I was so excited to get out and learn more from those guys. Thank you for everything and it was a pleasure to get to know all of you. I look forward to getting more hours on the river and staying in touch to let you guys.  I'll let you know about my progress and hopefully be able to get into my first year of guiding when I am ready. Thanks again for the great week. T.B.

Hey Guys, I want to take a minute to thank you, your guys and gal and everyone involved with the class for an amazing experience.  I fancied myself a pretty accomplished fly angler and didn't know how much I would actually get from the class.  I was looking at it as more of a networking opportunity and I couldn't have been more wrong.  Not only did I learn a ton but was completely blown away by the professionalism and friendliness of you and your staff.  The class was dialed, seamless and most of all fun!  I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to become a guide, anyone wanting to become a better angler and boatman and just looking for a ridiculously fun week!  I couldn't have been more impressed and could have paid double and still felt it was well worth the money.  I can't wait to start the season guiding in Alaska and feel hugely confident that I am now armed to get started on an amazing new career path.  Thanks again for everything.  You guys rule! P. M Colorado Hello Sweetwater, I just want to give you an update on how my guiding has been going up here in Alaska.  I've been having a stellar year so far, getting clients on a ton of awesome fish while having an amazing time!  Thank you so much for being a reference for me, your support has helped me tremendously.  The guide school definitely gave me a good head start and prepared me for the challenges of guiding in Alaska.  I was guiding solo within the first week with extreme confidence.  Thanks again for everything.  I'm having the time of my life!    C. M. Dear Sweetwater Guide School, I'm writing to express my gratitude for the hard work you all put in during the week to help make me a more accomplished angler.  I came to the class not wanting a job as a fishing guide, rather to enhance my fishing and boating skills so I can catch more fish and row a drift boat safely and with confidence.  Your class exceeded my expectations.  My friends and I are catching more fish and I'm no longer putting the fear of god in my buddies while I'm rowing!  Kudos!  J. Q. I just wanted to thank you again for all your help and to commend the excellent instruction given at the guide school. Every instructor was great and went the extra mile to provide me with information about what to expect in Alaska that I could never have found anywhere else. They also set the standard for what a great guide should aspire to do and I will be trying my best to be as committed and thorough as them this summer on the Kanektok in Alaska.  Cheers , S.C. Hey Guys, My week at Sweetwater Fly Fishing Guide School was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  Ron and the highly experienced staff provided our group with all the fundamental skills we need to become proficient guides at any lodge or outfitter across the country.  The school is structured in such a way that the participants, whether they have literally no experience or are already active guides, will walk away as exponentially better fishermen.  The staff is incredibly  knowledgeable  about fly fishing, boating, and the guiding industry as a whole.  Even if you may be unsure if guiding is in your future, the Sweetwater School is a perfect escape and a chance to try something totally new while enjoying the beautiful Montana wilderness. It's a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. AC, North Carolina Dear Sweetwater Guide School, I wanted to let you know how impressed and happy I was with the guide school. While I went in as one of the "greener" students it was perfect for finding a good place to start what I hope to be a long career. Every single instructor did a phenomenal job. Not just the wealth of information each of those guys have but their passion for Sweetwater and growing the sport is infectious. I was so excited to get out and learn more from those guys. Thank you for everything and it was a pleasure to get to know all of you. I look forward to getting more hours on the river and staying in touch to let you guys.  I'll let you know about my progress and hopefully be able to get into my first year of guiding when I am ready. Thanks again for the great week. T.B.

I just wanted to keep you posted on how the job search is going.  The past 24 hours have been a whirlwind!  I have been contacted by 5 lodges that I recently applied to and I'm certain that I will land a job soon.  Thank you for all of the help you have provided and truthfully I would still be chasing my tail wondering where to begin if it weren't for the Sweetwater Guide School.  My next email will say which fantastic lodge I will be working at this summer. I hope to further advance the excellent reputation Sweetwater has for producing fantastic fishing guides! P.B. MO Dear Sweetwater, Thank you for an amazing week and experience.  The guide school strengthened my passion for fly fishing and enhanced my skills and interest in guiding.  It was the best week of my life! S. L. Hey guys, I just got down to the ranch on Saturday.  I guided the first morning out, and then ended up shadowing most of the week until Thursday.  The first fish I put my guest on was a 15 inch brownie, and we landed 5 more after that.  I took out some kids and put one of them on a 19 inch rainbow.  The guide school made me more than ready for the job on the ranch.  Hats off to The Sweetwater Guide School! B. H.  Dear Sweetwater, I’m reaching out to you today to let you know I’ve been hired to work in Alaska this summer.  I wanted to extend a big thank you!  My experience with The Sweetwater Guide School was a huge help in this process.  So, thank you!  After taking the Sweetwater Guide school course never would I have thought that I'd be gearing up to be guiding in Alaska for it wasn’t my initial intuition.  Alaska has surfaced over the years as an idea but I never knew how to go about it.  As a teacher and coach, being a guide has been in my minds eye as a great summer gig, thanks to you guys its become a reality.  I’m looking forward to my first season up in Alaska and will keep you posted on my progress.  Cheers! P.F. I really appreciate the class I attended and all of your Steve and Callan's  efforts. I really feel as if I made some great new friends and learned a ton . You all did a amazing job teaching and helping . I absorbed a lot from the class and use it daily when teaching the students I have here at Orvis. I cannot express what a great time I had and do not hesitate when someone asks about the class of expressing how amazing it was. Thanks again for everything! S.P. Texas  Hope all is well. I was in your first group last March on the Bighorn for the guide school, in case you can't remember. I had an amazing summer guiding on the Grand Cascapedia. I was kind of rushed into the guiding position as they were missing one guide. After 2-3 week training, learning water I had never fished & using a 26' cedar canoe, they finally sent me on my own with 2 guests every day. What a great experience! I learned so much and still have a bunch to learn.  Fishing was tough but we still managed to do very well. Tried to keep the guests on fish & happy. The lodge had great comments from the guests about me and they are hoping for me to work there again next summer, which I will. I am really glad that I attended your class. I believe you guys prepared me well to become a good guide. Thank you! C. B. QC, Canada

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