Guide School Program Outline

Program Outline

Approved for the GI Bill®
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Only 2 students are accepted for each class
8 Full days $4255.00 Lodging and meals $2500
contact for dates and reservation

Arrival Day
5:00 pm
Arrive at Montana Hunting & Fishing Adventures Home Base in Hamilton, MT.
7:00 pm
Dinner, meet the instructors, distribute course curriculum, discuss course expectations.

Day One
(the first full day will be spent in the classroom)

8:00 am - 8:30 am
Introduction to Course & Orientation

8:30 am - 12:00 pm
First Aid/CPR training (online)

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Continuation of first aid/CPR training and certification.

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Requirements for guiding, Insurance, paperwork, and forms familiarization of Montana Board of Outfitters regulations, FWP regulations, and client safety.

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Knot tying and equipment set up Western/Tenkara. Meal planning for the following day. accommodating client dietary needs.

Day Two
(Walk and Wade)

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Travel to include discussion with instructions on driving, passenger comfort, and safety.

9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Field Study and Practical Application- (Bitterroot River East Fork) walk and wade stream basics, client safety, fly selection, and identification.

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Instruction in proper streamside meal presentation walk & wade.

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Streamside ecology and Entomology

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Playing fish/netting strategies Casting instruction Western/Tenkara

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Travel with discussion on special considerations for walk and Wade clients. Meal planning for the following day

Day Three
(Lake Float)

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Introduction to Rafts and Trailers safety and pre-trip inspection

9:00 am - 10:00 am
Travel to include discussion with instructions on trailer towing and safety)

10:00 am - 10:30 am
Boat and angler prep, launch, and boat ramp etiquette.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Field Study and Practical Application - Stillwater tactics, basic boat handling, and rowing techniques, boat safety, and watercraft operation.

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Instruction in proper streamside meal presentation float trip lake.

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
How to read the water and get your client into fish.

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Western/Tenkara fishing techniques

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Travel with discussion on how to plan and prepare for multi-day travel trips. Meal planning for the following day

Day Four
(River Float)

8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Travel and field study with practical application - (upper Bitterroot River) freestone river navigation, boat safety, watercraft operation, and river etiquette.

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Instruction in proper streamside meal presentation float trip river.

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Watercraft operation and field repair, scenic float trips, nature viewing, safety/survival, wildlife awareness, first aid/CPR review, river etiquette

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Travel with discussion on accommodating special needs. Meal planning for the following day.

Day Five
(River Float)

8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Travel, field study, and practical application - (Bitterroot River large freestone) advanced field repair, advanced rowing techniques, advanced casting techniques

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch on the river

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Reading larger rivers.

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Travel with discussion on the day's achievements, Meal planning for the following day

Day Six
(River Float)

8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Travel and field study with practical application - (West Fork of the Bitterroot River) tailwater ecology and entomology, fish habitat identification.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch on the river

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Continued practical application, playing fish/netting strategies.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Travel with discussion on the day's achievements, Meal planning for the following day.

Day Seven
(River Float Exam)

Field testing and Practical Application Exams- (Blackfoot River) Final Testing and Critical Evaluation of boat operation and maneuvering, fly casting techniques, becoming a guide.

8:00 am - 10:00 am
Travel (discuss what are your concerns or insecurities, what you feel are your weak points, and what needs improvement with instruction to remedy.

10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Field testing and practical application exam

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch on the river

1:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Continue testing and practical application exam; mock medical emergency response drill,

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Travel discussion on what are your concerns or insecurities, and what you feel are your weak points. recap the practical application exam with instructions to remedy any weak points.

Day Eight
(Classroom)

8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Review of Montana Board of Outfitters license requirements and regulations and complete the paperwork, and documentation required for guiding. Prepare a professional resume,

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Recap class, discuss guide and client relations, and how to market yourself as a professional. networking in the industry, developing and maintaining a customer base, finding jobs, and meeting employment expectations. Award diplomas to successful graduates, and departure.

**Top-level graduates may be given the opportunity to continue their education and gain valuable on-the-job training guiding with Montana Hunting and Fishing Adventures. **

Additional Resource Readings

·        Montana State fishing regulations

·        Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Statutes

·        Statutes and rules relating to outfitters and guides issued by the Montana Board of Outfitters

·        International Federation of Fly Fishers CCI Study pack that includes: "Observations on Teaching Fly Casting" booklet, "The Essentials of Fly Casting" booklet, and the casting instructor DVD

·        Orvis Vest Pocket Guide to Leaders, Knots & Tippets

·        Pocket Guide to Western Hatches by Dave Hughes

·        The Orvis Streamside Guide to Trout Foods and Their Imitations by Tom Rosenbauer

·        Orvis Fly-Tying Guide by Tom Rosenbauer

·        Guide's Guide Augmented Book (The A to Z on Becoming and perfecting the Art of professional river running. Includes information on trip tips, company policies, first aid kits, and food planning guides.) by William McGinnis