So you want to share fly fishing with others and enhance your teaching skills? Let Vail Valley Anglers help. You don’t have to be the world’s greatest fly fisherman to be a guide. Guiding is a learned skill. Our course will provide the necessary skills to help you in your quest to guiding fly fishing trips. The focus of this course is guide skills, not necessarily fly fishing skills. However, techniques and approach are an important part of guiding. We want to be clear that if you are coming to this school to go fly fishing for a week, you are probably in the wrong school.
2024 Scheduled Courses
Session #1: May 20-24
Additional Information
The guide training course includes five days of classroom and on-river instruction from our team of world class fly fishing guides. With over 50 years of combined experience, our guides ensure that you are getting the best instruction available. It is recommended that you book in advance to ensure your spot. Students will need to supply a fishing license, equipment and lunch. There is a 50% non-refundable deposit required. 15 days from the start time of your course, 100% payment is required and is non-refundable. Credit cards are accepted.
If you are interested in becoming a certified float guide, check out our Float Certification courses being offered on May 6-10 and May 13-17 in conjunction with the training courses above.
What to Bring
We recommend that you be prepared to fish every day and suggest bringing waders, boots and fishing equipment. The weather is unpredictable this time of year so be prepared for the worst case scenario. We suggest bringing a hat, gloves, rain jacket, sunscreen, change of dry clothes, polarized sunglasses, LUNCH, snacks, water bottle and a gear or dry bag to put it all in. LUNCH IS NOT PROVIDED. If you need waders and boots, please let us know ahead of time and Vail Valley Anglers can supply you with them.
Lodging
We do not provide lodging but there are several options available for our students. Just outside the doors of the Vail Valley Anglers fly shop is the Inn at Riverwalk where students will receive a discounted rate of 10% off. Other hotel options in Vail and Beaver Creek are endless at this time of year since it is after ski season and before the busy summer season. Additionally, there are several campgrounds in the area where students may wish to stay. For students who are looking to share lodging costs please contact the shop to get in touch with other students.
First Aid and CPR Training
All fly fishing guides in the state of Colorado Must complete First Aid CPR training. For current or newly hired Vail Valley Anglers guides, we offer a CPR/First Aid class in early June following the courses. Upon completion of your First Aid and CPR training, you will receive a current First Aid & CPR card which is valid for two years in the state of Colorado. Cost of CPR course is in addition to your certification.
Employment Opportunities
If you are interested in becoming a seasonal guide with Vail Valley Anglers, as a supplement to your winter income, this course is an excellent way to prepare you with the skill set we are looking for in our guide staff. At VVA we prefer to hire from within the course, so upon successful completion, you may be offered a seasonal job with Vail Valley Anglers as a guide. Our instructors will evaluate each participant individually.
