Fly Fishing Guide Training Programs

Vail Valley Anglers is currently offering two valuable and essential guide training courses. We use these courses not only to hire new guides but to help students land fly fishing guiding jobs elsewhere. These in-depth courses are filled with detailed instruction from the top guides in the area. Each five-day course will be held in May of 2024. Learn more about our fly fishing guide training programs by selecting them below and reserve your spot by booking online today.  

2024 Scheduled Courses:

  • Oar Certification Course #1: May 6-10 and Classroom orientation on May 5th
  • Oar Certification Course #2: May 13-17 and Classroom orientation on May 12th
  • Guide School #1: May 20-24

Choosing a Fly Fishing Guide School

Read more about our training programs in this blog post at midcurrent.com by Brody Henderson.

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Why Choose Vail Valley Anglers Guide School?

Professionalism:

We hold our guides to the highest standards of professionalism in the industry and our guide training schools are an investment in the future of our company. Becoming a fly fishing guide involves much more than simply knowing how to catch fish and our training programs are designed to teach students how to deliver the highest level of service and to become the best fly fishing guides in the business.

Instructors:

School Director Bryant Compton and staff have more combined guide training experience than anyone in the area. Decades of fly shop management, professional guiding and thousands of miles of commercial rowing combined with the original development of detailed fly fishing guide training programs ensure our students are being trained by the best.

Location:

Our year-round, full-service fly shop and on-site learning center are located in Edwards, Colorado on the banks of the Eagle River just minutes from the world-renowned resorts of Vail and Beaver Creek. Several Gold Medal trout fisheries including the Colorado River, Roaring Fork River, as well as Gore Creek and the Eagle River are all located nearby. Additionally,world famous tailwaters like the Frying Pan, productive reservoirs and alpine lakes, and miles of remote high country creeks are just a short drive away.

Affordability

We price our schools at an economic rate for a couple reasons. First, we are investing in future Vail Valley Anglers guides. Also, we believe our training programs should be accessible to anyone interested in beginning a career as a fly fishing guide. Students who enroll in both schools before March 1st will receive a 10% discount. Scholarships may be offered to individual students based on previous guiding experience.

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.

Employment Opportunities and Job Placement

Vail Valley Anglers is a constantly growing guide service and we are always looking for qualified new fly fishing guides to join our team. We hire seasoned veterans as well novice guides and each summer we have openings for full and part-time seasonal guiding positions. Our guide training programs are the ideal tool for us to hire fly fishing guides that meet our very high professional standards. For those who are interested in working as a guide elsewhere we have helped students find jobs from Alaska to Texas. We will provide you with a certificate of completion and letters of recommendation to add to your resume and job leads through our network of connections in the fly fishing business.