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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.
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"Michael is a great teacher and guide. We learned a lot about the Bighorn and fly fishing in general. He has great patience and his humor are really wonderful assets. The longer we are in education and coaching, the more important humor and having a good time becomes. Tell him to keep up the great work he does. He enriched our lives. We will never forget our time together." Steve and Carl, Bradford, PA
THE GUIDE SCHOOL ON THE BIGHORN
“The perfect place to become a professional flyfishing guide”
Session I March 25-31, 2012
Sessiopn 11 April 1-6, 2012
CAN YOU INVEST FIVE DAYS TO MAKE A QUANTUM LEAP IN YOUR FLYFISHING ABILITY AND ENJOYMENT
SPECIAL PROMO FOR GUIDE SCHOOL
TOTAL ALL INCLUSIVE COST $1999.00 1st person
Bring a friend for $1499.00
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 Guide School Attendee Testimonials
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
Our INSTRUCTORS/GUIDES are:
Highly skilled
Professional
Knowledgeable
Experienced
and most importantly
PATIENT
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 13 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.
School Schedule
Sunday Arrival by 6 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
DRY FLY
NYMPH
CZECH
STREAMER
PITZEN KNOTT
DROPPER RIGS
CHOOSING THE RIGHT SYSTEM AND WHEN TOP USE IT
• QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION
OUT TO THE RIVER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY
• BASICS OF ROD RIGGING
• CASTING
CASTING MECHANICS
ROLL CAST
STRAIGHT LINE CASTS
WIND CASTING
STRAIGHTLINE CAST
REVERSE CAST
MENDING AND WHY
DOUBLE HAUL
SINGLE HAUL
• READING THE WATER
WHERE THE FISH ARE AND WHY
• CASTING
REVIEW OF BASICS
• SESSION 1 SUMMARY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Day 2
• DAY ON THE RIVER
• BOAT SKILLS
BOAT FISHING SKILLS
LAUNCHING THE BOAT
•ROWING SKILLS
SIDE TO SIDE
BACK ROW
• PROTOCOL
• SAFETY
• SESSION 2 SUMMARY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DAY 3
• FLY TYING
ENTYMOLOGY
WHAT THE FISH EAT
MATCH THE HATCH
BASIC FLY TYING
STOMACH SAMPLING
IDENTIFYING SAMPLES
OUT TO THE RIVER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY
• CASTING
BUILDING ON PREVIOUS DAYS CLASSES
SLACK-LINE CASTING
MENDING
• SESSION 3 SUMMARY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DAY 4
• DAY ON THE RIVER
• ALL RIVER SESSIONS INCLUDE ROLE PLAYING
ROWING INSTRUCTION
READING THE WATER
ONSTREAM RIGGING
•PROPER RIVER ETIQUETTE
APPROACHING FISH
DRY FLY APPROACH
NYPHING APPROACH
HOW TO WALK THE RIVER
WADING QUIETLY AND SAFELY
• SESSION 4 SUMMARY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
DAY 5
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
•WEATHER SKILLS
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AND HOW IT AFFECTS FISH AND FISHING
• SCHOOL EVALUATION
• SESSION 5 SUMMARY
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
OUT TO THE RIVER FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE DAY
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 (clean)
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
COME JOIN THE FUN
OFFERING A SPECIAL ALL WOMEN FLYFISHINGSCHOOL
CAN YOU INVEST THREE DAYS TO MAKE A QUANTUM LEAP IN YOUR FLYFISHING ABILITY AND ENJOYMENT
APRIL 12-16, 2012
Schedule
Day 1
Breakfast
Introduction
School Mission Statement
Student's Individual goals
Flyfishing Overview
History
Species
Gear
Geography
Technology
River Etiquette
Tackle
Fly Lines
Leaders
Tippett
Knot tying
Questions and Answers
Refreshment break
Out to the river
Lunch on the river
Reading the water
Where the fish are and why
Casting
Review of basics
Achieving the roll cast
Straightline casts
Session 1 summary
Q & A
DAY 2
Breakfast
Entymology
What the fish eat
Match the hatch
More fly tying
Casting
Building on Day 1
Slack line casting
Mending
Refreshment break
Out to the river
Lunch on the river
Observation
Interpreting Rise forms
Insect recognition
Seeing fish
Insects on and under the water
Stomach sampling
Presentation
Drag free techniques need for success
Fighting and Landing fish
Casting
Practice drills
Individual tips to work on
Session summary
Q & A
Day 3
Full day on the Bighorn River for Instructional Review and Perfecting techniques
Catching fish
Closing Ceremony
Dinner
You may depart after school on Sunday or stay overnight and leave after breakfast on Monday.
You may add additional days to your classes for rowing, accounting, guiding, or personal guide trips.
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