Guide School

Lewis and Clark Expeditions and ProOutfitters are now offering the most comprehensive guide school in the lower United States. Our guide school is seven days including four days on Montana's most coveted river – The Smith. The Smith River is a 60 mile float through isolated canyons in central Montana and offers us the unique opportunity of bringing an outdoor classroom to our guide-school students. We are proud to offer the most complete guide school in the country. Lewis and Clark Expeditions and ProOutfitters trained-guides are head and shoulders above the average day-tripping guides. Not only do we read the water and decipher hatches, we've earned a reputation of seducing fish to the fly. Our guides and students have to be wilderness and river savvy, good cooks, and raconteurs (good with people.) We run safe, environmentally responsible fly fishing trips, while allowing our clients the feeling of luxury in the wilderness.

Skill sets you will learn, include:

• Catching and releasing fish and photographing clients with fish (without harming the fish.)
• Where and how to catch fish in the worst and best of conditions.
• Drift boat and raft care and maintenance.
• Client care and etiquette.
• Fishing equipment (know what you need and how to take care of it.)
• Fish, fly and insect identification.

Additional skill building:

• Repairing a raft with a hole in it by the side of a bank 100 miles from a hardware store.
• Building a fire in driving wind and rain (and snow.)
• Erecting wall tents and client tents.
• Collecting firewood that is both burnable and environmentally appropriate.
• Packing and loading gear-boats with enough gear for 15 people for five days.
• Learning to drive and backup trailers.
• Knot tying.
• Wilderness First Aid.
• How to cook and prepare food that can easily be served in a restaurant.

In short, it boils down to how to stay dry when it is wet, how to stay warm when it is cold and how to have a phenomenal outdoor experience regardless of what the weather and water conditions are.

The itinerary for the PRO OUTFITTERS/Lewis & Clark Expeditions guide school:

Day One: We will be staying at the North Fork Crossing. Safety is our primary concern. Instruction will include Wilderness First Aid as well as river safety and etiquette.

Day Two: How to pack a river trip for 15 people, drive a truck and trailer, and prepare for all weather events.

Days 3, 4, 5 and 6: On the Smith River where we will be rowing, explaining fishing techniques in a variety of weather conditions, putting up tents, making a fire, knot tying, studying stream entomology, reading water, catching fish when no else can, dealing in customer service, exploring fauna, learning Montana history, decoding geology, cooking in the wilderness, and practicing no trace left behind camping.

Day 7: Final review and evaluation. Return home with job opportunity in hand.

After completing our guide school you should be able to:

• Row a boat on any body of water in the United States.
• Understand where the fish are and tactics to catch them.
• Handle the most challenging weather conditions.
• Learn to camp with panache and verve.
• Have a basic understanding of the surrounding aquatic insect life along with surrounding fauna and flora.
• Create and dine on the best camp cuisine in the lower United States.
• Have the skills to effectively and successfully serve your fly-fishing clients.

Guides at Lewis and Clark Expeditions and ProOutfitters have helped to make these companies leaders in Montana's fly-fishing outfitting industry:

• PRO is the only company Orvis has endorsed for outfitting, a lodge, and an expedition, upland game bird hunting, and fly-fishing.
• Lewis and Clark Expeditions is the largest fly-fishing outfitter on the Smith River as well as a leader in taking injured soldiers fishing in Montana with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc.

Both companies are leaders in conservation and Trout Unlimited advocates. Lewis and Clark Expeditions and PRO Outfitters adhere and practice the highest ethical standards in fishing. Both companies recognize an obligation to the environment as well as the importance of etiquette whether in the field or on the water.

 

 

Lewis and Clark Expeditions

P.O.Box 970
Helena, MT 59624
Phone: (406) 449-4632
Cell: (406) 459-2030
Email: LCexpe@aol.com