"I felt that it was a great course not only to prepare me to become
a guide, but to make me a better fly fisherman!"
Michael Hoey - Idaho
Some time ago during a discussion, talk turned to the negative encounters amongst guides we had observed over the past years on our area's streams and rivers. Immediately, it became clear that there were two recurring themes to all of these encounters: 1) An increase in fishing guides in southwest Montana, and 2) a decrease in the level of courtesy and simple competency in the fly fishing guide industry. Clearly, many of the errors were a result of simple ignorance rather that malicious intent. Still, the result was the same -- Errors and discourtesies were occurring on the water and many people didn't even know they were committing them. I addition, it became clear that too many guides were simply going through the motions, and in doing so, dropping the standards of the guiding industry. For this reason, in 1997, we created the Montana Fly Fishing Guide School in hopes that it would lend credibility to the industry as a whole, that well trained guides would be entering and preserving the integrity of the guiding profession.
The following is our mission statement:
I. Produce quality guides that will approach guiding with a high level of professionalism, enthusiasm, and confidence; operating within the realm of safety, respect towards others, and the environment.
II. Protect the investment of clients and preserve the integrity and professionalism of the guiding industry.
III. Offer students a forum to learn and discuss the finer points of the guiding profession, including the skills, equipment, and professional demeanor required to become a competent fly fishing guide.
