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Learn to navigate and fish Colorado's rivers like a pro with Ed's Fly Shop's Guide School. Perfect for aspiring guides and avid anglers seeking expert skills on the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers.
Learn to navigate and fish Colorado's rivers like a pro with Ed's Fly Shop's Guide School. Perfect for aspiring guides and avid anglers seeking expert skills on the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers.
Book with Ed's Fly Shop
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Operated by Ed's Fly Shop · Montrose, Colorado
Ed's Fly Shop offers a unique Guide School experience in Montrose, Colorado, perfect for those looking to elevate their fishing skills or begin a career as a professional river guide. This immersive course takes place along the scenic Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers, where participants learn vital fishing techniques, river navigation, and essential client handling skills. Whether you're an aspiring guide or a passionate angler wanting to enhance your expertise, this program teaches practical skills that can directly apply to professional guiding or personal river adventures. With expert instructors, hands-on practice in real river conditions, and a focus on both fishing and rowing techniques, the Guide School prepares you to confidently handle clients and tackle Colorado’s dynamic waterways. Beyond technical skills, the course emphasizes safety and environmental awareness, ensuring participants become responsible stewards of these beautiful rivers. Completing the program can open the door to employment opportunities as a hireable guide in the region or simply enrich your outdoor experience by improving your angling and rivercraft abilities. This tailored adventure blends education with the thrill of Colorado’s rivers, making it a standout choice for anyone serious about fishing or guiding.
moderate.
4–7 days.
Participants should have moderate fitness to handle rowing, fishing, hiking riverbanks, and safety drills.
While some basic fishing knowledge is helpful, the course is designed to teach both novice and experienced anglers advanced river guiding skills.
Safety is a top priority; all participants wear life jackets, receive thorough safety briefings, and are supervised by certified instructors.
Yes, completing the Guide School can qualify you to work as a hireable guide on Colorado rivers, with job placement guidance offered.
The Guide School keeps group sizes small, typically between 6 to 10 participants, ensuring personalized instruction.
Basic fishing and safety equipment are provided, but bringing personal gear like waders and polarized sunglasses is recommended.
Yes, Montrose offers a variety of accommodations including hotels and vacation rentals suited for course participants.
The Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers have long supported angling traditions rooted in Native American and early settler cultures.
Local efforts focus on maintaining healthy fish populations through catch-and-release programs and riparian habitat restoration.
Ed's Fly Shop in Montrose, Colorado operates guided fly fishing trips and instructional guide courses across western Colorado’s premier rivers. The outfitter runs full-day walk‑wade and float trips on the Lower Gunnison River, guided full‑day float trips targeting Brown and Rainbow trout, and multi‑day guided float/backcountry adventures in the Gunnison Gorge that include gourmet meals and wilderness hikes. Trips on the San Miguel River provide accessible eight‑hour walk‑wade outings beneath red canyon walls, suitable for families and anglers of all skill levels. The Uncompahgre River float trip offers a fast‑paced six‑hour run through narrow water and challenging white‑water sections for confident, experienced anglers. Ed's Fly Shop also operates an immersive Guide School on the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers that teaches fishing tactics, river navigation, rowing, and client care; graduates can become hireable guides in Colorado or improve their own guiding and angling skills. On select trips guides prepare lunches and drinks, while multi‑day Gunnison Gorge experiences feature professionally prepared gourmet meals. The Lower Gunnison full‑day float follows a catch‑and‑release policy and focuses on conservation of Gold Medal trout fisheries. Guides emphasize safety, Leave No Trace ethics, and river stewardship. As a Montrose‑based outfitter, Ed's Fly Shop focuses on local rivers, experienced guides, and a range of trip formats from family‑friendly walk‑wade days to rigorous float trips and multi‑day wilderness expeditions. Reservations are based in Montrose, and trips depart from local river access points with gear recommendations provided by the outfitter to prepare anglers for Colorado river conditions. Seasonal scheduling available.
Book with Ed's Fly Shop