St. Peter's Fly Fishing Guide School
St. Peter’s Fly Shop's Guide School offers a comprehensive program tailored to equip individuals with the essential skills for success as a fly fishing guide. Over the course of 6 days, our curriculum covers a diverse range of topics crucial to excelling in this profession. From fundamental knowledge to advanced instruction techniques, bug studies, professional casting guidance, walk/wade guiding, drift boat operation, client management, and fostering professionalism, every aspect is meticulously addressed.
Whether you aspire to elevate your fly fishing prowess or pursue a career as a guide, our program is designed to meet your needs. Join St. Peter’s Guide School and embark on a journey towards becoming a proficient and respected guide in the industry.
Spring 2025 Guide School Course Details
-Monday, May 19th- Saturday, May 24th, 2025
-$1,795 per person
Whether you are taking steps to becoming a fly fishing guide, or just want to increase your fly fishing knowledge and become proficient at rowing a drift boat, St. Peter's Guide School is an incredible value. By offering a truly inclusive guide school package, St. Peter's offers an unrivaled experience.
The course is limited to 8 people. The 6 day school consists of 2 days in a classroom setting and 4 days out on the water practicing, rowing, and understanding all aspects of being a fly fishing guide. Upon completion of the school, each student will complete 30 rowing hours with Colorado certified guide instructors. The cost of the school is $1,795 per person. A 50% deposit is required to enroll & the remaining balance is due two weeks before the class. Included in the St. Peter's Guide School tuition is 2 days of classroom instruction and materials, 4 days of on-water instruction, including all lunches for on water days, and all boating equipment necessary. Each student will be required to have their own fishing equipment and fishing licenses.*
If you are interested in being certified as a Colorado Float Guide, a guide instructor can be available for another 2 days after the school to complete the 50 hours of guide instructor training needed. The cost is $600 for the additional days. The additional row days do not include food or accommodations.
Spaces are limited so don't wait until it is too late!
*Students are responsible for their own lodging, breakfasts and dinners during the on-water days.
Meet Our Guide School Instructors
Grant Houx
Grant spends his time both working in the shop full time and guiding on local water and the North Platte River. In the shop his roles are inventory management, guide coordinator and most importantly relationship building with our customers. As a guide Grant is an integral part of St. Peter’s row team with over a decade of experience on the North Platte from North Gate to Casper. He has spent a significant amount of time traveling the world fly fishing from salt water destinations to Patagonia. In fly fishing, teaching is a driving facet of the sport for Grant. He is a Certified Casting Instructor who enjoys teaching people how to dial in their cast whether it is with a single or double handed rod.
Jin Choi
Since moving to Fort Collins in 1991, Jin has been passionate about learning the local rivers and lakes. Although calling the northern Front Range home, his pursuit of any fish eager to chase a fly has led him to spend seasons in locations stretching from Alaska to the Caribbean. While there are not many things he enjoys more than time on the water, teaching others about flyfishing, fly tying, and entomology are just as rewarding. Even if you are unable to attend any of Jin's classes or arrange a guided trip with him, he is always happy to answer questions or just chat about your latest fishing adventure.
For more information or to book your spot in our upcoming Guide School, please contact the shop 970-498-8968 or click here.
Customer Testimonials
St. Peter's Guide School was the key to beginning my career as a guide. I began by working at the shop knowing I wanted to work into being a guide. The jump seemed daunting and nerve-wracking. I then attended St. Peter's Guide School and the comprehensive nature of it was what I needed to feel ready to have my first client in my boat.
It was more than just the bugs, rigs, understanding water and seasons that we studied. The hands-on nature of the course, from mock guiding real clients, to the days spent rowing a drift boat, you get real ready-to-use learning! Grant and Jin, the instructors and force behind St. Peter's, offer world class experience and knowledge but also have a knack for letting something else emerge, the bigger picture of what we can offer clients on the water, The Experience!
Now, with years of guiding under my wader belt, I look back at Guide School as not only gaining the skills and knowledge I needed but also kickstart the beginning of a journey embarked that has led to a life on the water, and I am forever grateful!
-St. Peter's Senior Guide, Josh Henriksen
“St. Peter’s Guide School is an awesome experience whether
you’re looking to become a guide or just pushing yourself to become a better
angler. The in-class portion of the week greatly improved my
understanding of entomology, rigging, trout behavior and more. The
classes are led by Grant and Jin who have over 50 years of experience guiding Colorado and Wyoming waters.
The on-the-water portion of the week allows you to put the
skills you learned earlier in the week into practice. In addition to the
angling instruction, you will receive over 30 hours of rowing instruction from Grant and other St. Pete’s guides. When you’re not on the oars, you get to fish. Due to the waters they guide and float, their expertise in this area is hard to find. Thanks to what I’ve learned on the oars, I’m now
able to safely float my family down the river and even get invited on a few
more trips with my fishing buddies."
-Jake Baldwin, J.D.
Guide School through St. Peter’s is the real deal. The knowledge coming from the shop and instructors of the course is endless, yet palatable! As someone going into their first season of guiding this program gave me the confidence and knowledge to get out there and set the hook into an
awesome career! St. Peter’s Guide School was practical, enlightening, and just plain fun!
The course starts with time in class covering entomology, terminal tackle, knots, safety, do’s and don'ts, I mean all of it. This is a great time to reassure yourself on certain skills as well as add to what you have with their curriculum. The time on water portions did not disappoint. Local instruction on local water getting to put new skills and knowledge to the
test by some mock guiding with REAL people. Expert instruction by St.
Peter’s tenured guides help bring on the last portion of the school covering
water safety, rowing, fishing, and coaching. Between the learning,
camaraderie, and fishing this ranks high on the experience list.
-Cullen Young
"Guide school with St. Pete's was a fantastic experience. Being taught by senior guides with countless years of
experience is priceless. The first few days in the classroom covered
everything from trout behavior, rigging, terminal tackle, and entomology. Everything you need to know to be successful out on the water! Jin and Grant do a great job of presenting this information in a fun and easy way to understand.
The on-water portion of guide school was some of the most fun someone can have legally. Putting everything you learned in the
classroom to practice. Offering 30 hours of coached rowing by Grant and other seasoned guides. The expertise of these guides really shows in this portion, as you will receive constant feedback on proper river etiquette, oar maneuvers, rigging tactics, and ways to find success on the water. While not on the oars in this portion you get to fish for yourself. The knowledge gained, laughs had, and good times on the water made this an unforgettable experience."
-Dawson Balmer