Fly Fishing Guide Certification

Become a Fly Fishing Guide at Colorado Mountain College Leadville

The fly fishing guide certification program at Colorado Mountain College is a four-week summer program in Leadville, CO with housing options available. Students are immersed in all things fly fishing, including:

Fly tying
Entomology
Business skills
Guiding techniques

The fly fishing industry has grown significantly in recent years, as has the need for qualified, professional guides. Many guiding businesses have established year-round clientele, creating a continual need for guiding staff.

Students completing this program will receive a Fly Fishing Guide Certificate of Completion from Colorado Mountain College.

Gold Medal Waters

Colorado Mountain College is located near some of the nation's best fly fishing. The fly fishing guide program includes outdoor classes on headwaters of the Arkansas River, a popular destination for fly fishing enthusiasts around the country.

Nearby are other highly regarded rivers like the Frying Pan, Roaring Fork, Colorado and the South Platte. Several pristine high alpine lakes are also located near campus as well as the well-stocked Spinney Mountain and Antero reservoirs.

Where can I go from here?

The fly fishing guide certification program is designed to provide you with the skills and techniques needed to get a head start in fly fish guiding. In addition, you will be provided the basic skills to start your own business.

All or part of this operation is conducted on Public Lands and Waters under special permits and agreements from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

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Curriculum

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes are what we expect each student will learn while earning a degree or certificate. Meeting these learning outcomes is how we assess our performance as a college. Our learning outcomes support both important career skills and future success as a student.

Upon completing the Fly Fishing Guide (COC) program, CMC students will be able to:

Demonstrate basic fly fishing skills including fly casting techniques, reading water, fly tying, and proper use of equipment.
Demonstrate guiding clients to appropriate water, positive client interactions and teaching basic fly fishing skills.
Identify relevant aquatic invertebrates and apply this knowledge to increase chances of successful fly fishing outings.
Explain risk management practices designed to protect the client and company related to commercial fly fish guiding operations.

Essential Eligibility Requirements

This program has certain physical and academic standards which you will be required to meet before you are admitted to the program. Students accepted into the college's vocational programs must be physically, mentally, and emotionally self-supportive with reasonable accommodations. If there is a concern about meeting the physical and academic standard, students need to contact the Access Coordinator who will determine the student's ability to participate in this program.