The Next Level Trout School with Simon Gawesworth and Big Sky Anglers
The course is designed for the trout fly fisher who already has the basic and intermediate skills and wants to step up their level of knowledge, understanding, and ability.
Students will learn both on the water and in the classroom, while spending three days working on their casting skills. Depending on casting ability and desires, students will receive instruction in distance, accuracy, double hauling, coping with wind, and river-specific skills such as the roll cast, single-handed Spey casts, and fishing application casts such as the reach cast, aerial mend, positive curve (Shepherd’s Crook cast), and slack line casts.
Students will spend a full day on the river working on a range of fly fishing skills for moving water, such as technical dry fly fishing, entomology, advanced streamer techniques (and rigging), controlled drag, mending skills and line control, tandem fly rigs, and fishing with soft hackles.
The final two days concentrate on putting into practice the skills you’ve learned while fishing with experienced guides from Big Sky Anglers on the Madison River, Henry’s Fork, and the waters of Yellowstone National Park.
The incredible, diverse waters that surround West Yellowstone make this destination an ideal location for this school. Guests will have easy access to the Madison River in Montana, the Henry’s Fork in Idaho, the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison Rivers within Yellowstone Park, in addition to smaller and lesser-known waters. Angling opportunity abounds and the full suite of fly fishing methods will be in play during the time this school is in session. Catching trout on dries, nymphs, and streamers all in the same day is not an uncommon feat.
Students in the course will have the opportunity to try the latest Sage, RIO and Redington fly fishing equipment, all perfectly matched for the local waters surrounding West Yellowstone.
Anglers should be able to walk long distances and wade in typical western rivers where footings can be uneven and rocky. For the purpose of the school and logistics, anglers are required to stay at the lodge during the school.
Far Bank Fly Fishing Schools are designed so that students leave the course with all the knowledge and skills needed for a lifetime of enjoyment in fly fishing. We do this by keeping the instructor to student ratio to an absolute minimum. On group lesson days there will be a maximum of 4 students per instructor, and on the putting-into-practice fishing days, only two guests will fish with each.
Instructors: Simon Gawesworth, Justin Spence, and Matt Klara
Group Size: 8 students (A minimum of 6 students is needed to run the school.)
Dates: May 16 - 22,2026
Itinerary:
May 16, 2026: Arrive at Golden Stone Inn, West Yellowstone, MT, – introductions, evening talk and review of knots
May 17: Morning classroom session and all day casting - focused on technical casting skills such as distance, accuracy, double haul, coping with wind. All subject to casting skill and time available.
May 18: Morning classroom session, followed by a full day of on the water instruction. Techniques ranging from technical dry fly fishing, advanced streamer techniques and rigs, controlled drag, mending skills and control, tandem rigs, and fishing soft hackles are on the agenda.
May 19: Morning classroom session and all-day casting - focused on river casting skills, such as roll cast, single handed Spey casts, and fishing application casts – reach cast, aerial mend, positive curve (Shepherd’s Crook cast), and slack line casts. All subject to casting skill and time available.
May 20: Full day of guided fishing with Big Sky Anglers
May 21: Full day of guided fishing with Big Sky Anglers
May 22: Depart lodge
Note: This itinerary is only a guideline and subject to change based on water conditions, angler skills, wading ability, and weather.
Rate: Per person for a 6 night/5 day school
Double Occupancy: $5,850
Single Occupancy: $6,775
Included: Accommodations and meals, transfers to/from West Yellowstone Airport, 3 days of fishing instruction, 2 days of guided fishing, use of Sage, Redington, and RIO demo gear, rental waders and boots, terminal tackle and flies, house beer and wine, tax
Not Included: Airfare, transportation to/from the lodge, alcohol, fishing license, instructor, guide, and staff gratuities
SAGE EXPERIENCES PROVIDED TACKLE
Now as part of Sage Experiences, the world's finest tackle from Sage and RIO Products is included at all schools for no additional charge. Even if you're the type of angler who likes to fish your own gear, rest assured that once you arrive, our premium set ups will be ready and waiting for you to demo onsite at any time during your stay.
Note: All guided fishing is provided by Big Sky Anglers
- Joe Moore, Big Sky Anglers, LLC Montana Outfitter License #8939
- Jonathan Heames, DBA Big Sky Anglers, LLC Montana Outfitter License #6878
- Justin Spence, DBA Big Sky Anglers, LLC Montana Outfitter License #998
- Big Sky Anglers, LLC Idaho Outfitter License #1981
- Jonathan Heames Idaho Designated Agent / Guide License # 911
- Jonathan Heames Madison River SRP #5
- Joe S. Moore DBA Big Sky Anglers, LLC Yellowstone National Park CUA16-288 – Stream and Shoreline Fishing
