Spring 2026 Course Dates: May 8-10 & 22-24, 2026

After years of requests, we finally launched a Fly Fishing Guide Training School in 2018. The West Winds Guide Training School was full before we even had the chance to advertise, our first course was never open to the general public.  Since then we have opened registration to the public, although we have very limited spots available. 

If you've ever been interested in becoming a fly fishing guide, this is your chance to have experienced and passionate instructors walk you through the ins and outs of the industry. You will learn about the faux pas of our local industry as well as the best practices.  You will be able to practice the essential skills needed to achieve success in the industry. One of the most common complaints we hear from local guide community is that very few industry professionals are willing to assist in new guide development or explain expectations and obligations of guides, outfitters, and shops.

Course Format:

• 6-day 60 hour Course (run over two 3 Day weekends so participants don't have to take an entire week off work)

• The course concludes with participants doing a half day guided trip with a guest and instructor in the boat evaluating them. 

Guide Training School Instructors:

Naoto Aoki, Akasha Bopp, and Josh Nugent have over 50 years experience guiding in Alberta and across Canada.

Naoto Aoki

Naoto has guided anglers in AB, SK, MB, ON and the Yukon both on gear and fly fishing for the last 20 years.  He's also guided hunters for over 6 years. He's been the Lead guide at Out Fly Fishing for over 14 years, he's fished in 14 different countries and on 4 different continents.  He's one of the most accomplished fly fishing photographers of our industry with more cover photos to his name than he can count anymore. Naoto is also an extremely accomplished caster and enjoys teaching fly casting.

Akasha Bopp

Akasha has fished over 25 countries spanning every continent, but Antartica.  He's been guiding with Out Fly Fishing since 2006 and has been the Hosted Travel Manager since 2016.  Akasha has a Masters in Organizational Leadership & Training and has been a school teacher for over 20 years with 20+ years of coaching experience.  He's a NCCP coach for both swimming and triathlon and has spent countless hours over the past 4 decades coaching.  He's worked as both a Lifeguard and a Wilderness First Aid Instructor.  Akasha has dedicated his life to teaching and coaching and helps bring fly fishing instruction to the level it should be at.  Akasha has taught himself to cast with either hand and is an incredibly patient casting instructor.

Josh Nugent

Josh founded the West Winds Fly Fishing Guide Training School in 2018, Out Fly Fishing Outfitters Fly Shop in 2015 and Out Fly Fishing Outfitters back in 2003.  He still guides while running the fly shop and spends the off seasons traveling across North America speaking as well as doing Hosted Trips around the world, having fished in 17 different countries on 4 Continents.  He coached for 18 years and spent the last 6 years coaching University Basketball and teaching Kinesiology courses as well.  He's a NCCP Level 3 Certified Basketball coach and did a Coaching Diploma at Red Deer College, before finishing his undergrad and graduate degrees at the U of C.  Coaching and instructing is something he has been very passionate about and involved in since a very young age.  His Master's Thesis was an eye tracking study on the Visual Characteristics of Expert Fly Casters and teaching fly casting is something he's spent a great deal of time and energy on.  Josh has also spent a lot of time working as a photographer and cinematographer over the past 20 years and enjoys speaking on the concept of Fish First Photography and photography from a guiding standpoint. 

Who is the Course Designed For:

• Individuals looking to Guide for Fly Fishing Lodges, Outfitters or Fly Shops world wide

• Individuals looking to start their own fly fishing Guiding and or Outfitting Companies

• Individuals who have done some guiding in the past, but want to continue to develop and hone their guiding skills to become more marketable to potential Outfitters, Fly Shops and Lodges

• Participants must hold a valid Drivers license and be at least 16 years of age

• All participants must hold and bring a valid Alberta Fishing License

• A deposit is required to hold a spot in the Guide Training School.  Spots are limited and will sell out, so anyone wanting to participate needs to put down a deposit before a space can be held for them.

• *Boats & Trailers will be supplied and are NOT necessary for the course*

Spring 2026 Course Dates: May 8-10 & 22-24, 2026

How to Register:

To inquire about space and or put down a deposit please call the shop at 403-278-6331. If you have any other questions or would like more information you can also email us: [email protected]