RIVER SCHOOL
SheJumps River School
The SheJumps River School is comprised of River Development courses and a River Finishing School designed to offer a complete education series focused on fishing and river education and stewardship. Through online and in-person events—curated by world renowned guides—the SheJumps River School offers everything from technical instruction to environmental stewardship and mentorship.
"In 2019, the gender gap in fishing participation continued to close. Female participation numbers grew by an annual average of 3%—from 17.1 million people in 2016 to 17.9 people in 2019. And, the participation rate increased by an annual average of 2% to reach 12%. There were also bright spots among adolescent girls' participation numbers. Among girls, ages 13 to 17, participation grew by 6%, which was the most growth in any female age group." - 2020 SPECIAL REPORT ON FISHING
RIVER DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
The River Development School is an opportunity for beginner to intermediate freshwater anglers to learn and build on fly fishing skills in a safe, supportive and encouraging environment.
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Topics covered include conservation and stewardship, preparation, safety, gear and equipment, casting, knots and rigging, entomology and reading water.
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The River Development School is a foundational course for beginner and intermediate anglers.
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Watch 2021 River Development School online sessions below:
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RIVER FINISHING SCHOOL
The River Finishing School is an opportunity for intermediate to advanced fly anglers to build on their fly fishing and river navigation skills in an authentic, encouraging environment.
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Topics covered include river trip preparation, decision making, conservation, ethics, being comfortable in the outdoors, as well as some advanced fly fishing and river navigation techniques.
The River Finishing School is the next step in your fly fishing journey - during the program you will gain the philosophy, instruction, education and tools you need to become an independent, knowledgeable angler.
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Where: Wise River, Big Hole Lodge, Montana
When: October 12-15, 2022
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MEET THE GUIDES
Hilary Hutcheson
Hilary started her fly-fishing career as a teenage guide in West Glacier, Montana. She guided through college, then took her journalism degree to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a television news anchor and reporter. She eventually returned to Montana to co-own and operate Outside Media and Trout TV for nearly a decade. Today, she's still guiding on the Flathead River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and owns and runs a fly shop called Lary's Fly & Supply in her hometown of Columbia Falls, Montana. She is a climate activist with Protect Our Winters. Hilary is an ambassador for Orvis, Patagonia, YETI, Scientific Anglers, Costa and Loon.
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Wade Fellin
Wade is a fifth-generation Montanan deeply rooted in the Big Hole Valley. Wade has guided the rivers of Southwest Montana since 2006 and his deep conservation ethic stems from the same sources of clean, readily available water that attracted his ancestors to the Big Hole Valley, and later led him to study environmental and water law at the University of Montana. In addition to guiding and managing the Big Hole Lodge with his father, Wade is the program director of Upper Missouri Waterkeeper and chairman of the Big Hole River Foundation.
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Prior River School Instructors
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Whitney Milhoan
Raised on the doorstep of Glacier National Park, Whitney developed a passion for the outdoors early in life. She spent nearly a decade as a fly fishing and whitewater rafting guide on the Flathead River, working her way through a degree in Sociology from the University of Montana. For the past dozen years, Whitney has worked exclusively with non-profits utilizing outdoor therapies to promote physical and emotional healing, most recently serving as the Executive Director at Casting for Recovery. Whitney is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration in healthcare and plans to continue her focus on opportunities and inequities at the intersection of outdoor experience and health/wellness. She lives in the Bridger mountains with two dogs, three wild children, and a patient husband. Together, they enjoy fishing, skiing, and exploring wild places.
Heather Hodson
Heather has dedicated her time to educate and inspire others. Heather is currently studying for her Casting Instructor Certification with Fly Fishers International and has been teaching Fly Fishing since 2014. Heather has been mentored by some of the best anglers and fly casters in the world. This allows Heather to pass on the knowledge she's learned to her students. With nearly 130+ days (pre-covid) on the water each year and fishing around the world, Heather continues to invest herself to mentor anglers to be confident and competent on the water. She is the founder of United Women on the Fly.
