GRA Drift Boat Rowing School
GRA Drift Boat Rowing School
Learn to Row Like a Professional River Guide
Dream of rowing a drift boat confidently down the river? Whether your goal is to become a professional fishing guide or simply learn to safely run your own boat, the Grey Reef Anglers Drift Boat Rowing School is designed to teach you the real-world skills used by professional guides every day on the water.
Located on the legendary North Platte River near Casper, Wyoming, our rowing school provides hands-on instruction from experienced river guides who have spent decades navigating Wyoming’s famous trout waters.
This is not a classroom-only course. You’ll spend the majority of your time on the oars in the boat in the river, learning by doing, with professional instruction every step of the way.
Who This School Is For
Our rowing school is ideal for:
- Anglers who recently bought a drift boat
- Fly fishermen who want to learn to safely run rivers
- Future fishing guides looking to develop boat skills
- Experienced boaters who want to refine their rowing technique
- Anyone who wants to safely navigate the Miracle Mile & Grey Reef Sections of the North Platte River.
No previous rowing experience is required.
What You Will Learn
During this course you will learn the same techniques professional guides rely on to safely navigate rivers and position anglers for success.
Core Skills Covered
Boat Control & Rowing Fundamentals
- Proper rowing strokes
- Maintaining steady drifts in Wind
- Back rowing and ferry angles
- Controlling speed and positioning
- Boat balance and oar management
Reading the River
- Understanding current seams
- Side channel Navigation
- Identifying safe channels
- Recognizing hazards
- Reading water at different flows
Drift Boat Safety
- River hazards and risk management
- Safe anchor usage
- Boat spacing and traffic & proper etiquette
- Emergency situations Water Rescue/High side Protocol
Boat Launch & Boat Handling
- Launching and retrieving at boat ramps
- Comprehensive Training Backing up Boat
- Launching, Loading and trailering your boat
- Rowing through riffles, eddies, and dangerous currents
- Ferrying across current safely
- Rowing Strokes by name and fuction
- 1 Instructor for 1-2 Students for very personalized instruction
Hands-On Instruction on the North Platte River
Your training will take place on the Miracle Mile & Grey Reef sections of the North Platte River, two of the most famous trout fisheries in the West. This river provides an excellent learning environment with a variety of currents, riffles, and channels that help build real rowing skills. The North Platte River has many faces and you will learn to row it all from windy conditions to glass water.
You’ll rotate through time on the oars with direct instruction from experienced guides who know this river inside and out.
By the end of the course you will have:
- Logged significant time rowing a drift boat learning the basics and a few advanced rowing techniques
- Developed the knowledge base to prep, maintain, row, and clean your drift boat
- Logged significant time launching, loading, and Trailering Drift Boats w/emphasizing good back up trailer skills
- Built confidence navigating moving water in any weather conditions
- Developed the foundation needed to safely run western trout rivers
Course Format
Typical school format: Each day will be between 8-9hrs in length including a lunch break of up to 45min. Each day will start at the lodge with the day broke down as fallows:
- 30min/day – Boat Prep/Safety Checks/Hwy Trailering Protocol
- 30min to 1hr – Boat Trailering, Boat Back up Skills, Ramp prep, Boat Launching, Safety Protocol & Ramp Etiquette
- 3hrs – Rowing the river with Instruction
- 30-45min/day – Lunch and free time to Wade Fish
- 3hrs – Rowing the River to the boat ramp w/Instruction
- 30min/day End of Day Drift Boat Maintenance and Cleaning
Day 1 & 2
- Introduction to drift boats and rowing fundamentals
- River safety and equipment overview
- Launch procedures and ramp etiquette
- On-water rowing instruction
Day 3 & 4
- Advanced boat control techniques
- Reading water and choosing lines
- Anchor safety and boat positioning
- Practical river navigation
Day 5 & 6
- Running full river sections
- Guide-level boat positioning
- Real-world river scenarios
- Advanced rowing practice
- Basic Boat Positioning for fishing
- River Etiquette
What Is Included: All Inclusive package includes lodging at Grey Reef Anglers Fly Fishing Lodge, ALL Meals & Drinks included, Airport Shuttle from Casper Airport to Lodge, All transportation to and from the river each day. Does NOT include Wyoming Fishing License
- Professional instruction from experienced river guides
- StealthCraft and Clackacraft Drift boat use and safety equipment
- On-water training on the North Platte River
- 1-2 people per class for personalized coaching
What To Bring
Participants should bring:
- Weather appropriate clothing
- Polarized sunglasses
- Rain jacket, leather gloves
- Valid Wyoming fishing license
- Be Ready to learn a new life skill with a great attitude
Why Learn From Grey Reef Anglers?
For decades Grey Reef Anglers has been known for professional guides with deep experience on the Grey Reef and Miracle Mile sections of the North Platte River. Our guides spend hundreds of days each year on the water and understand how to safely run this river in all conditions.
When you attend our rowing school, you’re learning from guides who do this for a living — not just in a classroom.
Drift Boat Rowing School Dates
Limited spots available each season.
Classes offered:
- March 1 thru December 1
- Dec 1 to March 1 Depending on river Ice conditions
- Prices include all meals, lodging, boat use, instructor, Casper airport shuttle if needed, transportation to and from the river each day.
- 3days/4nights All Inclusive $3500
- 5days/6 nights All Inclusive $5500
- 7 Days/8 Nights All Inclusive $8500
Reserve Your Spot
Class sizes are intentionally kept small to maximize time on the oars. Guaranteed 1 instructor per 1-2 students.
To reserve your spot in the Grey Reef Anglers Drift Boat Rowing School, contact us:
Phone: Jason Ostrander at 307-485-0459
Email: jrostr7795@gmail.com
Or use the Book Now button below.