Have you ever wanted a custom fly rod built to your preferences, your style, and your waters? Have you been wanting to upgrade your fly rod or diversify your fly rod arsenal without breaking the bank? Are you looking for a good time with friends and to learn a new skill that will support your fly fishing habit? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, the Ascent Fly Fishing Rod Building Class is for you! In this class you will learn from professional rod builder, Steve Vaggalis, as he teaches how to select and assemble the different components of a fly rod, the tools and materials used in their construction, before leading you step-by-step through the construction of your own fly rod! Participants will commit to joining us for 3 hours a night over a total of two evenings and one Sunday morning. Additionally, you'll be completing some rod building homework between classes. We will only be building with the best materials, and participants will walk away with a finished rod worth several hundred dollars more than the cost of the class. All tools and materials are included in the cost of the class. We have two rod building packages available for purchase. The Base Rod Build Package for $499 - This package includes a 7'6" 3 weight, 8" 4 weight, 9' 5 weight, or 9' 6 weight rod blank, a hardwood reel seat insert, aluminum reel seat, AAA graded Cork Grip, chrome stripping guides, up to two colors of thread, rod label, a rod sock, and an aluminum rod tube. The rod blank in the Base Rod Build Package is equivalent in make and action to the Orvis Recon (valued at $598 + tax). The Premium Build Package for $699 - This package includes a premium 9' 5 weight rod blank, a hardwood burl reel seat insert, duel locking aluminum reel seat, AAA graded decorative cork grip, agate and sterling stripping guides, up to two colors of thread, rod label, a rod sock, and an aluminum rod tube. The rod blank in the Premium Rod Build Package is arguably BETTER in make and similar in action to the Orvis Helios (valued at $1098 + tax). We only have space for a TOTAL OF 5 PARTICIPANTS each class, and registration for each class will close two weeks prior to the first meeting date in order to give us time to order materials. After a package is purchased, our instructor will contact you to walk you through and help you select the rod components (including rod weight and length, cork grip type, thread colors, and agate stripping guide color for premium packages) to customize your dream rod! This is a great opportunity to learn a new skill/hobby, hang out with or create a special gift for a fly fishing friend or family member, or build yourself a high performance custom fly rod! *Please note If you cancel the class after materials have been purchased for your custom rod build, you will be given the materials and reimbursed 40% the cost of the class. If you would like a fighting butt to the rod, an additional $25 fee will be added to cover time and materials.
