Bamboo Fly Rod Building Workshop Tour

Anna and I relocated to Pagosa Springs and were out exploring our new hometown. As a fly fisherman I visited the fly fishing shops in town. We walked into PJ’s Fine Bamboo Fly rods on a fall afternoon. I was taken by the beauty of the retail rods on display. PJ patiently explained the details on each rod. He showed us several custom rods that were in process from a culm (or stalk) of bamboo into a beautify fly fishing tool. We learned about the fly rod building classes PJ and Rosanna teach once each month. About two weeks later we walked back into the shop and were greeted as old friends! Anna signed me up for a 6 day class in April for my significant birthday. Over the next couple of months PJ talked me through what fly rod I should build. PJ asked about where and how I liked to fish. We settled on building an 8ft, 3 wt two-piece fly rod. I completed the rod during the 6-day class and fished that rod exclusively last summer. It casts beautifully! Have caught small brook trout in tiny creeks and up to 16-inch brown trout on the San Juan. Anna surprised me with a second class in December where I built an 8ft 6wt matching rod for larger water and heavier fish. My chance meeting with PJ and Rosanna, learning about bamboo, the history of bamboo fly rods and then building two fly rods under their guidance has been an amazing experience. Getting to know them and their passion for the art of building beautiful tools to chase fish has been great. Maybe fly rod number 3 will be in my future.