But the adventure doesn’t end with wetting a line in Colorado waters. Elevate your fly-fishing game by taking a personalized bamboo fly-rod-making class at PJ’s Fine Bamboo Rods — it’s an unforgettable hands-on experience that transforms you from an angler of any skill level to an artisan. Whether you’re a seasoned fisher or a curious beginner, you'll cherish the opportunity to handcraft your own custom bamboo fly rod and test it out in nearby Gold Medal waters.
Craft Your Own Bamboo Fly Rod
Step into the PJ’s workshop in downtown Pagosa Springs, and you’ll know you’ve made it to fly-fishing paradise. Marvel at the blending of tradition and nostalgia on display, inhale the sweet, woody scent of bamboo and prepare to kick off your six-day class — one of only a few available around the world and that has been praised by The Drake magazine.
Peruse the selection of fly-rod customizations available before introducing yourself to your three classmates, the eager anglers you’ll be learning with during this course. With three dedicated rodsmiths, you’ll have plenty of one-on-one time to help craft your fishing heirloom.
Once you’ve gotten to know your fellow crafters, run your fingers over a high-quality, raw culm of Tonkin bamboo before heat-treating, planing and assembling the flexible, angled strips to form the rod’s core structure — aka the blank — by the end of day two. Then, wrapping and spacing the guides will be taught by your expert teachers, as each day promises new lessons on enhancing the rod’s strength, flexibility and action.
As you torch your bamboo outside in the refreshing mountain air, split through the material and hand-plane each strip of bamboo, you’ll be applying tactics that fishers used centuries ago. That’s right — bamboo rods boast a legacy dating back to the 1800s and are predominantly crafted in the same way today.
Tradition Meets Innovation
You’ll have ample opportunity to get artistic in these sessions, too. While PJ’s Fine Bamboo Rods prides itself on upholding traditions, they also encourage personalization in the fly-rod process, so that every crafted rod is a unique work of art. Hand-plane the heat-treated bamboo to your desired smoothness, pick out agate striping guides in your favorite color and choose a one-of-a-kind grip and reel seat. Once all the parts come together and you’ve finished your masterpiece in a coat of golden varnish, gather in the workshop and savor a smoky or bubbling beverage as you cheers to new friendships and an accomplishment worth bragging about.
Stay at The Springs Resort & Spa
While fashioning your own fishing heirloom, you’ll work up quite a hankering for relaxation. Unwind at The Springs Resort & Spa just down the street — class participants can save on a stay at this renowned rejuvenation haven. Enjoy a peaceful night's rest and soak in hot-springs pools teeming with refreshing minerals, so you'll be primed to keep working on your masterpiece.
Fly-Rod Class Schedule
Reserve your spot now in a unique rod-making class. With slots offered once a month year-round, there’s never a bad season to visit Pagosa Springs.
Fly-Fish & Explore Pagosa Springs
The class schedule at PJ’s Fine Bamboo Rods is designed with their students in mind. Start building your rod on a Tuesday morning and enjoy a week partaking in everything Pagosa Springs has to offer, from summer art shows in Town Park to world-class skiing at the nearby Wolf Creek Ski Area. Leave Sunday night with a handcrafted fly rod ready to fish — there’s nothing more gratifying than landing a fish on a rod that you built with a fly that you tied. Try out your fly rod in and around Pagosa Springs; send that precise line whistling into the world-class San Juan River to tempt trout during a hatch.
The Natural Fiber Mercantile & Showroom
Forget something on your trip? After testing out your fishing skills and your new handcrafted rod, take a break to browse the goods at PJ’s Natural Fiber Mercantile & Showroom, from fly-rod collections to toothbrushes, socks and soft loungewear. It’s the perfect place to pick up souvenirs for folks back home or mementos to remember this once-in-a-lifetime experience. PJ’s Fine Bamboo Rods will even wrap your gift in paper decorated with painted watercolor trout.
Historic Downtown & Main Street
Stepping out of PJ’s storefront will place you in the picturesque and historical downtown on Main Street, where you can stroll around local shops and boutiques to find the perfect fishing hat and pick up the fan-favorite Pops’ Bugger fly from Pops himself at Let It Fly.
Try the smoked cauliflower and rib-eye steak at Meander Riverside Eatery or indulge in elk tenderloin with creamy mashed potatoes at Alley House Grille, right down the block. Get tickets for an improv show or musical-theater production at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts — past seasons have included Broadway hits like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Escape to Margaritaville.”
Outdoor Adventures in Pagosa Springs
The workshop’s location is ideal for those wanting more outdoor action after class or on an extended weekend trip, as each season brings something special to enjoy in southwest Colorado. Surrounded by miles of river in the San Juan National Forest, the area abounds in hiking trails that lead to glassy lakes reflecting majestic, snowcapped mountains. Take a winding-yet-worth-it scenic drive to the top of the Continental Divide via Wolf Creek Pass, where you’ll glimpse sweeping views of the pine-peppered land beneath distant, deep-blue peaks. Stay an extra day or two and trot through peaceful vistas on horseback, zoom on snow-blanketed hills on a snowmobile tour or splash through whitewater on a thrilling rafting trip.
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