Bamboo Fly Rod Making Class FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions for Oyster Bamboo Fly Rod Making Classes in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Join Us!
"For the American fly fisher THIS is our samurai sword."
- Bill Oyster
Q: Do we actually finish a complete bamboo rod during the 6-day class period?
A: Yes, you leave the class with a 100%, complete and ready to fish, handcrafted bamboo fly rod.
Q: I have no experience in woodworking. Will I be able to do this?
A:Yes, we teach more bamboo fly rod making students than anyone in the world, and no one has ever failed to complete a rod they can be proud of for generations.
A: Because you have your own individual workbench and planing form, you may build any size, weight and length 2-piece rod that you desire. We have tapers o-12 wt. In fact, our saltwater tapers (8wt-12wt) are almost as popular as our freshwater tapers.
Q: What is included with my tuition?
- Six days of instruction at the workshop of Bill Oyster
- YOU choose your bamboo fly rod length, line weight and taper
- YOU customize all cosmetic options from the reel seat, to thread wraps, grip shape, and cane tone
- All tools, components, hardware, and materials are provided. Take home a COMPLETE AND READY TO FISH bamboo rod you made yourself!
- Rod bag and tube with label included
- NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
Q: Is Bill Oyster your instructor?
A: Yes, every Oyster Bamboo Rod Building Class is taught by Bill Oyster.
Q. Where do I stay during the class?
THE CAST & BLAST INN
A. We have private accommodations above the workshop. Our Inn is located in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. Blue Ridge is a cool little town full of shops and restaurants. There are four bedrooms with four private baths and a common area with a porch overlooking Main Street. Our pricing is incredibly reasonable as the rooms were custom built as a convenience for Oyster students to elevate your week long experience. The Inn is "first come-first serve". Our rooms are reserved solely for Oyster clientele and their guests.
What are the fishing opportunities in Blue Ridge?
Fannin County is the TROUT CAPITAL OF GEORGIA!
Nestled along the temperate northeastern edge of the Southern Appalachian Mountain chain, Blue Ridge, Georgia is surrounded by year-round trout fishing opportunities. While the mountains of the Cohutta Wilderness Area and Chattahoochee National Forest offer an abundance of small stream fishing opportunities for wild rainbows, browns, and native brook trout, it's the Toccoa tailwater and numerous private trophy trout streams that draw the majority of anglers to the area.
Fishing License Information
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division issues licenses for fishing privileges
gooutdoorsgeorgia.com
800-366-266
To learn more about the area's fishing opportunities or to book a guided trip to try out your new rod, we recommend our friends at the Fly Shop next door
Cohutta Fishing Company 706.946.3044.
A: We suggest staying the day before the class to get settled in before beginning your week as a bamboo fly rod maker.
Q: Is there a shuttle from the airport that runs to Blue Ridge, GA?
A: Yes. https://mountaintransportation.org/ 706-851-9465
Q: What should I do to prepare myself for the class?
A: The only preparation you need is to bring leather work gloves (see image) and Oyster apron. This class is so in-depth that it is best to come as "unprepared "as possible...except for those gloves.
Q: Where can I get those gloves?
A: They are simple leather work gloves (avoid bamboo splinters)...you may purchase them at any local hardware store.
A: The doors to the shop open at 8:30 AM. The length of each day varies each class. Expect to leave anywhere from late afternoon to dinner.
Q: How late does the class run on the last day?
A: As your final coat of varnish dries, expect to have your final session at the shop to pick your rods up at 7:30 pm.
A: 494 East Main Street in historic downtown Blue Ridge, GA 30513.
A: We have had students from every state (except North Dakota) attend our class. In fact, we regularly have students fly in from Europe, New Zealand, Australia, South America and Canada!
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the most conveniently located airport (it is a straight shot...about an hour and a half drive-all highway). Because this airport is technically the "busiest airport in the world, the flights from anywhere are more frequent and less expensive.
A: Perfect every day...we wish! Actually, Blue Ridge has gorgeous weather most of the year. Because we are a mountain town, our days are warm and it cools down in the the evenings.
A: Once you enter the Oyster workshop, you are a bamboo rod maker. Because we complete a bamboo fly rod (100%. with 3 coats of varnish) in such a short time, the days are long but productive and fun.
A: We have coffee brewing non-stop... really...we frequently forget to turn off the coffee maker overnight. Please plan to stay relatively late in Blue Ridge on graduation night as your rods receive their last coat of varnish. During meal breaks, most students opt to explore the numerous quaint eateries within easy walking distance in the historic district where we are located.
Of course there are also the "usual" chain type restaurants within a mile or two of the shop.
Q. What do I wear?
A. Think comfortable. Wear shoes with rubber soles. If you wear shorts, make certain they are long.
Historically, engraving has been reserved for our most precious items...the knight's armor, the bride's silver, the hunter's shotgun, and for the fly fisher…..it's the bamboo fly rod.
It's a permanent and personal way of showing our reverence for something that is special to us.
A: Yes. We should be able to complete any custom engraving requests so that you may take it home at the end of the week.
Q: What is oyster able to engrave on my fly rod hardware?
A. We have the ability to virtually hand engrave anything. From the simplest designs (initials) to your family crest, beloved dog or a special sentiment to commemorate the class with others. We are only limited by the imagination.
Q: When do I have to tell you about my desire for engraving?
A: If it's simple (like initials or scroll), it can wait until your class week. If it's more elaborate, contact Shannen with your ideas and we will get you a quote and have it completed in your class.
A: Yes, we offer the opportunity to order a rattan grip, cut down your rod into a 4-piece, an extra tip, blued ferrules, blued reel seat, an agate stripping guide, fly reels, fly line and / or hand engraving.
FYI: the extra tip upgrade must be decided upon on the first day for logistical reasons.
A. No. Many people talk of this class and sincerely want to do it, but we have found waiting on someone to make your bamboo fly rod is just one more obstacle between you and the experience of a lifetime. You have come this far (reading the FAQ carefully)…you are ready to come make your bamboo fly rod at Oyster. While this is a special experience for friends and family to do together. We encourage you to sign up for yourself and come make new friends.
A: Yes. We have a FULL line of freshwater and saltwater fly fishing reels in our showroom.
A: She knows you better than you know yourself.
Q: Should I be excited?
A: Oh yes...be excited!
A: Because our passion is also a means of support, our success as a business is dependent on your satisfaction. We are a true family business working as a full-time bamboo rod making facility. Our entire shop is 100% dedicated to the art of bamboo fly rod making.
Q: Why do more people come to Oyster Bamboo to make their first rod than anywhere else in the world and why do so many come back over and over?
A: Because we teach more people to make bamboo fly rods than anyone in the world, our experience has allowed us to develop the most successful techniques for training first time rodmakers. The relaxed atmosphere and good natured fun found in our workshop masks the countless hours of intense study which has resulted in the mastery of the rod making craft. All of this information will be openly shared with all of our students. 100% of the students that have taken our class have completed the course with a complete bamboo fly rod ready to fish. Your journey begins here.
These days people fish with bamboo because of: the
beauty of it, the tradition of it, the artistry of it.
It is not a high-tech material, but rather the opposite;
it is a very low-tech option.
Bamboo fishing rods are known for
their solid construction, through and through.
