When we started offering rod building workshops at Prolite, I knew I didn’t want them to be about following instructions for a day, finishing a rod, and then sending you on your way.
I want the workshop to still be helping you years after it’s over.
You’ll leave with a rod you built yourself, but the rod isn’t really the end goal. I want you to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. I want you to leave confident enough to build another one, make better decisions on your own, and know that when you do have a question later, I’m still here.
Small groups so I can actually teach
Prolite workshops are limited to 1 to 6 people. That’s intentional.
It gives me enough time to work directly with each builder throughout the process instead of simply demonstrating something and hoping everyone can follow along.
You’ll be building alongside me, Christopher Wegeleben, founder of Prolite Rod Technology. We work through the same techniques we use every day in the Prolite shop, including layout, guide placement, thread work, epoxy, finish, and the little details that can make the difference between something that just looks finished and something you’re actually proud of.
Just as important, I’ll explain why we’re making those decisions.
There’s a big difference between watching somebody build a rod and learning how to build one yourself. A lot of that learning happens when you’re the one doing the work, asking questions, making mistakes, feeling what proper thread tension feels like, seeing how finish behaves, and having somebody beside you who can help before a small problem becomes a big one.
The goal is bigger than one rod
I’ve always believed the biggest impact I can make isn’t just building something for somebody. It’s helping them understand enough to keep going on their own.
That’s how I approach these workshops.
I don’t just want to help you get one rod across the finish line. I want you to understand the process well enough that when you decide to build the next one, you aren’t starting over from zero.
Maybe rod building becomes something you enjoy doing every winter. Maybe you build rods for your kids, friends or fishing buddies. Maybe someday you decide to start building for other people. Wherever you take it, I want you leaving Prolite with a solid foundation you can keep building on.
You don’t need to memorize everything while you’re here either. Part of learning any craft is going home, trying it again, and realizing there’s something you forgot to ask.
I’m still here when you build the next one
One of my favorite parts of these workshops is getting to know the people I’m building with. We spend a day or two together in the shop, building rods, talking fishing, solving problems and working through something I’ve spent years learning myself.
That relationship doesn’t have to end when the workshop does.
When you start your next rod and can’t remember how we did something, reach out. If you’re trying to choose between two blanks, wondering what guides make sense, having trouble getting your finish right, or just want another set of eyes on something, ask me.
I’m still here.
Spend your money on what actually matters
Rod building can get overwhelming pretty quickly. There are a lot of blanks, guides, reel seats, tools, epoxies and different ways to do almost everything.
We have the blanks, components, tools and supplies you need to get started and keep going, but that doesn’t mean you need to buy everything at once.
Part of what I can help you with is figuring out what you actually need for the rods you want to build, where spending a little more makes a real difference, and what you can wait on.
I want you to be confident in how you build a rod, but I also want you to be confident in how you spend your money doing it.
If I can help you avoid buying the wrong blank, a tool you don’t need, or a pile of components that don’t really fit what you’re trying to build, that’s part of teaching too.
Built around you and your group
Workshops can run from 1 to 3 days, with 2 days being the sweet spot for most groups. That gives us enough time to work through the build, ask questions and actually absorb what we’re doing without feeling like we’re racing the clock.
If you only have one day available, we can build the workshop around that too. You can come by yourself for one-on-one instruction, bring a friend, or put together a group of up to 6 people and build side by side.
Every group is a little different, and that’s part of the point. Tell me what you want to build, what kind of fishing you do, how much experience you already have, and what you want to learn. We’ll build the workshop around that.
And if you want to put the rod you just built to use while you’re here, ask us about adding a guided fishing trip to the experience.
Ready to build?
Standard workshops start at $1,000 for 1 or 2 people, plus $200 for each additional person up to 6.
Visit our Workshops & Retreats page for the full details. Tell us how many people are coming, what you’d like to build and what you’re hoping to get out of the workshop, and we’ll take it from there.