2027 Washington Sportsmen’s Show Rod Building Workshop
Thursday & Friday, February 4–5, 2027 · Noon–4 PM each day
Puyallup, Washington
Usually, you travel to a rod-building class. This time, we’re bringing the benches, tools, and hands-on instruction to the show. Come for the Sportsmen’s Show. Discover what it feels like to build a fishing rod yourself.
12 participant seats planned · Led by Chris Wegeleben, Founder & Lead Instructor
2027 SHOW SPECIAL$250 per personStandard Prolite workshop instruction: $300 per person. Rod-building components included through Batson Enterprises sponsorship.
Registration is not open yet. Selection and purchasing details are being finalized.
The instructors, the workshop, and the hands-on experience. Learn with our founder and the team that builds rods every day.
Making room for this special workshop at the Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Puyallup.
Providing the rod-building components and ALPS power wrappers for a professional, hands-on learning experience.
Imagine choosing your thread color, learning each step at the bench, and seeing your work come together in every wrap. You do not need to arrive knowing how to build a rod. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to get hands-on.
Founder & Lead Instructor · Prolite Rod Technology
Build alongside the founder of Prolite Rod Technology and learn practical rod-building techniques from someone who works in the craft every day. Chris and the Prolite team will guide participants through the hands-on process, from assembling grips to wrapping guides and finishing their rods.
Join Prolite for two days of practical rod-building instruction. Work through grip assembly, guide wrapping, personalization and rod finishing with guidance from the Prolite team. Batson Enterprises is supporting the workshop with rod-building components and equipment.
Hands-on learning, start to finish.
A small-group experience with personal guidance.
Learn with rod-building tools used by the pros.
This is a hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop, not a lecture. You will work at your own rod-building station with guidance from Chris and the Prolite team. The group follows one planned rod design, with your thread color adding a personal touch.
Get familiar with the rod and tools, assemble and glue the grips, and begin wrapping guides on the top section.
Complete the remaining guide wraps, add the rod decal, and learn how the protective finish is applied.
Experience the satisfaction of building with your own hands and gain a better understanding of the craftsmanship behind a custom fishing rod.
From choosing components to making your first wraps, this is an opportunity to learn at the bench, not just watch someone else work.
Many introductory and traveling rod-building workshops rely on hand wrappers. We're bringing ALPS power wrappers supplied by Batson Enterprises to give every participant hands-on experience with professional rod-building equipment.
Batson’s sponsorship of the components and ALPS equipment, O’Loughlin’s support with the show space, and Prolite’s instruction come together to make this special $250 show workshop possible.
Registration isn't open yet. Leave your contact information and we'll let you know when workshop registration details are announced.
We'll email you when registration opens. This is an interest request, not a workshop registration.
Looking for a private experience instead? Explore private in-shop rod-building workshops or see all workshops and retreats.
