Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods

Oyster’s May 11-16, 2026 bamboo rod making class brought back 5 repeat rod makers & welcomed 5 new students that spent 6 days in Blue Ridge, GA, dedicated to making a bamboo fly rod by hand. 

May in Blue Ridge is absolutely gorgeous & there may have been bourbon involved.

* 9️⃣Gordon joined us for his 9th class. He said, “Every day I work at something; this week is about working on a bamboo rod.” With each class he attends, he understands the process a little more. Gordon crafted a 7’6” 4wt for smaller trout streams. See you soon!

* 2️⃣Tom was here from the United Kingdom for his 2nd class. His first class was in 2007 during the “basement years”. He decided to build an 8’ 7wt rod to fish Sea Run Brown Trout.

* Colin traveled from OR to attend his 1st Oyster rod-making class. He enjoys fly fishing for Cutthroat Trout. He crafted a 7’9” 4wt as his versatile rod for Oregon rivers.

* Byron joined us from Milledgeville, GA for his 1st class. He visited Oyster’s brick-and-mortar in downtown Blue Ridge, GA & signed up. He built a 7’9” 5wt for North GA waters.

* 3️⃣Clay from Tallahassee, FL attended his 3rd class. Clay said, “Trust the process. When you catch a fish on a bamboo rod you made by hand, there is nothing like that feeling.” He decided on an 8’ 8wt. See you soon!

*Jeff was here from Hilton Head, SC for his 1st class. He retired & decided to focus on woodworking & doing things he enjoys. Good for you, Jeff! He made an 8’ 9wt for saltwater, primarily for Redfish (Bill and Riley’s unhealthy preoccupation). See you soon!

*2️⃣Stan & 1️⃣Cheryl were here from Chapel Hill, NC. When Cheryl saw Stan’s 1st rod, she immediately signed up. Cheryl made an 8’ 5wt for trout fishing & said Oyster’s workshop reminded her of woodworking with her father when she was a child. Stan built an 8’ 9wt.

*2️⃣Jim from Aransas Pass, Texas, joined us for his 2nd class. He keeps coming back to make heirloom bamboo rods for his grandsons. This time he made an 8’ 9wt.

*Randy joined us from AL for his 1st class. He has been fly fishing since he was a child, so his wife gave him the class as a gift. Randy said he

Welcome Oyster’s April 13–18, 2026 bamboo fly rod making class. We welcomed 6 repeat students and 4 new rod makers.

Six days in Blue Ridge, Georgia, dedicated to making a bamboo fly rod entirely by hand.

* 3️⃣5️⃣ “It’s not just the rod that keeps me coming back; it’s the friends I’ve made along the way.” John was here for his 35th bamboo fly rod making class and built an 8’ 10wt for striped bass fishing. He says his confidence has increased with each fly rod making class he has attended. See you soon!

* 9️⃣ Randy from Roswell, GA joined us for his 9th class; he also built an 8' 10wt for striped bass. His first class was in 2012 and was a birthday gift from his wife. He says the biggest differences between his first class and now are building more connections with people, the classes growing from 6 students to 10, and watching Oyster grow as a company. See you soon!

* Wyllys joined us from Alabama for his first class with Oyster Bamboo. He signed up in our shop in beautiful downtown Blue Ridge last year. He decided on an 8' 5wt for trout fishing. Wyllys said the best part of his week was feeling welcomed and at home by everyone.

* 2️⃣ Ethan was back for his 2nd class; he splits his time between Blue Ridge, Georgia and Atlanta. His wife signed him up for his first class after walking by Oyster’s brick-and-mortar and talking to Bruce in the showroom. He said he had a heck of a week and this time he had more confidence in building his fly rod. He made an 8' 9wt bamboo rod for saltwater fly fishing.

* Zach from Tampa Bay, FL, attended his first class after hearing his dad speak highly of the week. He said the best part was working with his hands without having to be at work. Zach built an 8' 8wt for saltwater.

* 2️⃣ Chris joined us from Virginia for his 2nd class and brought his sons, Josh and Mason. Fun fact: Chris’s first class was with Randy. Chris said this time he was less worried about perfection and more focused on enjoying the experience with his sons. He built an 8' 9wt for saltwater fishing.

* Josh from Charleston joined us for his first class and also built an 8' 9wt. Josh said the best part of his week was spending time with his family and meeting new people.

* Mason was here from Buffalo, NY, with his dad, Chris, and brother Josh. He built an 8' 7wt to fish in New York. Mason enjoyed having creative freedom while building his first bamboo fly rod.

* 9️⃣ Clark from Canton, Georgia, was here for his 9th class and built a 7' 3wt for small streams. Clark noted the biggest differences between his first class and now are the class size—8 students versus 10—and enjoying classes with old friends while making new ones.

* 7️⃣ Steve joined us for his 7th class from Santa Rosa, California. His first class was a gift from his wife. This time he built an 8' 6wt. He said each class is more fun and his confidence is increasing. See you soon!

💫 Keeping the Craft Alive 💫

❤️We are honored you joined us and spent the week here at Oyster. Your continued support of Oyster and the craft of bamboo fly rods is the highest compliment. Thanks y’all!

This Saturday during Trout Fest!

Join us at Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods on April 25, 2026 from 2-4pm for bamboo fly rod casting, workshop tours, and beverages.







💫Handcrafted for your lifetime…An heirloom for future generations💫

✨Join Us for another Epic Oyster Bamboo OPEN HOUSE✨

⏰ WHEN: April 25TH (Saturday of Trout Fest!)
2-4 PM

🕋 WHERE: Oyster Bamboo Workshop
494 East Main Street
Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513
706.374.4239

CAST ✨ Cast A Bamboo Rod from Oyster’s Personal Collection

HANG ✨ Hang with the Gang & take a Workshop Tour

PARTAKE ✨ Beverages and BBQ

🎞️ Stinger…The Plot Thickens at the Oyster Shop…Come check out Oyster’s New Good Good. 🤫







Handcrafted for your lifetime…An heirloom for future generations