Leah's classes in art and drawing for kids is now up and running

Why take a class from me? That’s easy.

• Small class size. Share my knowledge with only one other student. Don’t feel like you’re elbow to elbow on a party boat with 5 other students clamoring for help and instruction.
• Learn to really build a fly rod. Complete all the steps yourself, with thorough explanations along the way. No instructor slipping in during the night to work on your rod for you.
• Components supplied for your rods are actually built here in the shop, not ordered from a supplier.
• Use equipment built on the premises to craft your fine bamboo fly rod. Using equipment designed and machined by an experienced rod builder makes all the difference!
  
• Check out my students testimonials on this page: …”was extremely patient guiding me through the fundamentals of building bamboo rods…the week hooked me and I am now on number thirteen rod and each one is better than the last”.

I’m a full time rod maker with a purpose-built shop: The Dunsmuir Rod Company.

This building houses my machine shop as well as a comfortable, air-conditioned class room for teaching.

You’ll work in a small class setting, comfortable shop with plenty of ambient light, your own work station, individual tools, and specialty machines.

You’ll avoid the pitfalls that plague many new builders (and people that have been building rods for years).

Much of the rod building process isn’t obvious or intuitive – nor is it stated in the books now available on bamboo rod making. With my at-your-side teaching method you can rest assured that your learning curve will go off the charts!!

Why suffer along for years with glue lines, twisted, bent rod sections straight from the binder, loose ferrules, rod sections that don’t have the identical length, and so on? The tricks-of -the-trade are shared with you.

In my classes, you’ll learn to avoid these pitfalls and come away with the knowledge that would normally require years of experience to accumulate.

Get the most from your time in the class room by having an experienced instructor show YOU how to work. Everyone has somewhat different styles and abilities when it comes to making bamboo fly rods.

With a complete machine shop, many of the tools used in class were made right here. This includes the “MOAR” rougher, gluing binders, roughing forms, intermediate forms, and ferrule station cutters to name just a few of the made on the premises tools you will use.

We also have on hand the best in commercially available equipment, including products from Larry Swearingen and Forrest Maxwell.

Let me teach you how to succeed using your skill set, not mine. I have the years of experience successfully teaching rod making necessary to assess where your talent and abilities lie, and I tailor my teaching to fit you, the student..

The Whole Enchilada: Our 6-Day Rodmaking Class

This is a Sunday afternoon through Saturday noon course that covers all aspects of building the fine bamboo fly rod. The students start with a culm of bamboo on Sunday afternoon and finish the week Saturday afternoon with a completed rod. During the week the student progresses at his own pace, in an uncrowded class situation. Class size is limited to 4 students, so that each person receives the individual attention they deserve. An important aspect of my class includes taper theory. As a Certified Casting Instructor with the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF), your casting stroke is evaluated during the class week. Why you prefer certain tapers over others is discussed, with video analyzation provided. Leaving the class with a completed fly rod is not enough! Know why you chose a certain taper, and what it means to you and others. Tuition includes all materials, including rod, rod sock and aluminum tube with brass caps. Lunches included. $1395.00 (Sunday through Saturday)

2010 Class Schedule:

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• July 4-10 1 Opening
• August 8-14 1 Opening
• September 12-19 2 Openings
• October 4-9 Full
• November 24- Dec 4 1 Opening
• December 6-11 2 Openings

Call or email to make your reservation for this year’s classes! A deposit of $400 reserves your space. Mastercard, Visa or Paypal is accepted. I always welcome phone calls and do my best to answer your emailed questions promptly.

Where to stay: The “Caddis Hatch” is located right next to the shop. For a virtual tour, visit:

http://www.dunsmuirvacationrental.com The cabin is offered at a special rate to students, on a first-come, first-rented basis. Call me with any questions: 530.235.4058

Also, there is Dunsmuir Lodge: 530.235.2884

Dunsmuir Inn and Suites 530.235.4395

TESTIMONIALS:

I took a week-long bamboo rod making class from Chris four years ago. I have always had the sense that I could do anything I put my mind to, and Chris’s class affirmed this for me, yet again! I admired Chris for many reasons, but probably most of all for his respect for me as a learner. He always spoke to me as if I were indeed capable of every task required, and he never doubted that running any machine was going to be too hard for me. He was a patient teacher, and he celebrated every small success. He planned each day of the week in such a way that provided just enough background and instruction to be “with it” and then moved us along to the next step in the process in such a knowledgeable and gracious manner. He was able to seamlessly weave together many separate steps and made even the most complex tasks readily doable. He truly loves what he does and it shows in the way in which he helps each student feel successful. I am most grateful for his kind assistance in creating one of my most gratifying learning experiences. The rod is one of the most beautiful things I have ever made. It was a joy to sign my name, “Maker.” Thanks Chris!

M. Ruth Davenport, Ph.D.
Professor of Literacy Education
Coordinator, ECED Concentration
Eastern Oregon University

Corey Cherrstrom:
A friend asked if I would like to take the class from Chris a couple of years ago and I had some reservations because of minimal woodworking skills. My wood working experience involved using a drill, hammer and nails, hand-saw and chain saw. Chris is patient and a good teacher and by the end of the week I felt very comfortable using the tools and my fly rod looks and fishes well. Several of the steps in rod making still seemed a little like magic but after practicing on my own the skills I was taught the mystery and magic are gone. I feel very comfortable now with all the steps and I think I make pretty decent bamboo fly rods. I can highly recommend the class. It was a week I will always remember for many reasons, great learning experience in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Corey Cherrstrom, DVM

A few years ago I spent a week with Chris and had a most enjoyable and educational time. First of all, I new nothing about the art of building a bamboo fly rod and all I knew was that it seemed liked something I wanted to do as it combined my love of fly fishing with woodworking. Chris needed to be and was extremely patient guiding me through the fundamentals of building bamboo rods. His shop is extremely well equipped and organized and it offered the opportunity to try out different pieces of equipment that most beginners dream about. I must say the week hooked me and I am now on number thirteen rod and each one is better than the last. I don’t know of a better hobby for a woodworker/fisherman as long as you have a little patience. The real joy is taking the fruits of your labor and standing in a trout stream and if you are lucky catching that first trout on your creation. Chris is a great guy and I highly recommend to anyone that they spend a week with him and engage in what I think is a wonderful pursuit.

Bill Walsh

Eagle Point, Oregon

I strongly recommend Chris Raine’s weeklong bamboo rodbuilding class at Dunsmuir Rod Company. At a minimum you will come out with a beautiful, hand-crafted bamboo fly rod that you built yourself under the guidance of a master, well worth the cost of the course. But you will also come away with the knowledge and skills which could launch you into a very satisfying hobby building bamboo fly rods on your own.

I spent a week taking the rodbuilding course in 2006. We went step by step from picking a culm of bamboo through to wrapping the finished rod. Chris showed us each step along the way, and helped us to perform the often exacting work. I had some experience with hand tools and woodwork, which no doubt helped. Chris upped my level of performance on even familiar tasks such as sharpening planes. Further Chris warned us of potential problems so that we could avoid the often frustrating learning process of struggling on our own.

Chris is a great teacher. He was always ready to explain, and sometimes re-explain, a process. He was wonderfully patient. He also brought a pleasant humor to the process. I had a great time and recommend the course to anyone who likes to work with his hands and is interested in bamboo rods.

As for me, it gave me the confidence to take up bamboo rodbuilding on my own. I collected the necessary tool and materials, as recommended by Chris. I have been building rods for 3 years now, in my spare time. I have built 11 rods on my own, using traditional tapers. I began with 4 weights, since I love small stream fishing. Recently I have been hollow building 8 foot 5-6 weights 2 piece rods and a 8 ½ foot 6 weight three piece rod. I have found many ways to screw up, but the foundation that Chris Raine provided me, and even more the confident attitude that he engendered, has kept me going. Eventually each rod has gotten finished and I am proud of each one. But that first one, the one I built with Chris Raine at Dunsmuir Rod Company, is the most special.

Thanks, Chris.

-Daniel Zimmerlin, maker

Coming Soon: See list of restaurants/motels below