Bob Clay

Bob Clay lives in northern British Columbia's Kispiox Valley and is the owner of Riverwatch Rods. Bob started fly fishing the Kispiox river in 1971, where he went on to live, guide and become somewhat of a historical figure.

Bob guided all through the 80's and 90's before selling his guiding operation and focusing extensively on bamboo rod building. He would eventually cross paths and work with Tom Morgan, formally of Winston Rod Co., who became his rod building mentor. Bob is now one of the most respected builders in the industry.
Watch Intro Video

Introduction

Reviews From This Course

5 star rating

Bamboo Rod Building with Bob Clay

Tommy John

Great Class. Many pages of notes taken and a sense of Wow. Many years of experience that Bob has was presented in a easy to follow method. Bob made it looks ...

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Great Class. Many pages of notes taken and a sense of Wow. Many years of experience that Bob has was presented in a easy to follow method. Bob made it looks so easy. Really enjoyed myself. Thanks

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5 star rating

Great course!

Jim Cross

I am not a bamboo rod builder but have always wondered how they were made. I fish the Skeena River system with my Spey rod each September. The course taug...

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I am not a bamboo rod builder but have always wondered how they were made. I fish the Skeena River system with my Spey rod each September. The course taught me what I wanted to learn about bamboo Spey rods from a man who fishes the same waters. I found the course to be excellent and had no idea how intricate bamboo rod building is and the range of skills needed. Bob is an expert in his field and explained all aspects of building clearly. I highly recommend the course.

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5 star rating

A glimpse into the world of a master craftsman at work.

Roland Start

Bob is a legend and to allow us to have a look into his process of building one of his master pieces is truly a privilege. I loved every bit of it. Now I'm i...

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Bob is a legend and to allow us to have a look into his process of building one of his master pieces is truly a privilege. I loved every bit of it. Now I'm inspired to pickup a few more key books to further this endeavor.

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5 star rating

Bamboo Rod Building w Bob Clay

David Rinker

Bob does a very good job both in a general overview of technical and specifics of his style of rodmaking. I’ve been a bamboo rodmaker for thirty years and th...

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Bob does a very good job both in a general overview of technical and specifics of his style of rodmaking. I’ve been a bamboo rodmaker for thirty years and this series had some new ideas for me. For a new rodmaker this is a great stepping stone. Thanks Bob

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5 star rating

Amazing course

bj stone

I am seriously looking to start building my own bamboo rods and this course is an excellent place to start. It lays out all the ground work in a condensed BU...

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I am seriously looking to start building my own bamboo rods and this course is an excellent place to start. It lays out all the ground work in a condensed BUT still highly educational fashion. 10/10 recommend and I will watch this course many times over.

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5 star rating

Mesmerized by the attention to detail

Jason Smith

Amazing work! Really enjoyed being let in to the shop of a true Master. Thanks!

Amazing work! Really enjoyed being let in to the shop of a true Master. Thanks!

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5 star rating

Fantastic insight into a master rod builder's process

Steve Lum

I loved this course into Bob's world, one of the few masters of bamboo Spey. As a lover of bamboo rods, especially speys and a 100% bamboo fisher, it was gre...

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I loved this course into Bob's world, one of the few masters of bamboo Spey. As a lover of bamboo rods, especially speys and a 100% bamboo fisher, it was great to see what goes into making the tools that I love so much. Amazing the amount of tools and gadgets that goes into making a bamboo rod.

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5 star rating

Great content!

Chuck Reasy

Very good class. A lot of detail on all the basics & great detail on the splicing the sections. Money well spent, will reference these processes frequen...

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Very good class. A lot of detail on all the basics & great detail on the splicing the sections. Money well spent, will reference these processes frequently as I build. Really like the node press, have sent an email inquiring how to purchase one. Thanks for taking the time to share your processes.

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When You Join Today

We'll Also Be Adding These Three Exclusive Bonuses

  • Interactive Q&A Video Call With Bob

    We offer interactive sessions with our Masterclass instructors. Have a question specific to your rod or situation? Ask Bob yourself during one of our interactive calls!
    Value: $240

  • Lifetime Access

    We understand that time is the number one obstacle most students face. While enrolment for most of our courses expire after one year, you'll have access to it for LIFE.
    Value: $1200

  • Annual Membership

    Our popular membership includes exclusive documentaries and series, how-to videos, visual presentations, interactive lessons with industry leaders, giveaways, community and more!
    Value: $1640

Building a bamboo fly rod is no easy task.
It requires dedication, commitment and patience. It also requires knowledge and proper guidance. That's where we come in.
This class will teach you how to build a bamboo rod from start to finish. Regardless of whether you are looking to build a single or double-hand rod, or whether you're an experienced or novice craftsperson, this class is a treasure to all aspiring rod builders.
Take the Class

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Before You Start

    • Some Important Notes
  • 2

    Introduction to Bamboo Rod Building

    • Introduction to Bamboo Rod Building
  • 3

    Selecting Culms

    • Selecting Culms
  • 4

    Flaming Culms

    • Flaming Culms
  • 5

    Rough Splitting and Oven Prep

    • Rough Splitting and Oven Prep
  • 6

    Oven Heat Treating

    • Oven Heat Treating
  • 7

    Final Splitting

    • Final Splitting
  • 8

    Node Removal

    • Node Removal
  • 9

    Scraping the Cambium Layer

    • Scraping the Cambium Layer
  • 10

    Stagger and Cut Strips

    • Stagger and Cut Strips
  • 11

    Node Preparation

    • Node Preparation
  • 12

    Straighten Strips

    • Straighten Strips
  • 13

    Rough Triangulate

    • Rough Triangulate
  • 14

    Rough Taper

    • Rough Taper
  • 15

    Final Taper

    • Final Taper
  • 16

    Align and Hollow

    • Align and Hollow
  • 17

    Glue and Bind

    • Glue and Bind
  • 18

    Scraping the Blank

    • Scraping the Blank
  • 19

    Figuring the Splice into Taper

    • Figuring the Splice into Taper
  • 20

    Splice Joint

    • Splice Joint
  • 21

    Dip Varnishing

    • Dip Varnishing
  • 22

    Handle Assembly

    • Handle Assembly
  • 23

    Handle Shaping

    • Handle Shaping
  • 24

    Spey Rod Handle Assembly

    • NEW Spey Rod Handle Assembly
  • 25

    Wrapping Guides

    • Wrapping Guides
  • 26

    Varnishing Guide Wraps

    • Varnishing Guide Wraps
  • 27

    Final Dip

    • Final Dip
  • 28

    Conclusion

    • Conclusion
  • 29

    Equipment List

    • Equipment List
  • 30

    Tapers and Specs

    • Tapers and Specs
  • 31

    Congrats! Here's what's next.

    • Course Completion Certification, Resources and More

    • You've Earned $6 In Premium Points!

Frequently Bought Together

  • $47.00

    $47.00Add-On: Bob Clay Composite Ferrule Construction

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FAQ

  • How long do I have access to this course for? Is there an expiration date?

    You'll have access to this class for LIFE!