In-Person Beginner Classes
Sign up for a class near you and learn the craft of rod building with hands-on guidance!
Online Beginner Classes
Learn to build your own rod from the comfort of home with live, expert instruction over Zoom!
Specialty In-Person Classes
Master the art of crafting specialty rods, from steelhead rods to fly rods and beyond!
In-Person Classes
In our 2-day beginner class, expert rod building instructors teach you to assemble a high-performance spinning or casting rod from handle to tip.
Attendees build a 7'0" medium-light power rod, in your choice of spinning or casting.
Online Classes
Learn to build your own spinning or casting rod in our online classes, led by top professional rod building instructors. Hosted via Zoom, these sessions cover essential techniques and components for crafting high-performance fishing rods. You'll get everything you need to take the class and build your rod, all shipped straight to your door—so you can master the craft of rod building right from the comfort of home.
Attendees build a 7'0" medium-light power rod, in your choice of spinning or casting.
Specialty Rod Classes
In our 3-day specialty class, expert rod builders guide you in crafting a custom rod tailored to a specific fishing style.
From fly fishing to inshore redfish to offshore jigging, these specialty classes teach the tips and tricks for building a high-performance rod tailored to your favorite application.
FAQ for Rod Building Classes
Don't let doubt stop you from becoming the best fisherman you can be!
We're here to help answer all of your questions so you can confidently fish rods that are built, not bought.
How Do Rod Building Classes Work?
The Beginner Rod Building class offers a two-day immersion that teaches all the essential techniques to construct your first rod.
We offer 2 convenient options for you to dive into rod building. Whether you visit us in person for a weekend getaway, or learn from the comfort of your own home - the choice is yours!
Mud Hole's beginner rod building classes span two or three days, depending on the class schedule. We provide various options to accommodate your schedule, as well as Beginner and Specialty Classes.
Mud Hole's in-person rod building classes are two or three-day events that bring experts and professionals to a location near you or to the education center at Mud Hole.
Our team of instructors shares their extensive rod building knowledge and addresses all of your questions. They are an invaluable resource for anglers seeking to discover a new passion: rod buildin
What Fishing Rod Do You Build in the Class?
For the first build, the class provides an IS701ML Spin/Cast Rod Blank in gloss black.
The CRB IS701ML Color Series blank takes a 7'0" rod blank with a medium-light power and adds a crisp, fast action to catch anything from panfish and trout to aggressive bass in freshwater, as well as redfish, seatrout, and snook inshore.
- Length: 7'0"
- Line: 6-12 lb.
- Lure: 1/4 - 1/2 oz.
More questions?
If you have any additional questions please contact our customer service team or email lead instructor Todd Vivan directly.
Full Location & Schedule
For All Classes
01/11/2025 - Oviedo, FL - In-Person Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
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Schedule:
Saturday, January 11 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, January 12 2025 – 9A-12P
01/25/2025 - Edison, NJ - In-Person Beginner
Sheraton Edison
125 Raritan Center Parkway, Edison, NJ 08837
Get directions
Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, January 25 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, January 26 2025 – 9A-12P
02/07/2025 - Charlotte, NC - In-Person Specialty
Holiday Inn Charlotte Airport
2707 Little Rock Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214
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Schedule:
Friday, February 7 2025 – 6P-10P
Saturday, February 8 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, February 9 2025 – 9A-12P
02/22/2025 - Minneapolis, MN - In-Person Beginner
Embassy Suites by Hilton
2800 American Boulevard West, Bloomington, MN, 55431
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Schedule:
Saturday, February 22 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, February 23 2025 – 9A-12P
03/01/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, March 01 2025 – 9A-1P
Sunday, March 02 2025 – 9A-1P
03/08/2025 - Grand Rapids, MI - In-Person Beginner
Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Airport
3063 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
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Schedule:
Saturday, March 08 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, March 09 2025 – 9A-12P
03/15/2025 - Oviedo, FL - In-Person Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, March 15 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, March 16 2025 – 9A-12P
03/18/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Tuesday, March 18 2025 – 7A-1P
Wednesday, March 19 2025 – 7A-1P
Thursday, March 20 2025 – 7A-1P
03/22/2025 - Jefferson, IN - In-Person Beginner
Sheraton Louisville Riverside Hotel
700 West Riverside Dr, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, March 22 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, March 23 2025 – 9A-12P
04/05/2025 - Covington, LA - In-Person Beginner
Courtyard New Orleans Covington / Mandeville
101 Northpark Boulevard, Covington, LA 70433
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, April 5 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, April 6 2025 – 9A-12P
04/12/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, April 12 2025 – 9A-1P
Sunday, April 13 2025 – 9A-1P
04/22/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Tuesday, April 22 2025 – 7P-10P
Wednesday, April 23 2025 – 7P-10P
Thursday, April 24 2025 – 7P-10P
04/26/2025 - Houston, TX - In-Person Beginner
Crowne Plaza Houston Med Ctr-Galleria
2712 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, April 26 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, April 27 2025 – 9A-12P
05/06/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Tuesday, May 06 2025 – 7P-10P
Wednesday, May 07 2025 – 7P-10P
Thursday, May 08 2025 – 7P-10P
05/17/2025 - Issaquah, WA - In-Person Beginner
Fairfield Inn Issaquah
1802 12th Ave NW, Issaquah, WA 98028
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, May 17 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, May 18 2025 – 9A-12P
05/24/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, May 24 2025 – 9A-1P
Sunday, May 25 2025 – 9A-1P
05/31/2025 - Tracy, CA - In-Person Beginner
Holiday Inn Express
3751 Tracy Blvd., Tracy, CA 95304
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, May 31 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, June 1 2025 – 9A-12P
06/10/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Tuesday, June 10 2025 – 9A-1P
Wednesday, June 11 2025 – 9A-1P
Thursday, June 12 2025 – 9A-1P
06/21/2025 - Oviedo, FL - Online Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, June 10 2025 – 7P-10P
Sunday, June 11 2025 – 7P-10P
Monday, June 12 2025 – 7P-10P
07/26/2025 - Tulsa, OK - In-Person Beginner
Embassy Suites by Hilton Tulsa I-44
3332 South 79th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74145
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, July 26 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, July 27 2025 – 9A-12P
08/23/2025 - Phoenix, AZ - In-Person Beginner
Marriott Phoenix Airport
1101 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, August 23 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, August 24 2025 – 9A-12P
09/07/2025 - Fort Worth, TX - In-Person Beginner
Aloft Fort Worth Downtown
334 W 3rd Street, Forth Worth, TX 76102
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, September 07 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, September 08 2025 – 9A-12P
9/20/2025 - Milwaukee, WI - In-Person-Beginner
Aloft Milwaukee Downtown
1230 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
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Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, September 20 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, September 21 2025 – 9A-12P
10/03/2025 - Oviedo, FL - In-Person Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, October 3 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, October 4 2025 – 9A-12P
10/11/2025 - Anaheim, CA - In-Person Beginner
Holiday Inn & Suites Anaheim
1240 S Walnut St., Anaheim, CA 92802
Get directions
Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, October 11 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, October 12 2025 – 9A-12P
11/01/2025 - San Antonio, TX - In-Person Beginner
The Westin San Antonio North
9821 Colonnade Boulevard, San Antonio, TX 78230
Get directions
Hotel booking link
Schedule:
Saturday, November 01 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, November 02 2025 – 9A-12P
11/14/2025 - Oviedo, FL - In-Person Specialty
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Friday, November 14 2025 – 9A-6P
Saturday, November 15 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, November 16 2025 – 9A-12P
12/06/2025 - Oviedo, FL - In-Person Beginner
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
2133 Component Loop, Suite 1001, Oviedo FL 32765
Get directions
Schedule:
Saturday, December 6 2025 – 9A-6P
Sunday, December 7 2025 – 9A-12P
I would recommend this class to anyone interested in learning how to make a custom rod. I was very happy with the way my rod came out.
The knowledge and passion shared alone was worth the price of admission. The equipment you come away with is just the bonus.
Great instructors! They were very knowledgeable and made a first timer very comfortable in making his first rod.
I feel like I’m off to a great start. I would highly recommend this class for new and even experienced rod builders.
...outstanding!! Had an awesome time and learned a ton. Will bring a bigger notebook next time! Thanks so much for hosting Mudhole!
Even though I had built a few rods before I took the class, the instructors showed several new tips I had not known about.
Over 100 years experience
Class Instructors

Meet the Instructors
Meet the instructors behind our rod building workshops and learn what got them started building their own custom fishing rods.