Agate Creek Custom Rods

07/26/2026

Go 'Cats - Expect Victory! This is the latest rod in our Northwestern themed "Expect Victory" series. What's your team? What's your team's motto? Shock your friends when you arrive on the stream strutting your colors! Contact us now to build the rod of your dreams. Steve

07/23/2026

It's summer and it's hot - so too is this newly built Colorado School of Mines themed fly rod! The blue agate stripping guide highlights this rod and leads Mine's color scheme of blue, silver and red. Haven't you waited long enough for your very own custom fly rod? Contact us today!

07/02/2026

Agate Creek Custom Rods is excited to announce that it participated in North Fork Composite’s “Advanced Rod Building Seminar” and is now part of NFC’s Wholesale Program!

The Seminar focused on building rod “the Gary Loomis” way and has armed Agate Creek with exciting new rod building tools and techniques.

Let us know how we can help build the custom fly rod of your dreams! Steve Vaggalis

05/31/2026

Agate Creek Custom Rod just completed this magnificent "Retirement Rod" for a Wisconsin fan and Friend. Congratulations John! Steve

05/31/2026

Agate Creek Custom Rods has partnered with Ascent Fly Fishing to conduct custom rod building classes. We recently completed our last class of the 2025 / 2026 Season. Another amazing batch of custom fly rods! Look for our upcoming 2026 / 2027 class schedule online at ascentflyfishing.com coming soon!

03/27/2026

It’s Graduation Day at Ascent Fly Fishing’s Rod Building Class!

Agate Creek Custom Rods has partnered with Ascent Fly Fishing in Littleton, CO by offering custom fly rod building classes.

Here are some of our recent graduate’s creations! Well Done!!

11/27/2025

2026 Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Coach Gary Barnett’s motto “Expect Victory!” and Northwestern University’s 1996 Rose Bowl clash in Pasadena, CA. This feat shocked the NCAA landscape as Coach Barnett inherited a Program mired in decades long football futility punctuated by the 34 game consecutive losing streak from 1979 – 1982.

This rod, Expect Victory!, was inspired by Coach Barnett and the 1995 Wildcat Team. Thanks Coach!!

NU’s Purple and White colors dominate the palette on this 9’, 9 weight fast action rod. The rod’s new owner, a 1978 NU Alum, Expect(s) Victory! as he stalks large Atlantic Salmon in Ireland. Go Cats and always Expect Victory!!

11/21/2025

Hooah! This USMC themed rod, built on the Sage R8 blank - was donated to Project Healing Waters in Denver, CO. PHW serves US Veterans and Active Servicemen and Servicewomen suffering from PTSD, TBIs and other service-related infirmities through the art, beauty and serenity of fly fishing.

This rod specifically honors my Father-in-Law, Captain William A. Sells. Bill was stationed at California’s Marine Corps Air Station - El Toro - and flew with the VMF All Weather – 542 Squadron (1956-1960). Bill flew F4D Phantom II Fighter Jets onto and off several aircraft carriers and helped pioneer nighttime flights.

Hooah Bill!

10/27/2025

10/26/2025

Just a quick Check In regarding “The Streak” of catching at least one trout each month on my fly line. Sleep soundly as The Streak is alive and counting at 106 consecutive months.

ASSUMING successfully executing on the mission on November and December, The Streak will hit nine (9) consecutive years! I’ll keep posting!