Peter Stitcher
Ascent Owner, Aquatic Biologist, & Chief Fly Geek
Aquatic Biologist, and unrepentant trout geek Peter Stitcher founded Ascent Fly Fishing in 2013 with the desire to give anglers everywhere an edge on the water by combining science with the sport of fly fishing! For over a decade, Ascent has been a no-ego shop, meeting each person where they are at, and equipping them with the knowledge, gear, and freely shared fishing spots to ensure their next trip to the river will be their best one yet. When not in the shop, Peter will be found floating the Colorado or Arkansas rivers with his family and the shop pups!
Sarah Stitcher
Artist
We would still be slinging flies out of the garage if it weren't for the vision, encouragement, support, and design chops of Sarah Stitcher! The art covering the shop walls, the beautiful wood displays, and the warm, community centered layout of the shop is all due to Sarah. Often found lighting up the shop at events with her beautiful smile, Sarah remains Peter’s all-time favorite catch!
Brad Harrison
Assistant to the regional manager
Arguably the nicest guy in a fly shop full of really nice guys, if it has fins, Brad will chase it! Having been with Ascent for several years, Brad is our resident gear junkie so if you have questions about the best fly rod, reel, or line for your budget and target species, Brad is the guy you want to talk to. Brad might even let you touch his beard if you bring him a couple Cold Snap seasonal ales!
Jay Ruoff
Trout Bum
Jay is a retired firefighter, the lead of many of the shop's fishing classes, and our dedicated scotch whiskey aficionado! Always ready to teach a new knot, help you pick out flies, or drop a pin on a good fishing spot, Jay has been with Ascent for years and we’re sure you’ll enjoy him as much as we do!
Steve Vaggalis
Rod Builder & Director of Fly Fishing Education
Steve is a Colorado Native and has been wild about Fly Fishing for more than 30 years. His Fly Fishing claim to fame is a (recently broken) Streak of catching at least one trout on his fly line for 108 consecutive months — that's nine complete years for those of you who are counting!
Michael Severa
La Nymphe Euro
Born and raised in Colorado, Michael Severa is a self-taught, lifelong angler with a deep passion for every aspect of fly fishing. A Euro Nymphing specialist and skilled fly tyer, Michael brings a detail-oriented approach to the water—helping anglers of all levels sharpen their technique and expand their knowledge. Whether he's guiding on the river or helping clients in the fly shop, Michael is committed to teaching the full experience of fly fishing, one thoughtful cast at a time.
Brian Clark
River Caddie
Brian recently joined the Ascent team and loves helping fishermen get off to a strong start. He’s all about sharing knowledge, swapping stories, and making sure you walk out confident and ready for the water. When he’s not in the shop, he’s either at CrossFit, climbing mountains, or chasing trout year-round on Colorado rivers. Swing by, say hello, and let Brian point you toward your next great day on the water.
Josie Caracciolo
Social Media Manager
Josie is the creative genius and prompt DM responder behind Ascent’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. She is dedicated to her craft and to the Ascent community, and without her, we’d probably still be hand painting and spamming medians across the suburbs with signs to tell the community about our events!
Our Fly Tyers
Our fly tyers are proud artisans, dedicated to their craft and their families, and we proudly employ 56 full time fly tyers in the western suburbs of Nairobi Kenya. Since we opened our first factory in Kenya in 2014, we were committed to sharing the blessing and growth experienced through Ascent with our team overseas. With living wages, a profit share, and interest free micro loans covering healthcare, our partners in Kenya aren’t just surviving, they are thriving! Most of our tyers have been practicing their craft for 10-20 years and their work supports upwards of 500+ dependents.
Cedar & Juniper
The Shop Dogs
The shop pups, Cedar and Juniper, can be found occupying sun spots on the floor of the store or collecting belly scratches whenever they aren’t out kissing trout on the river. An important feature of any full service fly shop, sometimes you need flies and fishing spots, and other times you just need a little puppy love!
Bing - The Security Gnome
While small in stature and quite shy, Bing the Security Gnome hides around the shop, keeping an eye on things, and will only reveal himself to the smallest and youngest members of the community. When found by kids visiting the shop, Bing will share a piece of Gnome treasure with them before letting them help him find a new hiding spot!
