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
Fish Whisperer
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!
Colton Schaeffer
Pro Form Manager
Family man, army vet, fishing guide, biologist, and all around great guy, Colton oversees wholesale accounts for guides, lodges, and other fly shops. One of the more technical anglers in the shop, when on the water, Colton will often be found chucking streamers or Euro nymphing. If you are a retailer or a guide interested in getting more information on a wholesale account, CLICK HERE to connect with Colton.
Josie Judy
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 55 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 & Pepper
The Shop Dogs
The shop pups, Cedar and Pepper, 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!
