Classic & Antique Fly Fishing Tackle [Hardcover]

A. J. Campbell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997

A lushly illustrated, in-depth collectors' survey of a century of antique fly-fishing tackle from the 1860s to the 1960s.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book definitely holds some pleasant surprises for the reader. Instead of the expected catalog of collectibles, Campbell provides an interesting account of successes, failures, and oddities. The author, editor of Fishing Collectibles magazine, brings together many sources (the bibliography lists 45) to construct an interesting history. His work concentrates on rods and reels, although information on flies and other accessories merits a single chapter. There is coverage of English, American, and Celtic tackle manufacturers, which allows readers to compare tackle development in different countries. The book provides price information but does not attempt to set prices on individual items. Recommended for fly-fishing collections, although the specialized subject matter may limit its use.?Jeff Grossman, Milwaukee Area Technical Coll. Lib., Oak Creek, Wis.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In an era of carbon-fiber fishing rods, a seemingly endless variety of fishing lines, and lures that run the entire spectra of color, size, shape, and action, looking at how anglers over a century ago did their fishing induces nostalgia. If you want to indulge that sentiment, sample Campbell's collectors' survey of antique fly-fishing tackle that perforce traces how the machine age changed the way people fished, from just after the Civil War to the World War II era. Collectors highly prize antique rods, reels, lures, and other pieces of tackle and can pay quite a price for them on the open market. Using this well-researched book can help such collectors avoid the inevitable frauds and rip-offs. Jon Kartman

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558214003
• ISBN-13: 978-1558214002
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,188,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A.J. Campbell is a writer-artist-publisher. He was a department editor for Salt Water Sportsman magazine for 25 years. His SWS "Collector's Corner" and "Fishing Collectibles" columns reached an international audience, including Britain, Australia, and Japan. All of his writing contains humor.

He is the author of hundreds of magazine articles and has written two non-fiction titles-- Successful Shark Fishing and Classic & Antique Fly Tackle. He also wrote the extremely silly King Shag's Recipe Book with the late Bill Harris.

Campbell's latest book is The Demon's Door Bolt. One reviewer called it, "Mel Brooks does Spartacus," a sci-fi/fantasy tale where handicapped warriors battle the evil Daemon and his one-eyed men.

Today, A.J. continues to write historically-based fiction and sci-fi. At present, he is an active Roman reenactor and Certified Archery Instructor, teaching Asian steppe-bow techniques to middle-schoolers. He lives in Maine, U.S.A, planet Earth. Heaven can wait.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Treasure for any Fly Fisherman or Collector of Tackle, February 1, 2000

By 

Frederick J. Alt (Pullman, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic & Antique Fly Fishing Tackle (Hardcover)

This is by far the best book that I have read and read and re-read on fly fishing tackle. The history of early bamboo fly rod makers is extraordinary, very informative and extremely interesting. If you are interested in fly fishing rods and reels, this book is well worth the price. This is a large book with lots of information on rods, reels, collecting, tackle manufacturing, tackle value, etc. etc. the list goes on. You won't be disappointed!

5.0 out of 5 stars El Pescadore, December 14, 2009

By 

El Piscatore - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic & Antique Fly Fishing Tackle (Hardcover)

I found this volume amazingly useful. Campbell avoided discussing tackle prices that seemingly go out of date in a year or two. The book focuses on the small intracies that each fly rod and reel maker used as their personal signature. Even unidentified tackle is linked to its maker. The author did not elaborate on the later bench-crafted rods by such makers as Powell and Dickerson because a companion collector's book by Martin Keane covered them thoroughly. The researh done on Thomas, Leonard, and Payne rods was awesome. The same for Vom Hofe and Philbrick reels. The b&w illustrations were interesting (and plentiful), but the colored photographs were an absolute work of art. My guess is this will become "the" collectors bible. It will never go out of date; and it reads fresh and enjoyable every time I drool through it. Kudos on a masterpiece.

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for any fly fisherman, January 22, 2008

By 

J. Wilfred Cahill "Author" (Olathe, Co) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic & Antique Fly-Fishing Tackle: A Guide for Collectors & Anglers (Paperback)

I have used this book extensively to search for antique fly rods. A very comprehesive study of the craft. As the author of I Never Liked Those C-130's Anyway I found the history and detail very useful while working on a new book about fly fishing.
Very interesting read. I now have a whole new appreciation for the art of rod making.