A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod [Hardcover]

Hoagy B. Carmichael (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1994

By unanimous agreement, this is simply the best work on the subject – the definitive book. Mr. Garrison, a mechanical engineer by training, built perhaps the finest rods ever – and describes how it’s done. He died before the book was first published (in 1977) though his protégé, Hoagy B. Carmichael, completed it and brought it to publication. Essential reading for all who admire fine bamboo rods. A useful section is included on restoration, refinishing and repair as well. Now In Its Third Printing

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...this is one of the best books you can find on building your own bamboo flyrod." -- Sports Afield Magazine

"This edition is beautifully executed--quality paper, printing, blinding and slipcase." -- Gray's Sporting Journal - Richard Kilgore

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Meadow Run Pr; Revised edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962060976
• ISBN-13: 978-0962060977
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #362,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great book but not for beginners, July 25, 2010

By 

J. Schaeffer (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod (Hardcover)

This book has probably kept more people from making a bamboo rod than any other work. It is a great book, just don't buy it thinking that it will teach you how to make one. It is not an instruction manual, but rather documentation of how Garrison made his rods. No question that Garrison set the standard for many aspects of rodmaking, but this is the book t0 read AFTER you read Maurer and Elser, or Cattanach, or The Lovely Reed.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Engineer's Work of Art, January 2, 2012

By 

Thomas M. Kearns (Arlington, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod (Hardcover)

As a young engineer,I purchased this book in 1977 when it was first published. Now the book is the most referenced resource for construction of fine bamboo rods and is considered a bible. Today, Garrison rods sell for over $10,000. The man took so much care to build a precise instrument yet it performs as a work of art. The hand drawings of tools, parts and processes are reflections of past pride and craftsmanship compared to today's CAD computerized presentations of parts and plans. Garrison, as a structural engineer, presents the theory of cane rods; how they work and are designed. While it may be unimportant or even intimidating to some, the organization and presentation of graph and calculation sheets are impressive even to an engineer now with over 40 years of experience.

If you are interested in how cane rods are hand built, this book will answer everything. If you are interested in building rods yourself, it is incredibly helpful. It takes time and patience to go through the process in detail. It is not "Bamboo Rod Making 101". This is graduate school stuff but well worth the time and energy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Master's Guide Helped Me, April 28, 2011

By 

dcw - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod (Hardcover)

I bought this book back in 1977, and it helped me repair several old fly rods I was using at the time. I never did build one from start to finish, but learned a lot about what goes into making a fly rod up. Garrison's book helped me correctly attach ferrules and repair broken and split rod ends. I still enjoy looking at it today.