PLAYING WITH FIRE: THE LIFE AND FLY RODS OF E.W. EDWARDS

PLAYING WITH FIRE: THE LIFE AND FLY RODS OF E.W. EDWARDS One of the great names in the history of fly fishing is Eustis W. "Billy" Edwards, the scion of a family of rodmaking geniuses. Now for the first time, Patrick C. Garner details the life & rodmaking career of one of the legendary names in fishing history.Garner covers Edwards' early years with Hiram Leonard, details the legendary "Kosmic" years with Hiram Hawes, Fred Thomas, & Edward Payne, his short-lived partnership with Thomas, & covers for the first time in print his career as a photographer. His return to rodmaking which lead to his discovery of flame tempering of cane, his years at Winchester, & his final stop in Mt. Carmel all flesh out the story of Edwards & his fly rods.The book also details the known models of Edwards-made rods, teaching the reader how to identify & evaluate everything from the earliest Filbert Street rods to his last Mt. Carmel Specials. Special chapters on trade rods helps illuminate the often murky relationship between Edwards & trade houses like Abbey & Imbrie, Edward vom Hofe, & Thos. E. Wilson. It even includes historical data on Edwards rod prices.WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING:"Patrick Garner has done all of us a great favor. He corrects some often repeated misinformation about early American rod makers, as well as introducing some still intriguing mysteries. This work should go a long way towards creating a greater understanding & appreciation of Eustis Edwards' work -- which is truly seminal in American rod making." -- Per Brandin, contemporary bamboo rodmaker"A very well researched work about one of America's most unique & innovative rod makers. A great read for anyone interested in the history of bamboo rod making, & the remarkable ideas & innovations that Eustis Edwards first brought to the craft." -- Hoagy Carmichael, author of A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod ISBN: 0-9815102-0-5 publish date: 02/28/2010