In this retrospective on women and fly tying, author Erin Block uncovers a largely hidden side of fly fishing history. From the heart of the nineteenth century to the present, the work of fifteen famous fly tiers are outlined in this seminal work. From Carrie Frost, who built an empire on the Mississippi River, to Carrie Stevens, who built a legend in Maine, some of the most important names in fly angling are covered in detail. Portraits of famed commercial tiers like Elizabeth Greig, Winnie Dette, Mary Dette Clark, Elsie Darbee, Helen Shaw, Megan Boyd, and Frances Stearns are included, along with modern tiers Cathy Beck, Sharon E. Wright, and April Vokey. And historical figures, from Dame Juliana Berners to the mysterious Elizabeth Benjamin to the legendary Mary Orvis Marbury get their just due. Block also solves one of the enduring mysteries in American fly fishing history - what ever happened to Sara Jane McBride, the famed fly tier who was also America's first entomological fly angler? The book is illustrated throughout and includes a bonus chapter on the modern women tiers whose beautiful work is available in most fly shops and who continue a tradition of nearly two centuries of anonymously crafting quality flies.

By a Thread: A Retrospective on Women and Fly Tying

Politics & Social Sciences

Erin Block

Women's Studies

Cincinnati, OH: The Whitefish Press

BOOK DETAILS 8.5" x 11" Softcover * Black-and-White Images * 300 Pages * Contains all catalogs from 1932-1957 ABOUT THE BOOK In this companion volume to The Chronological History of Penn Reels, 1932-1957 and The Penn Reel Collector's Companion &amp; Price Guide, 1932-1957, the long-awaited A Documentary History of Penn Reels, 1932-1957 contains rare documents and photographs pertaining to Penn history during its first 25 years. It is divided into three sections: Section One, which covers original documents and letters to and from Penn and photos from Penn's first ledger book; Section Two, which contains a complete set of Penn catalogs from this period; and Section Three, a photographic essay of Penn during this era. A must for any Penn collector! Here, for the first time ever, is a complete set of Penn Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Co. catalogs and other documents and photos pertaining to its first 25 years of history. From the unnumbered Penn flyer for the Model K, to Catalog #1 in 1933 through Catalog #20 in 1957, this volume reproduces every page of every Penn catalog during the years 1932-1957, including rare pocket catalogs. It also includes everything from correspondence between Otto Henze and other tackle makers, to images of the first sales ledgers, to photos of the factory floor. This work will serve as a standard reference for many years, as well as a great companion to the previous two Penn histories in this series. A must for any Penn reel collector, dealer, or historian!

A Documentary History of Penn Reels, 1932-1957

Sports & Outdoors

Michael Cacioppo

Water Sports

BOOK DETAILS 8.5" x 11" Softcover • 250 Pages • Black and White Interior • 13,000+ Entries DESCRIPTION When it comes to antique and collectible fishing reels, you will probably find the answer in this book! Lawson's Price Guide to Old Fishing Reels (4th Edition) continues to set the standard with well over 13,000 listings of old fishing reels! First published in 1994, Lawson's Price Guide to Old Fishing Reels went through three editions and sold thousands of copies, becoming the standard price guide for reels in the process. This expanded and revised 4th edition, started by the late Stu Lawson and finished by Dr. John Elder after Stu's passing, is the latest and greatest version! With several thousand new entries as well as the deletion of outdated entries, this book is completely up-to-date. In addition, the format size has been increased from 5.5" x 8.5" pocket paperback to full-sized 8.5" x 11" softcover to facilitate easy reading. And the price remains the same as when first published almost 25 years ago! Arranged alphabetically by Brand/Trade Name and by Model Name or Number, this guide also lists descriptions and condition along with current values. Covering all kinds of reels from all over the world, this guide is recommended for: Antique Dealers, Appraisers, Collectibles Dealers, Collectors, Estate Executors, Fishermen, Tackle Dealers, Flea Marketers, and Museums, and anyone else who owns, buys, or sells fishing reels!

Lawson's Price Guide to Old Fishing Reels, 4th Edition

George "Stu" Lawson

John H. Elder

BOOK DETAILS 6" x 9" Softcover * Color Images * 188 Pages ABOUT THE BOOK The tradition of the split bamboo fly rod goes back over 150 years. During this time, a number of rod makers have achieved legendary status for crafting outstanding fly rods. Many of these makers - including E.W. Edwards, Fred Divine, and Wes Jordan - were iconoclasts who bucked the trends of the day to break new and exciting ground. This tradition of pushing the limits of split bamboo is alive and well, and this book seeks to celebrate these contemporary makers and their craft. The profiles of the radical rods and the men who make them were based on a series of interviews conducted over a period of nearly four years, and the end product is a refreshing look at the exciting world of extreme bamboo fly rods. Just some of the makers interviewed for this book include Marc Aroner, Tim Abbott, Wayne Maca, Jeff Hatton, Tom Smithwick, Glenn Brackett, A.J. Thramer, Rob Smith, Kurt Zumbrunn, Joe Arguello, and Bob Clay (whose beautiful two handed bamboo spey rod with splice joints is pictured above). If you want a look at where the bamboo fly rod is today, and where it is going tomorrow, this book is for you. If you want to understand the reasoning behind why men and women split cane for a reason, then you won't want to miss it. And if you want to be inspired by people unafraid to try new things, Radical Rodmaking is the book for you.

Radical Rodmaking: Innovative Bamboo Fly Rods & Their Makers

Todd E.A. Larson

BOOK DETAILS 6" x 9" Softcover • 200 Total Pages • Black and White Images • Indexed ABOUT THE BOOK This biography traces the historical roots of the Fred Arbogast family, his heritage, and his legacy as one of today's most iconic and recognized names in the fishing tackle industry. It includes a detailed history of his ancestry, his life story, accounts about his angling, and words written by the famous fisherman himself. It also covers the history of the company he founded in Akron, Ohio including the history of each fishing lure he invented and produced during his lifetime, the most famous being the Tin Liz, Hawaiian Wiggler, Jitterbug, Hula Dancer, and Hula Popper. It also includes long-forgotten information on the history and creation of the world-famous Jitterbug and Hula Popper. Whether you are a collector of Arbogast baits, interested in local Akron history, or just love to fish Jitterbugs, this book will be a revelation. Enjoy this wonderful look at Fred Arbogast, Akron's greatest angler and a legend in his own time.

Fred Arbogast: A Biography of Akron's Greatest Angler

Kevin Virden

Reference