Published in 2010, the book is - you guessed it - eight chapters of fly fishing personalities & experiences. From remembering an older angler who helped show him the ropes; to a hysterical story about a friend having to go swimming to retrieve a famous & collectible fly tied by Elsie Darbee that is stuck on an underwater log; to a humorous tale of Florida snook fishing in the dark of night while trying not to get shot by an angry dock-owner's BB gun; this book will make you smile & then make you laugh out loud.
Both Dr. George Holden Parker & Vince Marinaro are also featured in the book. Both men gave considerable ideas worthy of consideration about fly rod building & design. Carmichael & Marinaro were friends & the chapter about Vince is touching. Hoagy also gives us a better look at Holden as a person, rather than just exploring his rods & we come to learn more about who he was.
All that would make this a good book, but it's the chapter about Ed & Jim Payne that makes this book a must-read. About half the book is dedicated to covering the history of the Paynes. Here, Carmichael's research does anglers, historians, & collectors a really fantastic turn. This is, as far as I know, the most in depth history of these two men & their rods. For those who are fans of Payne rods & reels this book will fill many gaps in your knowledge of them. Ed, the father, is a very important figure in the history of American fishing tackle. Jim, the son, carried on his father's tradition &, quite possibly, made the finest fly rods ever produced. In this long chapter Carmichael sheds new light on these storied tackle makers & I thank him for that.
This is a good book well worth your time. If you're a fan of Ed &/or Jim Payne, than you must read it. I should also mention that my copy is beautifully bound & in a very nice slip-case. All this adds up to a very nice book I think you'll enjoy reading.