Carmichael model 204E
Carmichael model 204E, 7'3" 2pc/2 tips for #5 line. Marked "E-73-2" above the grip and below "Carmichael 204E", this rod was built in Hoagy's fifth year of rod making. It remains in pristine, excellent condition, showing only a bit of soiling on its generously sized grip. Most of you know that Hoagy was a mentor and guide for my own early efforts in building rods, both through the book he produced with Mr. Garrison and by personal instruction in the shop. It was exceedingly helpful for me to watch Hoagy as he final-planed strips of bamboo, sharing with me many of the important details that are so significant in producing accurate and high quality rod sections. I owned one culm of bamboo that came out of the Garrison shop after his death; I got it from Peter Phelps who was also instrumental in helping me early on. I had been keeping that piece all these years, waiting for a time to use it and that time came a few years ago. I asked Hoagy what in his opinion was the best of all the Garrison tapers and he said "the 204E." With that, I produced a rod from that original Garrison cane on the 204E taper out of the Garrison book and I have to say that fishing it last year in Wyoming for large Snake River cutthroats, it is a spectacular fishing rod. I loaned it to a good friend from Montana on that trip and had a hard time getting it back out of his hands!
This rod was built for Tom Clark who was friends with Hoagy in those early years and Tom's labeling remains on the tube for this rod. As seen in the photos, Hoagy developed his own distinctive aesthetic for wrap colors that are a touch different from Mr. Garrison's austere approach and the rod is lovely in its cane and wrap colors. I believe Hoagy told me he built 117 rods and I don't need to tell you how rarely they come to market. I don't know that I have ever seen one of this model come up for sale. In original bag with ferrule plug attached and aluminum / brass rod tube. From the Thomas H. Clark collection. SOLD
