He was a structural and electrical engineer (got the degree in 1916) and worked as en engineer for the New York Central Railroad until 1932 when he was laid off in the depression years following the Wall Street crash of 1929. Then from 1936? to 1940 worked with the Pensylvania Railroad and then as consultant for different companies until 1970.

He made his first rod in the late '20s (1927?) when he got in touch with Dr. George Parker Holder, the author of the famous book Idyl of the Split Bamboo (1929) who happened to live not far from him and after a work friend, Vernon W. Hyney showed him the book, reportedly.

A perfectionist and an engineer in heart, Everett Garrison developed the first methodical approach to bamboo rod making. he also made almost all parts of his rods and many tools such as the Garrison binder quite well known to many rodmakers and also explained in the book.

His main idea is that a rod should give a constant stress when loaded. And he calculated how.

It is said that his way of working required tolerences of 0,001 inches (0,0254 mm) however this seems to be quite a theorical fact (for example, the simple air humidity and other factors brings the handcraft work easily away from that level of tolerance; when you strike a bamboo strip three times with a 320 grit sandpaper you easily remove more that 0,001'' of material according to Tom Morgan; and so on. Marzio Giglio is also of the same opinion)

Anyhow, Garrison started making and selling rods (officially) from 1932 (at the end of the summer of the same year, when he got laid off, he had already 40 orders) thanks to his friend Hiney who managed to sell all his rods that year (at about 45$ each, which correspond to $600-$700 in our days)) and who became his agent.

The following year, thanks to the famous sports writer John Alden knight who got one of his rod Garrison eventually managed to sell more rods to the New York Angling club to whom J.A-Knight belonged and to which club on Broadway one day Garrison was invited to give a lesson on bamboo rod making .

Garrison started to name his rods from 1931 with the letters of the alphabet: starting from the "A" and then changing letter each year. So a "A-8-2" is a rod made in 1931, its length is 8' and it's the second rod of that length made that year ( the last digit in "A-8-2" is a 2).

In Summer 1968 Hoagy Bix Carmichael met Garrison while fishing at the Catskills (a popular natural area North of New York) and a frienship started.

In the hot summer of 1972 Hoagy made the first ever made documentary film on bamboo rod making portraying the making of a bamboo rod with Everett Garrison as the only and main carachter. Garrison had already reduced his work considerably and in 1976, Hoagy promised to a dying Garrison that he would publish a book about his life and methods. After many difficulties in getting the book published, Hoagy managed to publish it by himself and named the publishing house after the lady who typed his manuscript. One day in 1977, Hoagy called Garrison's wife to press the button of the printing machine. The A Master's Guide to Building a Bamboo Fly Rod was made!

From a Lang's auction 2007 catalogue:

7' Garrison Model 201 Trout Rod.Without question, one of the
most desirable models built by Everett Garrison. This 2 pc, 2 tip
rod is in very good to excellent condition. The pumpkin colored
varnish is nearly perfect. All sections are full and straight, with
each carrying serial #I-7-1. The all cork reel seat has the usual butt
cap, but the knurled sliding band is unusually narrow. The cork
handle has been cleaned and 3 rings show slight signs of ridging.
Co-author Hoagy Carmichael (A Master's Guide to Building a
Bamboo Fly Rod) said: "This is the finest seven foot Garrison I
ever owned." Seldom encountered in such nice condition, this rod
is complete with original ferrule plug, bag and tube. The original
owner's name is stamped on a brass tag which is applied on the
cap top. ($9,000-$10,000)

7' Garrison 202-E Trout Rod. Made by legendary Everett
Garrison in 1970 for N.Y. fisherman Al Clements, this 2/2 rod is
in excellent original condition. It is pure Garrison - from its
pumpkin colored varnish and translucent silk wraps to its
stamped Super-Z ferrules. All sections are straight and full length.
Serial #N-7-2 and 1970 are inked on the shaft in addition to
Garrison's name and model number. The all cork handle and reel
seat have Garrison's cap and knurled sliding band. The handle is
lightly soiled, indicating some use, but Garrison rods in any condition
are the most coveted of collectible bamboo rods. Complete
with original ferrule plug, khaki bag and brass fitted aluminum
tube and a letter of provenance. ($8,000-$10,000)

8' Garrison Model 212 Owned by Sparse Grey Hackle. This 2/2
rod is in very good condition. It was made by Garrison for his
good friend Sparse and has his name inked on the shaft. The sections
are full length and bear serial #G-8-2. One tip has a 1/4"
repair wrap. A unique feature of this rod is its Garrison made
square wood box.With the original bag. This rod carries the best
of both - important maker and an important owner.
($6,500-$7,500)

8' Garrison Model 206 Trout Rod. This 2/2 rod is an early
Garrison, having been made in 1933 for E.Houpt of the New York
Angler's Club and refinished by Mr. Garrison. It is in very good
condition with slight hook damage to the lower handle and several
cork rings starting to wear. Each section is full length and
marked with serial #C-8-11. The butt has a slight fishing set.
Although fished, all rods by this master maker are highly sought
after and this one is no exception. It is complete with original bag
and tube. ($6,000-$8,000)

-------

From Mr M.W.Reynold online tackle catalogue (October 2007)

Garrison, 206E (As New) 7'6", #5, serial number L-76-3 which makes this rod the third rod made in 1968, rod is still in mint/unused condition just as it was delivered, it has been in two collectors hands since it was delivered and has never been used and doesn't look to have been even lawn cast with no casting fractures in the windings, the most recent owner never put it together in all his years of ownership, cork reel seat with bright slide band hardware, clear wraps, bright Super Z ferrules which Garrison began using right after they were developed, typical green and red tip top wraps to distinguish the two tips, wood/cork ferrule plug, original bag and tube. During these later years and until Garrison's death in 1975, Hoagy Carmichael was learning and helping out as he could as well as compiling material for the book by Hoagy and Everett "Masters Guide to Building a Bamboo Flyrod" that was published in 1977. Hoagy's initials (H.B.C.) are in parenthesis after Garrison's name on the rod. The original owner stated he was told that Hoagy made the ferrule plug and the rod bag for this rod. I've checked with Hoagy and he indicated that he was doing some of that type of work with Everett on the rods during this timeframe but didn't keep records as to exactly what he did on each rod so he can't confirm that at this point but assured that this rod was built by Garrison. Hoagy is the keeper of all of Garrison's records. One of the best models by arguably the most sought after builder ever in mint/unused condition. It doesn't get much better. ($12'000)

From Everett Garrison back to the old bamboo rods main page