Rube Cross
WAS BORN in Neversink, New York, and grew up exploring the rivers and streams of the Catskills in search of trout. As an adult, he worked as a full-time fly tier, meticulously crafting tens of thousands of Quill Gordons, Light Cahills, Fan Wing Royal Coachmen and Cross Specials for anglers eager to catch trout. Cross followed in the footsteps of fly fishing legend Theodore Gordon and set a standard for perfectly tied Catskill-style dry flies that rode high on stiff hackle and caught trout across the country. Cross lived a hard life and died in poverty, but he set the bar for all fly tiers who followed.
THIS NEW BIOGRAPHY fills in many details about Cross’s life and looks at his legacy in the Catskills and across the fly-tying world.
Cover design: James Dunlap / DunandDunshop.com
Praise for The Rise of the Neversinker
Steve Woit
“‘The Rise of the Neversinker, Fly Tier Rube Cross’ is a beautifully written and researched portrait of one of the most important figures in the Catskill fly tying tradition.”
(From review in December 2024 Classic Angling)
Kirk Deeter
Editor of TU’s Trout magazine
“This entertaining narrative offers a fresh glimpse on the Catskill School and Catskill flies.”
(From review in Winter 2024 issue)
News and events
I’ll be signing books on Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19 at the huge show at the Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough, Mass. Stop by!
Book review in Sullivan County Democrat
Thanks to Judy Van Put for a very positive review of my book in her recent “Streamside” column in the Sullivan County (N.Y.) Democrat. She wrote: “Richard Lodge has done a masterful job in compiling decades of research into this work, which is well-documented with historical photos, including many of Cross’s beautiful flies, illustrations and artifacts, interviews with family and friends… He brings to life the story of the colorful Catskill character, whose charismatic personality made him much-beloved, not only by fly-tiers and fly-fishers, but local residents as well.”
Book review in The Reel News
Historian and author Jim Brown (“A Treasury of Reels”) wrote a great review of my book for the September issue of The Reel News, the member magazine of the Old Reel Collectors Association. Jim wrote: “‘The Rise of the Neversinker’ is well researched, well documented and well written.”
Great feedback about biography
Great feedback from two Catskill Legends, John Shaner and John Bonasera. John Shaner wrote, “You have done an excellent job of bringing Rube Cross’ story to the public and to life.” John Bonasera wrote, “I would especially recommend it to someone who is interested to know the Catskills school of tyers timeline.” The book “spells it out in order from beginning to end clearly and accurately, not overly wordy, and fun to read. Well done!”
Presentation to fly tiers’ group Oct. 3
I’m scheduled to give a talk and slide show about Rube Cross and my new biography to the United Fly Tiers in Bedford, Mass. on Oct. 3. Looking forward to it!
Great gathering at the AMFF
I had a table to sign and sell my new book at the American Museum of Fly Fishing’s fly fishing festival on Aug. 10. Great weather, great crowd and a lot of folks knowledgeable about and interested in Rube Cross, his life and legacy. Thanks to my friend Henry Caldwell for taking this photo.
Saturday, Oct. 12
I’ll have a table with copies of The Rise of the Neversinker at the Fly Tiers Roundtable at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston Manor, N.Y. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. so stop by. More at cffcm.com.
From the blog
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The Rise of the Neversinker: Fly Tier Rube Cross is now available! The price is $20 plus $6 shipping within the U.S., payment with check, MO or PayPal. To order your copy email me at richardklodge@gmail.com
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The Rise of the Neversinker: Fly Tier Rube Cross is now available! The price is $20 plus $6 shipping within the U.S., payment with check, MO or PayPal. To order your copy email me at richardklodge@gmail.com
The Rise of the Neversinker, Fly Tier Rube Cross 