Edge 590-4 Air Carbon Fly (Gary Loomis Signature Series)
A 9-foot 5-weight fly rod hand-rolled by Gary Loomis in Woodland, Washington -- the IGFA Hall of Fame designer who built G. Loomis, sold it, and started over.
Editorial
A 9-foot 5-weight fly rod hand-rolled in Woodland, Washington by Gary Loomis -- the man who built G. Loomis, sold it to Shimano, and started over. The 590-4 Air Carbon uses a proprietary LMX graphite blank wrapped in Edge's Air Carbon Mesh scrim, finished naked (no paint) to cut weight. Titanium stripping guides, single-foot runners, ALPS up-locking reel seat with burled Buckeye hardwood spacer. The grip is graphite, not cork.
Edge is a subsidiary of North Fork Composites, Loomis's blank company, operating out of what locals call the Silicon Valley of fishing rods. Direct-to-consumer only. No dealers. No markup. The Signature Series ships at $850 in a branded aluminum tube.
It is currently sold out. Every fly rod on garyloomis.com is. Edge runs limited production -- stock appears, sells through, goes dark. The 5-weight 9-foot is the most consequential configuration in freshwater fly fishing, and this is the version built by the most decorated rod designer alive.
Why It Matters
Gary Loomis is the most influential fly rod designer working today. He founded G. Loomis in 1981, built it into the benchmark, sold to Shimano in 1997, and used the proceeds to start North Fork Composites and Edge Rods. Edge is what he makes when the only constraint is his own standard. The 590-4 uses proprietary LMX graphite from NFC's own facility, wrapped in an Air Carbon Mesh construction technique that Edge does not fully document publicly. The graphite grip -- rejecting the industry-standard cork -- is a deliberate conviction rather than a cost decision.
Best For
- Freshwater trout across all methods -- dry fly, nymph, streamer
- Anglers who value blank sensitivity and direct manufacturer relationship over retail availability
- Collectors of significant American rod-making lineage
- Those willing to monitor stock availability for a limited-production rod
Technical Snapshot
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | 9'0" (2.74m) |
| Pieces | 4 |
| Line Weight | 5wt |
| Action | Moderate (described by users as medium-fast) |
| Intended Use | Dry Fly, Streamer |
| Blank Material | Proprietary LMX graphite blend, North Fork Composites |
| Blank Construction | Hand-rolled, Air Carbon Mesh wrapping technique |
| Blank Finish | Naked graphite (no paint) |
| Stripping Guides | Titanium |
| Running Guides | Single-foot |
| Reel Seat | ALPS up-locking aluminum, machined/anodized, double-locking precision nuts |
| Reel Seat Spacer | Natural burled Buckeye hardwood |
| Handle | Graphite grip (proprietary) |
| Hook Keeper | Yes |
| Case | Aluminum tube with Edge logo |
| Origin | Woodland, Washington, USA |
Collector / Field Notes
Every fly rod on garyloomis.com is currently listed as sold out. Edge appears to run limited production cycles -- availability is periodic, not continuous. The standard Gamma Alpha version of this rod (graphite grip, no Air Carbon) is $695 when available.
Edge also makes the LinEn.V (Linen Envy) series using Ekoa plant-based linen and bioresin prepregs, which won a CAMX composites award in 2017. This is a fiberglass-feel-with-graphite-recovery material from the same factory.
Not available through Australian retailers. Edge sells direct-to-consumer only. Fish-Tec Solutions Australia lists the brand but does not appear to carry retail stock. Competitors at this price point include Sage R8 Core ($850), Scott Radian ($925), and Orvis Helios F ($898).
FAQ
Is the Edge 590-4 available in Australia?
Not through Australian retailers. Edge sells direct-to-consumer only from garyloomis.com. Fish-Tec Solutions Australia lists Edge as a brand but does not appear to carry retail stock.
What is Air Carbon?
Edge's proprietary wrapping technique for the blank. Details are not publicly documented beyond references to a carbon mesh scrim construction method.
Why graphite grips instead of cork?
Gary Loomis's position is that cork insulates the feel of a strike. Edge's proprietary graphite grip transmits more vibration to the angler's hand.
Who is Gary Loomis?
IGFA Hall of Fame rod designer. Founded G. Loomis in 1981, sold to Shimano in 1997, then established North Fork Composites and Edge Rods in Woodland, Washington.
Sources
Frequently Asked
- Is the Edge 590-4 available in Australia?
- Not through Australian retailers. Edge sells direct-to-consumer only from garyloomis.com. Fish-Tec Solutions Australia lists Edge as a brand but does not appear to carry retail stock.
- What is Air Carbon?
- Edge's proprietary wrapping technique for the blank. Details are not publicly documented beyond references to a carbon mesh scrim construction method.
- Why graphite grips instead of cork?
- Gary Loomis's position is that cork insulates the feel of a strike. Edge's proprietary graphite grip transmits more vibration to the angler's hand.
- Who is Gary Loomis?
- IGFA Hall of Fame rod designer. Founded G. Loomis in 1981, sold to Shimano in 1997, then established North Fork Composites and Edge Rods in Woodland, Washington.
