Sadly we have lost both Martin and Ray, an excellent book though originally published in 1976, with a 2nd edition re-appeared in 1979 a fully revised and enlaged format. Excellent reading for those with a sense of history, with photographs of Eric Hodson (I wish they would spell my old mates name right and drop the G), John Weston, Steve Crawshaw, Steve Cohen, Ted Kershaw and an extremely young looking Ron Clay learning over the side of a boat with a huge tube sticking out of his head (whats all that about then)?.

A huge tube sticking out the top of his head?......sure it's a tube?



I know what Ed will say it is! :)))))))

well actually its a viewing tube, I think hes looking for tench, he only looks about 20, hard to believe I know

come on Ron, tell us about the tube stuck in yer head?

A little known fact about that picture Monk is that Ron had'nt long been discharged from hospital after having brain surgery --- that 'tube' as you call it is actually where they poured some brains into his head.....

















....unfortunately they went right through and poured out of his arse !!!

You are a cruel bugger Ed.

That device was for watching tench in about 10 feet of crystal clear water in Coosan Lough, one of the inner lakes of Lough Ree - Ireland. It had a clear perspex bottom. Do you know I've forgotten who made that device, but I think it was Fred Carter.

Me and Steve Crawshaw caught tench right under our boat by lowering a piece of balanced paste and crust down and watching them take it. It resulted in a centre-page spread for Angling Times. Steve did the photos and I did the write up.

Happy days.

Was it Eric Barnes ....he still has one ....??

how old was you there Ron?

22

Ron, page 33, 'Rays pupil with a 7lb plus tench', is that also a younger you ???.

No that's not me.

The biggest tench I ever caught in the 60s weighed 5lbs 14oz.

Thanks Ron,

"The biggest tench I ever caught in the 60s weighed 5lbs 14oz."

So you were into tiddler snatching :o]