G. Eric Hodson

[Kevin Perkins]

Sorry, missed this while I've been away.

Sadly, another of angling's greats has passed on, and another that will not be replaced.

My heartfelt condolences to Eric's family and friends

 

[Rhys Dowson]

R.I.P. Eric.....

 

[Rhys Dowson]

I knew Eric well over many years and my heartfelt condolances go out to Irene, Lynda, Graham and Nicola.
We had lost touch over the last 8 years or so which I regret, and I only learned of his passing away a few days ago.Eric was a true gentleman of the fishing world and was one of the early pioneers of the "thinking angler" approach.
I would go as far as to say he was, in my mind, "Father of the Big Fish scene" and enabled it to evolve.
He was also a generous and thoughtful man who wouldn't always agree with peoples views but "would defend their right to express them"
I have a briefcase stuffed full of letters from him as we used to correspond every week for years.
We fished together too, many times sometimes on a week session for carp and those were happy memories.
R.I.P. Eric.
Rhys Dowson.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

Thanks for your well said comments Rhys. I remember him mentioning your name.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Ron

You say: "It's been suggested by a few that I write a book about the early years of specimen hunting. Quite honestly, I am not the one to do this. I spent much of the formulative years of the NASG out of the country."

If you're not the bloke to do it, who is?

Get yer bloomin finger out!

You could always write it as s eries of chapters from the beginning to the time you went to SA. Perhaps someone else might take over from there until you came back...

One chapter, per month, on here, please.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

You flatter me Bob.

I just might try it you know.

 

[Wolfman Woody]

Yes, and tell us more about how you introduced the bolt rig to this country. Where you got it from or did you develop it yourself?

I read it in Eric's piece!

.

.

Nope I can't wait. I'm starting another thread about it. It's interesting stuff.

 

[Mark Wintle]

Plus ca change; I've just accidently stumbled on an article in Angler's World 1964 by Tag Barnes refereeing a dispute between Ron and 'Kingfisher' (whoever he may be) on hook sizes. Tag reckons Ron to be too dogmatic!

 

[jasper or big man]

best wishes to all the family and im sorry i never knew eric

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

That must have been Fred Cowburn Mark.

Quite frankly I've forgotten what the debate was all about. But I was only 21 or 22 at the time and everything was a great learning curve. In those days the letter pages of the angling press were full of young anglers extolling what were regarded by the "Old Guard" as ideas beyondour station.

I do remember old Tag Barnes telling me not to be scared of writing what I thought in my letters and articles at the time. It raised talking points and we all learned ultimately.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

Fred Cowburn was a regular contributor to the angling press in the 60s. He wrote two books: "Coarse Fishing" and "Angling As I See It". Some of his stuff was written under the name of "Kingfisher."

If I remember right he disagreed with a great deal of what **** Walker said. At the time I do remember writing somewhere that the smallest hook I had any time for is a 12. This was probably true as neither myself, nor several members of the Northern Specimen Group used maggots, except for catching livebait.

But small hooks in those days were piss poor and as soon as you put any pressureon them they would straighten out. We didn't have Superspades in those days.

 

[Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)]

With the help of Derek Gibson I have unearthed the article by Tag Barnes in Angler's World on the debate between myself and Kingfisher (Fred Cowburn).

Fred wrote that he never used any hook greater than a size twelve for ALL of his fishing. I wrote that the smallest hook I had any time forwas a twelve!Tag interceded telling both of us that we were being over dogmatic!

In those days I used hook sizes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 quite a lot. It was common to put a large lump of sausage meat on a size 2 for barbel. I caught many roach and rudd above 2 lbs on size 6 hooks using breadflake and lobs.

 

[Paul (Brummie) Williams]

With all due respect........i think the thread should stay with Eric and not divert.

It is a huge loss to angling that the likes of Eric did not put their pens to paper more often, mainly because they were to busy getting on with furthering angling without thought for themselves.

A great man thatmost today can't ever hope emulate......because most todayare more interested in furtheringthemselves!!

 

[The bad one]

Agree with what you say Brummie. This thread is for the memory of Eric Hodson,a Gent and a colossus of Specialist Angling.

It is with the utmost regret that I can't, because of work commitments, make it to Eric's funeral, but my thoughts and memories will be with his family tomorrow as he is laid to rest.

Phil Hackett

 

[Keith Robinson 2]

Ron, so sorry to here of the sad loss of Eric, it was very decent to here from youwith apersonal phone call, Eric was one of the greatest organisers and diplomats of the post war era, if only the younger anglers around country new how much they owe to men like Eric, I'm sure they, like us, would have relished time in his company.By the way , why dont you putpen to paper regarding Bob Roberts suggestionthat thehistory and formation of the N.A.S.G. ?????.put into book form or the like,I did mention the other day that I still had loads of letters , names etc., these things are a angling heretage that shouldnot be lost.

 

[Warren 'Hatrick' (Wol) Gaunt]

Hope a few turned out. A great angler now at rest.