THE PIKE FISHER. By Edward F. Spence.

1928 1st edition. 8vo (135 x 198mm). Ppxvi,264 + 2pp ads. B/w photograph plates, illustrations. Binding B. Light blue-grey (though faded to almost yellow) pictorial cloth printed in black, titles on spine and upper board, wagtail bait vignette on spine, pike being weighed on upper board.

Spence was an advocate of size limits and catch-and-release, and spoke out against the gorge bait. His advice is still sound today, particularly when he speaks of spinning with natural and artificial baits. "It is probably the most thorough discourse on pike produced by any of our Ten Greats... We are as happy with Spence's philosophical standpoint as with his practical arguments... All Spence's work is liberally spattered with dry humour..." (Rickards and Bannister, The Ten Greatest Pike Anglers, 1991).