THE TEN GREATEST PIKE ANGLERS. By Barrie Rickards and Malcolm Bannister. Portraits by Douglas Palmer.

1991 1st edition. Small 4to (175 x 252mm). Ppxiv,103. Pencil portraits by Douglas Palmer, b/w photographs of old tackle. Brown boards, spine titled in silver-gilt.

"This book looks at the achievements of ten men who left their mark on a sport which continues to attract some of the best talent on the river bank. Each one of them made a substantial contribution to what is known about the pike and the methods used to take it, and their techniques can still benefit the modern pike fisherman." Biographies of Robert Nobbes, Henry Cholmondeley Pennell, John Bickerdyke (Charles Henry Cook), Alfred Jardine, William Senior (Red Spinner), J.W. Martin (The Trent Otter), Edward Spence, Sidney Spencer, Norman Hill and Charles Thurlow-Craig. "...Their fishing careers are studied, their techniques and achievements analysed, their observations tested; the modern pike fisherman will find he has much to learn from this display of talent, while enjoying the colourful and entertaining history of his sport."