TOP angling author and big fish ace Len Arbery has passed away at the age of 81.
Len Arbery was perhaps best known for his books Redmire Pool and Catching Big Tench.
He had battled cancer for many years but suffered a stroke and passed away peacefully in a hospice.
An engineer by trade, Len retired to the Isle of Wight from Uxbridge in West London to be near his grandchildren in the late 1990s. But he moved back to the mainland in 2007 after his cancer diagnosis.
As well as being a prolific author, Len used his engineering skills to make bespoke landing nets including the one Chris Yates used to land his record 51 lb 8 oz mirror in 1980.
Len also loved his barbel fishing and caught well over 100 doubles.
Spessy ace Bob Hornegold, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, said: “I had known Len since the 1960s. He was a truly gifted angler, great engineer and writer.
“He had battled cancer for a number of years, but sadly in the last few months it had overtaken him.
“With the passing of fellow author Bob Buteux six weeks ago and now Len it’s the end of an era.
“I’m fortunate to have a Len Arbery landing net, the next time I land something in it, I will think of Len fondly.
“My condolences go to Len’s family and friends, he was truly a great of specimen fishing.”
Len is survived by his wife June and children Tony and Karen.
Respected angling journalist Greg Meenehan said: “It is very sad to hear. The last time I saw him was in 2014, at Ritchie McDonald’s book launch at the Lands End pub, in Berkshire.
“His most famous book was the Redmire Pool classic from the mid-1980s that he did with Kevin Clifford, which told the full story of the water’s history for the first time. It is still the definite work on Redmire and a collectors’ item.
“His autobiography Ripples and Reflections came out in 2007.”
And Carp Society chairman Derek Stritton added: “The angling community has lost a huge personality with his passing.
“He was a friend, gentleman, and truly great contributor to angling at all levels.
“Angling has lost one of its true ambassadors and angling icons.”
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