IT STARTED WITH A PERCH: THE EXPLOITS OF A SMITTEN ANGLER. By John Martin.

2004 1st edition. 8vo (152 x 217mm). Ppiv,137. Colour photographs, b/w illustrations. Green cloth, spine titled in gilt. Only 250 copies were produced.

The author's "piscatorial apprenticeship began in the Sixties around the ponds, gravel pits and waterways of the Lea Valley, and his pursuit of the watery beasts continues unabated to this day." Autobiographical account of the author's fishing exploits and his observations on a changing countryside. Chapters include:- Fishing my way (an introduction); Tench ahoy - June 1970; Disasters at Dungeness - February 1972; The Arlingham Bore - April 1974; Mayfish - May 1975; The glorious sixteenth - June 1975; Temptress - May 1978; Flapper - September 1979; White horses - December 1980; Fairwind - May 1983; Tinca time - June 1984; Denton Bridge - March 1993; Cornish gems - May 1994; Shell shock - August 1995; Divine intervention - September 1995; Leviathan - October 1998; Golden torpedoes - June 2000; The honey hole - May 2001; Lake of dreams - July 2001; Lough Monalty - September 2001; High Plains caster - June 2002; Travelling light - August 2002; Double trouble - October 2002; The pool table - May 2003; Going, going, gone.