Born in Sheffield - 1942 during an air raid. My father had his origins in Derbyshire and my mother, in Nottinghamshire - High Marnham on Trent to be exact. I have been fishing as long as I dare to remember. First fish caught was, I think, a stone loach on the River Meden in Notts.
Educated - Woodsetts Primary School and Dinnington Technical High School. Further education at Rotherham College of Technology and The University of the Witwatersrand - Johannesburg where I read mathematics and thermodynamics.
Was involved in "specimen hunting" from about the age of 13. At the age of 20 I formed the "Northern Specmen Group" which was based in Sheffield. This group was the fount from which the National Association of Specimen Groups was formed. All the specialist angling groups today can be traced to the NASG.
I emigrated to South Africa in 1967. Married Margaret Harris in 1968 who died suddenly in 1987. Have one son - Sean.
I fished all over Southern Africa for all species. Spent nearly 15 years doing nothing else but fly fishing and have caught many large trout, bass, and indigenous species with the fly rod.
Biggest fish
Carp: 50 lbs
Pike: 23lbs
Roach: 2lbs 7oz
Dace: 1lbs 4 oz
Bream: 8lbs 8oz
Tench: 8lbs 12oz
Chub: 6lbs 3oz
Rudd: 2lbs 12oz
Barbel: 11lbs 6oz
Brown Trout: 8 1/2 lbs
Salmon: 15 1/2lbs
Sea Trout: 7 1/2 lbs
Rainbow Trout: 18 lbs
Perch: 3lbs 6oz
Catfish: 45lbs (African)
Eel - 4 1/2 lbs (UK) 11lbs (African)
Plus many other species caught in Africa I frankly have lost track of.
Favourite fish - Roach
Favourite method of angling: fly fishing and trotting for roach.
Fishing I miss most of all - American Bass, fishing from a boat with lures American style.
Future Goals - To go on fishing as long as possible. Would like to spend a week on a decent Sea Trout river and catch Bass again.
Other Hobbies- History, collecting old books and visiting ancient historic sites. Also spent many years shooting and hunting (not for foxes)
Ron Clay
Educated - Woodsetts Primary School and Dinnington Technical High School. Further education at Rotherham College of Technology and The University of the Witwatersrand - Johannesburg where I read mathematics and thermodynamics.
Was involved in "specimen hunting" from about the age of 13. At the age of 20 I formed the "Northern Specmen Group" which was based in Sheffield. This group was the fount from which the National Association of Specimen Groups was formed. All the specialist angling groups today can be traced to the NASG.
I emigrated to South Africa in 1967. Married Margaret Harris in 1968 who died suddenly in 1987. Have one son - Sean.
I fished all over Southern Africa for all species. Spent nearly 15 years doing nothing else but fly fishing and have caught many large trout, bass, and indigenous species with the fly rod.
Biggest fish
Plus many other species caught in Africa I frankly have lost track of.
Favourite fish - Roach
Favourite method of angling: fly fishing and trotting for roach.
Fishing I miss most of all - American Bass, fishing from a boat with lures American style.
Future Goals - To go on fishing as long as possible. Would like to spend a week on a decent Sea Trout river and catch Bass again.
Other Hobbies- History, collecting old books and visiting ancient historic sites. Also spent many years shooting and hunting (not for foxes)