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As It Happens

Fishermen honour their buddy Ron, turn his ashes into fish bait

After their friend dies, two fishermen take his ashes and turn their former comrade into fish bait —and haul in a monster fish.
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This special fish bait is made with the ashes of Ron Hopper. (Cliff Dale)
As It Happens5:57Anglers turn dead friend in to fish bait and catch giant fish

Two friends wanted to make sure their recently deceased fishing buddy could come with them on a trip they had all planned together. So they did what any good angler does—they turned their dead friend into fish bait and cast their lines.

We'll do you one better mate, we'll turn you into fish bait.- Cliff Dale

The longtime friends, Paul Fairbrass, Cliff Dale and Ron Hopper from Hull, East Yorkshire, had gone fishing in Thailand last year. They enjoyed it so much, they decided to do it again.

Unfortunately, before they could go, Ron was diagnosed with cancer and only given weeks to live.

"He requested we take his ashes and scatter them (during the trip)," Dale tells As It Happens host Carol Off.

"Paul said 'we'll do you one better mate, we'll turn you into fish bait.'"

Their friend Ron was supportive of the plan, according to Dale.

Ron Harper (left) with Paul Fairbrass and Cliff Dale on their first fishing trip to Thailand. (Cliff Dale)

"He burst out laughing and he was over the moon with the idea … he said he would love us to do it."

After his death, the two anglers took their friend's ashes and created the so-called bait "boilies".

"They're made up of a bait mix with flavourings and colourings and you boil them for 3 minutes and they set up nice and hard," says Dale.

With their special bait they nicknamed "Purple Ronnies," Dale and Fairbrass set off at the fishing resort in Thailand. It was the same resort the three friends had been to last year. This trip, with Ron on the end of their lines, they caught one of the biggest fish in the lake.

"My rod screamed and it was this big 180 pound carp, it was unbelieveable! It took us three hours (to bring it in)," says Dale.

Cliff Dale and Paul Fairbrass spent three hours reeling in this 82 kg monster. (Cliff Dale)

After taking pictures with their catch, the duo released the fish back into the lake. According to Dale, his deceased friend was with him in spirit.

"I put my hand up to the sky and said 'thank you very much Ron' … I'm not a religious person but it was a very spiritual moment."

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