I was deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Tony Caton, the originator of Gemini Tackle and the inventor of the famous Gemini Lead and Gemini Lead Link.

Tony was someone I met relatively early in my writing career, and by chance it fell to me to review, in a magazine, what was then the new Gemini Leads. At the time they were a novel concept incorporating a plastic screw on nose with clip in swivel wires that could be changed to suit different tidal conditions. They instantly became highly popular for uptiding and beach fishing, and I think I’m right in saying that this was the catalyst for Tony opening commercial premises at Caistor in Lincolnshire and making Gemini in to the major tackle brand it is today.

It’s also a genuine tribute to Tony that his Gemini Lead Link design has never been bettered and it remains the main link I use for most of my boat and shore rigs as do thousands of other anglers. I would think that most of us have at least some Gemini products in their tackle boxes, and Gemini rigs are commonly used by scores of anglers due to their reliability and the quality components used in their construction proving the all round capabilities of Tony’s tackle design talent. Everything about Gemini was, and still is, top quality based on Tony’s “only the best is good enough” attitude.

I remember Tony ringing me once, many years back and we spent well over an hour just chatting over tackle, the state of fishing and fishing techniques. In just that one hour it was obvious to me that Tony’s total drive with tackle design was his passion for all things sea fishing. It all boiled down to him being a passionate angler!

All we can really do in life is to try and help people in some way and, if we’re very lucky, leave a permanent mark to be remembered by. Tony Caton certainly did that!

Our deepest sympathies go out to Tony’s family and friends at this very sad time!