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Anglers lose even the passing years (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ages

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'years' is the definition.
(I know this)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ages that I've seen before include "Epochs" , "Historical eras" , "Long periods" , "Awfully long time" , "Aeons" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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