When will they ever Learn! / AT Picture

[Guest Graham E]

Anyone got any views on the front page picture used to sell the march 22 edition of The Angling Times?

[Guest Dave B]

Haven't ssen it, what's the pic?

[Guest waterman1013]

I don't like the funny looking goldfish. Has it got slitty eyes?

 

Seriously though the photograph is not ideal material for a front page but it is targeted at selling the centre spread which in turn is targeted at selling both the venue and the new "wonder attractor".

 

Come along Graham don't you know that most angling magazines now only exist to sell more product to anglers. If they were any longer seriously interested in the sport and its future they would be doing more basic journalism. That's hard and costs money, so it is easier to do a special feature on a bagging water and satisfy the hoards of anglers? who do this to their fish on a regular basis when ever they fish a match and enjoy large bags.

 

Of course it is no way to treat our prey, but if you can accept fish stocked at densities so far from the natural level that the water can handle you can accept almost anything in the name of sport!

 

So much for the future of angling.

 

Mike

 

[This message has been edited by waterman1013 (edited 26 March 2000).]

[Guest Graham E]

Mike, The goldfish doesn't look too well orfe, it might well have slitty eyes but then so would we if we were squashed by another 100lb of fish!

 

Actually Coarse Fisherman has got better of late, without so many plugs etc and a realisation that fishing is more than just catching fish. I had thought that in general pics of squashed fish were being reduced by a sensitive Press but......

 

I can understand the need of anglers to now and again get a quick fix on an overstocked pond. You just won't see me there.

 

Mark S, where are you, any comments on the photo?

 

Mike, quick, start politicing Elton to have our meet on a river!

[Guest waterman1013]

Graham I saw you letter in CF and agree with entirely, it is getting better, particularly now that the writers are getting blanks like the rest of us. Still we shouldn't knock CF too hard - at the moment it is the best of a poor bunch in coarse angling. Waterlog beats it hands down as a read though. Most of the specialist groups publish better mags and Pike and Predators is good if you are into that end of angling, although for me there are too many cats about these days.

 

The problem if we have our meet on a river is that we will all be spread along a length, and that's no joke. It would be OK for a fish-in but I thought the idea was to have a social get together and get Rosie cooking for Gillie again!!

 

I have a piece of land in Huntingdon by the Ouse we might be able to use - it gives river fishing to those that want it, a large camping area by the river and total seclusion from other humans - the nearest village is 1 mile away as is the nearest pub, which may be a problem for some. The problem is it can only accommodate about 7 anglers at a time and the boats make fishing during the day very hard.

 

I'll check with the other syndicate members to see if they will let me use it.

 

ttfn

 

Mike

 

[This message has been edited by waterman1013 (edited 26 March 2000).]

[Guest Elton]

Originally posted by Graham E:

Mark S, where are you, any comments on the  photo?

 

If Mark S does reply to this thread (and he shouldn't feel obliged to - he can't monitor every website), can I just respectfully ask that we don't go the apparent route of the newsgroups, which seems to be to come down like a ton of bricks on any journalists. In general, these people share the same sentiments as us but, as in any job, you have to put up with tons of bull from your 'superiors'.

 

Mark S is one of only a handful of journalists who, given the task of reporting on the internet, has actually come into cyber space and learnt a bit about us and promoted what we do. Let's, please, not use him as the sacrificial lamb. Him, and people like him, are the link between us and anglers yet to come on to the internet.

 

Cheers,

 

Elton

 

 

 

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Elton Murphy

Anglers' Net

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk

[Guest waterman1013]

Elton

 

I think you know from previous posts that I regard Mark very highly. I think we alll appreciate that journos can only report what the editor allows and follow up the stories he wants to promote. Frankly I think its a thankless task and G was perhaps a little unfair in trying to prompt a response from anyone other than the editor, after all the front page must be an editorial decision.

 

I think in this instance Mark would be advised to keep his head down, letters to John Kelly would vbe fairer. However Elton these guys do choose to do the job and should expect flak, from readers, when they screw up, no matter how good most of their output individually might be. I doubt that Mark was even involved in this decision and he has nothing to answer.

 

Mike

[Guest Graham E]

Hold on there.

 

If all views expressed were made with a fear of controversy it would be a pretty boring site!

I will ammend my posting to say - will a representative of the Angling Times and one, who as Elton says is up to strength on the internet etc. be glad to respond. Wonder how many that leaves with the previous comment that it's hard work to get everyone to embrace year 2000. Surely it is fair and proper to ask for a response. This can of course be delegated if one feels unhappy with defending the issue. Or of course it could be ignored.

 

Bland we don't want. I could be reading......

 

Graham

[Guest waterman1013]

Graham

 

I don't disagree with you that a response is warranted, but IMO it should really come from the guy who made the decision to use the pic in the first place.

 

I'm all for controversy on the forum' it is what keeps us all thinking. Use it or lose it, as they say.

 

regards

 

Mike

[Guest Elton]

As for me, I want to see the picture, so I know what you guys are talking about. My local village shop hasn't had it in this week

 

Tight Lines,

 

Elton

 

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Elton Murphy

Anglers' Net

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk