So, what do you want of an angling weekly then?

[Peter Waller]

The question has been asked of us, what mags do we read? Seems lots of people don't think much of whats out there, especially the two weeklies. So, what do you want?

 

Me, I should like in depth interviews with leading anglers. Surely there are 52 worthwhile anglers out there! I would like to see advertisers vary their adverts. I should like to see smaller pictures and more worthwhile content. I should like to see a return to a Friday publication so the 'where to fish' articles can refer to the previous weekend's results. I would like to see rather more news. There is stacks of it out there. I would love to see a far wider variety of writers, rather than the same tired and tiring ones, week in and week out.

[Alan Roe]

I have to find myself agreeing with your comments Peter.I suppose that in total what we are looking for was essentially what the Angling times gave us back in the 60s a truly authoratitive publication well written in the language of adults who are presumed to have learned how to read and write!

 

The sort of sunsationalst babble that is all to common today is a real turn off and it is not only the weeklies that are guilty of this sort of dummed down rubbish that seems to be squarely aimed at the lowest common denominator.

 

I for one would cheerfully return to black and white pictures and something worth reading.

 

Equally I wholly concur with your point about advertisers a bit of variety would be nice as would a bit of variety in the prices being offered or is it only me that thinks that it's a bit odd that all the *discounted* prices are identical to within a few pence of each other!

 

There is one shining light in the publishing gloom and for a good Lancastrian to have to admit this it's a bit galling.......However Yorkshires Sheffield Angling Star is generaly excellent and in many ways reminds me of the old Angling Times which is as higher complement as I can pay it!

 

[ 23. December 2002, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: Alan Roe ]

[trent.barbeler]

Dear Chaps,

 

When I used to advertise with a monthly mag some yonk's ago, I was treated to some thought provoking information from its then editor.

 

During a telephone conversation with the chap, I happened to mention that the articles were a tad short. (They were also for the most part utter drivel but I failed to inform him of that particular opinion) Anyway, here is what he said in reply;

 

"We make the articles short due to our market researchers telling us that our particular market and the type of anglers it is aimed at, have very limited concentration spans. We have also informed our contributors who write articles for us, to start wearing brightly coloured garb when taking catch shots. Gone are the days when camo or drab army style colours are in "vogue" with todays anglers. Bright and brash is the new style for anglers to wear on the bank, and I have noticed, that your attire from catch shots supplied by yourself in articles to "back-up" your products are very much in the "old style". Get yourself some brightly coloured gear Lee, then your sales will soar".

 

Now I wont name the publication or its then editor. I wont name the publications intended market either out of respect for this particular branch of angling. You see, I didn't and DONT, agree with what that editor was saying about his own clientele.

 

But various conversations held with that particular editor did serve to open my eyes concerning the angling press. Sadly, I had to face the fact that I had become an old buffer. Time had slipped past unoticed and like others I'm sure, I had entered the realm of the angling Dinosaur.

 

The plain fact of it all, is that these angling publications spend a lot of money on market research. As such, they KNOW their market, what that market wants, and supply the same. This is the reason why they are so successful and have kept in business all these years.

 

I remember asking Kevin Clifford why his excellent Big Fish World failed to hit the anglers spot. I thought, and still do, that Big Fish World was about as good as any fishing magazine could possibly get. Kev said that angling generally did not want it. Crying shame but thats the brunt of it all.

 

Face facts chaps. We've had our day. What was our style of fishing paper/magazine is NOT what the younger chaps look for now a days. Fair play to em I say.

 

Its a bit like when Mum and Dad used to moan like hell saying that the "Beatles" were utter rubbish compared to Frank Sinatra. And the "Rolling Stones" were sent straight from hell to corrupt mankind.

 

Roll over Beethoven. Old style fishing papers are gone forever.

 

I'm off now to entertain myself on the lads Playstation 2. And I cant make head nor tail that either!!

 

Regards,

 

Lee.

[M Godliman]

I have more or less stopped buying them partly becaus the journalism is so daft sometimes,things like "snappers"(pike)"stripeys"(perch)"whiskers"

barbel,etc.

Also in a discussion with Barrie Rickards once about a Nile perch catch we had both witnessed was completely wrong on just about every detail and this after a direct interview with the captor I wondered if it was deliberate.He said he and Ray Webb did a bit of research and discovered only about fifty persent accuracy in the reports.

Martin.

[Keith Finn]

Thats funny you saying that about Big Fish World

Lee, I was only reading all my back copies last week and was thinking why is there no mags like this anymore?

Had to be the best all round magazine around until its early demise, only 7 issues where ever printed I think.

It had interviews and features by the top anglers of the time and it also did not concentrate on the one species of fish.

Keith

[ayjay]

If they made them a bit softer I could at least use it in the smallest room in the house,it's about all they are fit for.

[Graham E]

I agree with Peter initial comments regarding changes required.

 

A couple of sessions a week with a MR Average angler being reported would also help. Someone most of us could identify with.

 

Graham. :confused:

[trent.barbeler]

Dear Keith,

 

The terrific aspect of Big Fish World was not only that it was directed at the specialist angler, but its articles were some of the very best I have read. Who could forget the "Proudfoot" interview, or the article wrote by Fred J Taylor about his brother.

 

Those who have been on this particular scene for many years have mostly fished for many species in their time. And been equally obsessed by each species in turn probably.

 

Throughout our specialist careers, we get to see an awful lot in angling terms. We probably see more sun rises than most outside of the postman or milkman. And in every sense, Big Fish World had authors with a vast array of penmanship for its short life. Word smiths that could transport the reader towards morning mists, by the side of lillypads with tench fizzing all around in their first paragraphs. Thats what I miss. That special gift that those anglers who "wrote a bit", could bring to us all.

 

Sadly, for one reason or indeed many, there does'nt seem to be a call for that sort of writing today.

 

But at least we have the memory of it all.

 

Well for now, anyway!

 

Regards,

 

Lee.

[Bill Eborn]

trent.barbeler:

"We make the articles short due to our market researchers telling us that our particular market and the type of anglers it is aimed at, have very limited concentration spans.  We have also informed our contributors who write articles for us, to start wearing brightly coloured garb when taking catch shots."

Isn't the primary role of market research to provide findings which roughly coincide with those that the people commissioning the research want to hear and in the case of a periodical one feels reinforces the position of the editorial team vis a vis their advertisers. The result being, play it safe and aim to satisfy the lowest common denominator. After all isn't that why its so much of our media and not just the angling variety is such utter crap. Time was apparently when the Daily Mirror was a campaigning newspaper and the Angling Times was a good read. Back in the days before market research no doubt.

 

As for the value judgement about the attention span of most anglers. If you cant concentrate, how can you catch fish?

 

As for me I would like an angling press that takes risk is prepared to invest in serious investigative journalism about environmental issues and be prepared to ask awkward questions, not least about angling and anglers ourselves. Was that not a winged sow I saw overhead

 

[ 26. December 2002, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: Bill Eborn ]

[billy bob barbel]

Do you work for david brent?...