Most influential book since...

[Steve Burke]

fenboy:

There's a good argument to suggest that Angling Times is the most influential angling publication ever. Walker wrote in it from day one and in its early days it was a very intelligent read. Even today I read it every week.

Good point, Fenboy. Although the original question stated "most influencial book", I suspect that Angling Times is read by many people who've rarely if ever read a fishing book.

 

As you mention in a later post, hopefully the internet, and in particular Forums such as this one, will also have a big influence. In fact, I think it's worth starting a new topic on this subject.

 

It was your point, so would you like to frame the question.......?

[bubbles]

yes i did have selling in mind

[bubbles]

steve you have mail.....

[kendo]

andy I have to agree the internet is such a great learning tool,and with youngsters spending so much time on computers these days it has to be the way forward for angling,kids just don't seem interested in reading books anymore.

[Peter Waller]

There is so much written stuff out there that will be missed if kids don't read books. Yes, the internet is a fantastic resorce tool but a book is still a book! Was reading a book by Peter Wheat last night, 40p from a charity shop. No classic but still an excellent read with loads of still relevant advice on river fishing.

[trent.barbeler]

Dear Chaps,

 

For those of us who are plodding along in years, I doubt if the internet could ever replace the sheer nostalgia experienced by being schooled through specialist angling's birthing years. It really was a magical time back then. Indeed many books written right throughout this era are now household angling gems.

 

I agree with Fenboy (can someone pick him up off the floor) when he talks about the Angling Times regarding its quality in days gone by. Not that I'm saying its no good now, its just that it appeared so much better when I suppose big fish catching started to take off and cut its teeth. I loved the kingfisher logo by the way.

 

My favourite books are all the Jack Martin ones and a selection of his articles that I have managed to collect. But in recent or modern times there are many more books of resounding quality. John Wilsons fishing encyclopedia is a wonderful how to do book, perhaps the best of its type ever written. Pike, The Predator becomes the Prey for me, is the best pike angling book ever written. Martyn Page, John Bailey, Steve Harper and the rest of the boys inside this books pages are simply the pike angling world's kiddies. I've also yet to see better pike fishing photography as contained in this book and I still rate Nev's 41lb 6oz Norfolk monster as the best pike photo of all time. (Only downside to me being Nev looking like a farmers daughter in his younger years!!!)

 

Another good modern book is Tom Quinn's "Tales from the Waters Edge from the "tales from the" series. Illustrations within this delightful book are by Philip Murphy who I kid you all not, is without doubt the best angling water colour artist around today. Worth buying the book for Philip's plates alone. A trully delightful little book which inspires any angler to rush off and find a river in which to wet a line.

 

Regards,

 

Lee.

[John Ellison]

If you feel bad about giving away your first edition of Creel Steve, listen to this.

I had two copies of some magazine or other, can't remember what they were called, whatever the size of an A4 paper folded in half is called, that's the size they were. I can see in my minds eye now,a full page picture of Wilfred Cutting sat in a boat on Hornsea Mere holding a rod suspended from which was a huge goosequill with a huge cork body on which he caught 3lbs odd roach on lobworms. He was wearing a flat cap, tweedy type jacket and looked very much like Fred Emney.

I am a regular reader of the Angling Star printed in Sheffield that has always done plenty of features of top men of their day. Looking at that picture, you would never, ever of thought you'd catch ANYTHING on that tackle let alone 3 lbs plus roach.

[Alan Pearce]

Into modern times there has been many great books written and I especiallylike the writing and story telling by Chris Yates. From an instructional point of view 'Carp Fever' by Kevin Maddox and 'The Carp Strikes Back' by Rod Hutchinson, take some beating. The 'Book of the Perch' was another great along with Len Heads 'Tench'.

 

Alan.

[Chris Plumb]

trent.barbeler:

 

Another good modern book is Tom Quinn's "Tales from the Waters Edge from the "tales from the" series. Illustrations within this delightful book are by Philip Murphy who I kid you all not, is without doubt the best angling water colour artist around today. Worth buying the book for Philip's plates alone. A trully delightful little book which inspires any angler to rush off and find a river in which to wet a line.

You must be psychic Lee - I'm reading this at the moment - excellent it is too!

 

 

Chris

[chuby]

Crabtree for me,but like poledark found 'book of the all round angler' by John Bickerdyke,very re readable;only wish I still had the book and the original crabtree book

Chuby