the man who wants every zander dead

[mark barrett]

wouldnt be suprised if this letter writer is not the **** that posts on total fishing.com, his posts on the matter were the normal brain dead comments you wold expect from a matchman from that neck of the woods, however hesoon shut up when a ew "barrett factual broadsides " were aimed in his direction.

[Peter Waller]

Mark, you won't get 100% whatever you do, but keep up the good fight. There are folk out there who's idea of heaven is a three inch roach a chuck, landing them with the mindless regularity of a metronone. Since a zed's idea of heaven is also a three inch roach then it's clear that there will be a conflict of opinion. Next on the list will be perch.

 

[ 01. March 2004, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]

[fenboy]

Peter Collins was a very well-known angler before he joined AT. He was born in the Norfolk Broads, a member of the Collins boat-building firm in Wroxham, and became a foremost authority on fishing in the area. In 1967 his book, Fishing the Norfolk Broads, was published by Ernest Benn. It was probably the most comprehensive regional fishing guide of its time and contains many references to conservation. It even has a chapter entitled "Anglers and the Law".

Around this time, or perhaps a couple of years before, Mr Collins moved to Peterborough to join Angling Times, where he became assistant editor (in the 1970s). During the 1980s he was editor of a sister publication, Sea Angler.

He was also a very competent match angler in his time, fishing for some of the biggest club sides of his day.

His views on zander have always been plain. "The only good zander is a dead zander," is something I have personally heard him say many times - and that was more than a decade ago.

My point is that Mr Collins is not a poor little misguided pensioner. For decades, he was a very prominent angling journalist. He knew full well what he was doing.

THis, of course, has put the EA in an embarrassing position. The fact that the "sting" allegedly involved an Anglers' Mail snapper means that if they prosecute they could be seen as siding with one of the two weekly angling publications against the other. That's the last thing the EA's PR department would want.

But, to do nothing, has incurred the wrath of many, many anglers.

The further complication, needless to say, is that there are a lot of unreconstructed rednecks out there whose mathematical knowledge extends to zander-eat-other-fish = zander-should-be-killed. And those tossers will be putting their pressure on the EA, too. I can imagine the dim-witted match-orientated clubs and associations throughout East Anglia and the Midlands formulating their predictable letters of support for Peter Collins even as I write this.

The editor of AT, Richard Lee, is a specialist angler. He loves carp and pike. Steve Broad likewise - and he also loves zander. Why not email them to protest. Their addresses are:

richard.lee@emap.com

steve.broad@emap.com

Just a suggestion: don't copy and paste other people's letters. Make the effort to tell them what YOU really think. It will have more impact.

Good luck.

PS: If it's any consolation, at least things are better than they were 25 years ago. Back then, 95 per cent of Fenland anglers were setting out to deliberately kill zander... and pike too. AND THEY WERE BACKED BY THE PAC AND THE NASG AT THAT TIME!!!!!

[Peter Waller]

Fenboy, I'm sure that you are sincere in your advice to write to these afore mentioned notables at Angling Times, and probably you are right.

 

But I have a nagging question at the back of my mind, just why did AT provide a platform for Collins?

 

Also there is no outright condemnation from Richard Lee, atleast not as I read it. Atleast they kept motor-mouth Taylor off the case, but for how long!

 

At best AT is in an embarrasing position, at worst it could be accused of manipulation for the sake of circulation.

 

Still, it does no harm to fly the flag against Collins. Dear Mr Lee, etc. etc. etc.

[fenboy]

Yes, Peter, that is the route to take. These days, specialist anglers are taken very seriously because they are big players in the angling world rather than the minority they were back in the 1970s.

AT reported the story, which of course gave PC the opportunity to state his case. In doing so, I guess he relished the chance of being a matyr. Knowing PC, he would welcome the EA bringing about a prodecution in order to get an even bigger platform to preach his anti-zander stance. Remember, at the end of the day, he's not going to go to prison for this. The local magistrates, having spent the day dealing with burglars, thugs and errant motorists, probably won't see a fishing offence as anything too serious. Slap on the wrist and small fine maybe? Fact of life.

Perhaps I'd better shut up now, because if the EA do decide to prosecute, the stuff on this forum could be seen as prejudicial to a fair trial. Seriously.

Getting back to the orihinal point, I'm sure that Richard Lee, as a responsible editor, will welcome heartfelt views by zander fans... in fact they should provide a suitable "backlash" story next week. So send him those emails... criticising PC and his actions, not AT.

That's my advice, anyhow.

[Colin Brett]

fenboy:

 So send him those emails... criticising PC and his actions, not AT.

That's my advice, anyhow.

I don't think we should criticise AT too much either. I would hate to lose RL to some other lesser magazine within EMAP. Heavens he could end up editing Land Rover International or some such thing!

 

Colin

[fenboy]

Colin, there has never been a point in AT's history when specialist angling had a greater foothold. So why alienate them? Richard Lee is a thoughtful journalist who cares about fishing. Steve Broad is one of the lads who lives and breathes it. They will want to hear our side of the story.

And, just to put the record straight, Land Rover Owner International is one of Emap's most profitable titles. The UK's biggest 4x4 magazine, no less. Within Emap's vast portfolio of motoring and motor cycle titles, LRO is the third most profitable. Whether we like it or not, motoring attracts a lot more revenue than angling.

And, as I am now on a platform from which I can speak with some authority, I have to say that's because the motor industry is rather more professional than the tackle industry. With the exception of certain notables like Drennan, Fox, etc, the tackle trade is a bit of a joke.

If this was the motor industry and a errant player like Peter Collins had threatened their profits, their PR departments would be working through the night to counteract that threat.

Where is the tackle industry today when this issue arises? It ain't, is it?

Instead, it's left to the usual enthusiastic amateurs on the committees of our national bodies to fight the good fight.

It would be better if the manufacturers, with their financial clout, got involved, wouldn't it?

Don't hold your breath, though....

[Colin Brett]

Couldn't agree more on all points. I even enjoy a quick browse through LRI.

 

Colin

[Peter Sharpe]

Letter sent off to AT as requested.

 

[ 02. March 2004, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: Peter Sharpe ]

[mark barrett]

AT is out today and i have a feeling there is going to be one hell of a letters page!

fenboy i tottaly agree with you. when i sent my e mail to richard lee i had a response within 5 to 10 minutes, i know for a fact that wouldnt happen at the mai, becausei have e mailed them once or twice before. AT are dfinately not promti mr collins's behaviour and if you want to se the morons of the match world, take a lok at total fishing.com, all the usual crap is beingtouted around there.

what saddens me is that Mr Collins's attitude is so out ofdate round tis way, withall anglers. i have spokern to the matcmen round this way and they dont have a problem with them anymore, and why? well because quite simply they are catching plenty of fish of all descriptions, so the zed are hardly likely to have eaten them all, have they?