Angling Times vs Angler's Mail

[gozzer]

Reading this thread has brought back a few memories, (Strange how the mind works. Or is it just my mind?).

 

I can recall going for the Angling Times after school, on a Thursday, I think it was about 6d then.

I could never wait until I got home, so I had to read it as I walked. I can clearly remember a front page picture of a guy holding a 'massive' bream, and looking for the story inside. He had caught it from a Cheshire Mere, and it weighed........6lb 12oz! That started me on a campaign to catch one of these 'monsters'. A season or so of intensive, (intensive for a 13yr old that is) fishing, resulted in a top weight of just over 3lb. It was several years until I topped 6lb, ( and that was from a river) but that 3lber still stays in my memory.

Another thing at around that time was the launch of the Anglers Mail.....in colour!!! Well, there was colour, but it wasn't always exactly where it should be, or have the intensity it should. The photos showed anglers with their catches, and a tan that would make an Essex girl look positively pale by comparison. And the misaligned printing plates created a picture like the ones you need '3-D glasses' for.

They also introduced us to 'Angela, the Anglers Mail Mermaid'. This buxom young lady was usually shown in a bikini and waders, holding a rod and landing net. She had her own column and, I think her own picture story. She would be the slightly dim girlfriend of an angler, who made girlie mistakes, but usually ended up catching more than he did.

I still have several Anglers Mail annuals, from early the 70s to the 80s (a relative used to buy me one each Christmas), I get the urge to dig them out and have a read.

 

John.

[Steve Walker]

I still have several Anglers Mail annuals, from early the 70s to the 80s (a relative used to buy me one each Christmas), I get the urge to dig them out and have a read.

 

I have '77, '83 and '86. The latter two I was given new at Christmas, I was only four when the first was published so I'm not sure where I got it from. The '77 one has some fantastic photographs of spawning barbel, an article on beachcasting for bass, traditional roach fishing on the tidal Thames, fossil hunting, photography, small stream fishing, boat fishing, pier fishing, conger eels, collecting fish stamps, funny stories by FJT, a funny extract from The Incompleat Angler column and pages from a riverkeeper's diary. It's a great read, but I wonder how it would go down today?

Edited February 5, 2008 by Steve Walker

[gozzer]

I have '77, '83 and '86. The latter two I was given new at Christmas, I was only four when the first was published so I'm not sure where I got it from. The '77 one has some fantastic photographs of spawning barbel, an article on beachcasting for bass, traditional roach fishing on the tidal Thames, fossil hunting, photography, small stream fishing, boat fishing, pier fishing, conger eels, collecting fish stamps, funny stories by FJT, a funny extract from The Incompleat Angler column and pages from a riverkeeper's diary. It's a great read, but I wonder how it would go down today?

 

From memory, I think I still have from about '73 to '80-'81.

The pictures of the spawning barbel you mention, rings a bell. I seem to remember clear shots of them in streamer weed. I'll have to do a search and dig them out, you've whetted my appetite Steve.

I used to enjoy the 'Incomplete Angler' column, (can't remember the author). I too wonder how articles of that nature would go down with todays 'instant' catch society.

I've suggested to one member (who has 'a way with words'), to try something along similar lines.

I'm sure that there would be interest from some, in learning from mistakes and failures, instead of just following the exploits of professional 'gurus', who's egos don't allow them to admit that they don't always succeed.

 

John.

[Tony U]

I was browsing the Mail at WH Smiths this morning and came accross an article where they had pictured a scantily clad young lady holding a Bonefish with a Boga grip???

What was that all about, particularly as it was in the body of an interview with Dave Chilton of Kryston fame? Just another example of poor journalism we have come to expect from both of the comics.

 

Tony

Edited February 5, 2008 by Tony U

[DavyR]

They also introduced us to 'Angela, the Anglers Mail Mermaid'.

 

A pedant replies: It was actually 'Angela the Anglers MailMaid', John. Nice body, shame about the face, if I recall (which I do, vividly. Unfortunately). I think that was the point at which both papers started to go downmarket...

[gozzer]

A pedant replies: It was actually 'Angela the Anglers MailMaid', John. Nice body, shame about the face, if I recall (which I do, vividly. Unfortunately). I think that was the point at which both papers started to go downmarket...

 

I bow to your superior memory Davy, I can't even remember her face.

 

John.

[Dick Dastardly]

Its been mentioned that some would prefer a more "specialist" type of paper. I think the trouble with the modern weeklies is that they DONT have the diversity they used to! Reading about something "new" (well new to me at the time) would always inspire me to have a go! Also back then I kept all my mags (used to get both Mail and Times plus a couple of monthlies) and found them to be a great reference library when embarking on a new adventure.No longer Im afraid.

 

I stopped keeping them in around the late 90's and gradually stopped buying them so regularly untill today I doubt if I buy (or even browse now) them more than a couple of times a year.

 

Ive got quite a large collection of Anglers Mail Annuals (cant remember the dates but have several doubles if anyones interested) I dont know if its still printed? if so it would be interesting to compare the content from decade to decade.

[peterpikefisher]

i used to read the angling time about 30 years ago it was good back then , i have only read it twice in recent years and on both occasions i thought

it would do for emergency bog roll.

[Tony U]

I've got to agree with Budgie; both of the comics are coarse only these days, since when was the rest of angling excluded?

Just think if they had followed that policy form the outset we would never have been able to enjoy the writings of Clive Gamon and a good bit of that by Richard Walker or Bob Church.

 

Tony

[Peter Sharpe]

There are two problems with both of those papers, but unfortunately it carries over to almost every specialist periodical. The number one priority is to appeal to the advertisers, not necessarily the readers. The second failing is the assumption that the average reader has the attention span of a gnat and therefore starts to get a panic attack if there isn't a captioned photo for at least every one hundred words of text. Unfortunately, there is evidence to suggest that the patronising assumption about the readers could be correct, but there is also the possibility by reducing your standards to cater for the semi-literate, they will come to form the majority of your readership and standards will gradually be driven down even further.

I still have a few Angling Times yearbooks from the Sixties and Seventies and the difference in the quality of the writing is quite staggering.