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Coarse Fisherman magazine

I know exactly what you mean Jon, it really is so irritating. I am not sure which is worse...the rather more genteel types, or the more blatant 'in yer face...'ave iiiit' toss pots.

It really is amazing just how many people fishing...and the specimen carp fishing industry in particular... has managed to afford a great living to, from the originators of the 'Big Hype', such as Paisley and Hall, to the seemingly endless stream of brand new 'Instant Experts' the magazines keep foisting on to us, the gullible punters.

It seems to me that as the specimen carp fishing bubble shows signs of slowly deflating, they are attempting to push commercial pond fishing, and to a lesser extent barbel fishing, as the 'new carp fishing'. Sadly, this probably means more and more mags dedicated to that, and more and more fifteen year old 'experts' trying to sell us as many as possible of the latest 'all singing, bell ringing, catch instantly' gadgets the Chinese factories can churn out.

How lovely :eek:

Cheers, Dave.

Which nicely sums up why I switched a short while back from modern gear to older, fettled with, classic stuff. It's also why I rarely buy any bait, other than a base-mix, which I, again, tinker with. It's a reaction against all the hyperbole and mostly plain old grollox spouted by the tackle companies and magazines.
 
To be honest, even though i once enjoy cf more than mant other mags, there comes a point when you've read it all and has been stated before theres only so many times you can re-invent the wheel and all that. Reading about fishing does,for the most part, bore me to tears these days unless its written by a proper writer like yates and then its not really just about the fishing is it? More the being there. Haydn-have you got a floppy hat yet?
richie

richie
 
Richie, the floppy-hat is by far and away the most essential item a traditionalist can own, therefore was absolutely my first puchase. As we speak I am trying, unsucessfully, to source a leather elbow patched tweed jacket to complete the outfit. Then, and only then shall I be fit to call myself a gentleman piscator.

P.S. Have you been out you know where lately?
 
I agree with Sam Pottage that all the other Mags have all become what I call Pole and Puddle orientated. Many of them start off ok but gradually, usually after one of the reader surveys, the interesting stuff gets dropped. Coarse Fisherman was the only one worth reading.

Carp fishing seems to be quite well catered for. Surely there must be enough people who would want a mag that had articles on species such as Barbel, Chub, Tench, Roach, and Bream from rivers and lakes, and not comercial puddles.
 
The thing is puddles are easily accessed for these journalists / angling correspondents who can rock up in there car walk 5 metres to the puddle write about it and walk the 5 metres back to their cars and drive home. How many journalists / angling correspondents cater for the river anglers who walk up to 1 or 2 miles or more in a day in search of their species. Thats too difficult for the press to do these days thats why I stopped buying any years ago, they wrote about the easy access puddles that dont float my boat but everyone to their own Im just lucky I can still walk to these pegs.
 
I remember some time back suggesting on the BFW that there was a glaring gap in the angling magazine market place for a decent mag that catered to the specimen angler. Something along the lines of Carpworld, but geared towards multi-species, with anecdotal, historical articles, species biology, overseas angling as well as the how-to, tackle tests, venue reports etc. that are already common place in most magazines. Carpworld seems to cater for all these interests but is, sadly, too one dimensional species wise. If there was such a magazine then I'd buy it, in fact I'd subscribe to it.

At the other end of the spectrum seems to be mags like Carpology, which to me read more like a lads-mag with some fishing included. Other than this it's the advert loaded and commercial fishery orientated stuff. Really not my cup of coco.
 
Richie, the floppy-hat is by far and away the most essential item a traditionalist can own, therefore was absolutely my first puchase. As we speak I am trying, unsucessfully, to source a leather elbow patched tweed jacket to complete the outfit. Then, and only then shall I be fit to call myself a gentleman piscator.

P.S. Have you been out you know where lately?

Hi Haydn,

If you do manage to obtain the essentials to become a member of the 'Golden Scale Club', and thus meet master Yates, could you buy the poor fella a decent meal ? By the look of him lately, his earnings from his photography and writings don't appear to be stretching to food. Mind you, it might equally well be a rather OTT affectation to make himself look more like the infamous scarecrow in 'Passion for Angling' :D:D:D

Cheers, Dave.
 
I used to get CAT from WHSmiths everyone once in a while and used to thoroughly enjoy it, can't get it now though. I'm half tempted to get a subscription but i've never found a website for them only general magazine websites like this one which seem pricey anyone got a link directly to them?
 
any local newsagent worth his salt will order any book for you on a regular basis.tesco and others wont do this and there lies some of the problems facing publishers when your local shuts down.just like the internet will close the tackle shops if we let them.
albert
 
Yes Haydn and i found an upper double dead barbel there which seemed to be lacking a head or most of. As for hats i go with the leather australian bush ranger look. You should get a deer stalker.

richie
 
Not surprised about the dead barbel, especially if you were where I think you were. Seen an otter swim through that stretch a few times now. As for the hat, already got one. Barmah, very good hats they are.
 
I used to get CAT from WHSmiths everyone once in a while and used to thoroughly enjoy it, can't get it now though. I'm half tempted to get a subscription but i've never found a website for them only general magazine websites like this one which seem pricey anyone got a link directly to them?

Ian, just ring Kevin Clifford, the number is in the front cover, and pay over the phone. (01430 440624) this is the number for Predator Publications and I order CAT on a yearly basis by this method. It's the best magazine by far for general specimen angling with the best writers like Tony Miles and Stef Horak.
As has been pointed out, once you reach a certain age a lot of the content is recycled but with interesting and witty authors this doesn't seem to matter.I think CAT is a great mag but only by taking out a subscription could I be sure of getting it each month.
 
Next field mate. I havent seen you in the hat yet. Next time we meet on the bank i'll be disapointed if you dont resemble sherlock.
Richie
 
Just had my letter from C.F. seemingly DHP Ltd will supply Total Coarse Fishing as a substitue until my subscpition expires as a goodwill gesture, thats fine with me.
Shame to see C.F. go it was the only fishing mag I took, true the product placement had become blatant toward the end but adverts don't stop you enjoying ITV, I just ignored them, still sad all the same.
 
Some good articles, and I was a subscriber - shame how some of the writers attacked fishing website posters when they had nothing better to say though. I complained about this recently and next month they are finished. Is the pen mightier than the sword?
 
The thing is puddles are easily accessed for these journalists / angling correspondents who can rock up in there car walk 5 metres to the puddle write about it and walk the 5 metres back to their cars and drive home. How many journalists / angling correspondents cater for the river anglers who walk up to 1 or 2 miles or more in a day in search of their species. Thats too difficult for the press to do these days thats why I stopped buying any years ago, they wrote about the easy access puddles that dont float my boat but everyone to their own Im just lucky I can still walk to these pegs.

I tend to agree with most about so called puddles but I look at the other angle
When you get old and infirm, unable to scramble down river banks, the legs refuse to carry you far your tackle weighs you down but you still have that crave to go fishing, puddles are ideal. Out of the car next to your swim, tackle up at the car, no need to carry the tackle. Yes puddles do have there uses.

Paul
 
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