Angling books that should have been written

[Peter Jacobs]

C_o_t_B

The sort of articles you mention, the club Sunday coach trips and the like have been covered well in many previous issue of Waterlog.

Which, incidentally is well worth trying to get hold of back issues.
As for mine, I send them to a young-ish angler in the midlands who cannot afford them himself, but is super keen.

 

[dezza]

There is also a suggestion that anglers as a group don't write, although there will be exceptions.

I can remember when the Angling Times had articles that were worth reading.

These were the times when most angling authors DID write all their own stuff. One thing I will say is that you would be astonished at the number of articles in the angling press that are/were ghost written!

Starting with Ivan Marks!!!

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

A good angler doesn't mean a good author or vice versa - some one who can relay a good article to a good writer who can then put it down on paper is a beter option then someone who is lacking in one of the areas

 

[Peter Jacobs]

A good angler doesn't mean a good author or vice versa - some one who can relay a good article to a good writer who can then put it down on paper is a beter option then someone who is lacking in one of the areas

Exactly!

That is one of the (many) reasons that Ivan Marks was known as the 'peoples champion' because he was not an educated author but a great angler and one who could relate, but not write, a great tale.

 

[guest61]

A good angler doesn't mean a good author or vice versa - some one who can relay a good article to a good writer who can then put it down on paper is a beter option then someone who is lacking in one of the areas

+1 :thumbs:

 

[The Monk]

It's interesting to see that many think that 'big fish angling' started in the 60s! When I researched 'Big Roach' it became clear that specialised big fish angling easily predates this era even if it has little 'organisation'. Bill Penney was a very successful angler of the 30s who through dedication and skill was enormously successful for big roach and deservedly caught a record. How much the 'organisation' contributes to success I don't know but I bet that for every 'organised' angler there are ten more equally as successful that aren't in or never belonged to any group. Mention of Alan Wilson reminds me that he has an interview in Big Fish from Famous Waters, and that I also write about some of his roach fishing exploits in Big Roach.

As for the economics of specialist books, all I can say is that it is very very tough out this, especially this last year. You'd be surprised how few some angling books are selling; I don't know all the figures but I do know which ones have really struggled. Unless a book can recover its costs plus make a profit then it isn't worth doing; no publisher is in it to lose money. Self publish like LuLu offers another route with mush less financial risk though plenty of work involved.

Sorry Mark nationally organised big fish movement is generally accepted by everything that came after 24th April 1965 and NASG specialist angling and smaller groups existed of course before that time but no significant growth was experienced both nationally or locally

 

[guest61]

These were the times when most angling authors DID write all their own stuff. One thing I will say is that you would be astonished at the number of articles in the angling press that are/were ghost written!

It was the technical stuff like how to make things that I went for in those days.

These days, I don't really want to know that 'Sonubaits' have developed a groundbait and pellet mix to compliment tackle that I don't have, to catch fish that I don't want to catch, in waters that I don't want to fish.

 

[flightliner]

Not entirely sure but Johnny Essex just about does the best article on a regular basis in the Angling Star.
The history of angling from around the start of the twentieth century-- mainly from the times when the ordinary working man made his trips further afield than ever on a frequent basis, the many accounts of their methods, catches, matches and characters. All fascinating reading-- not dry in the least.
If he hasnt done a book its one that really does need to be written and tho I dont read many angling books myself (All the best anglers I know I can meet on the bankside:wh)its one that I would be happy to consider buying.

 

[Merv Harrison]

The history of the organised big fish movement

probably requires a number of writers in the know to complete such a work, for the early days the late Eric Hodson could have written this one, I can only think of one other person who is still alive and qualifies to write such a work from first hand experience. Ron Clay of course who in 1962 voiced and implemented his ideas began a chain of events that is still with us today. Some say it would have happened anyway, the point is it didnt of course.

Firstly, Hi Mr Monk, 'hows it hanging' .

Secondly, thanks for the 'endorsement' of Rons standing in relation to angling, I hate battling on my own

Thirdly, it amazes me that almost everyone states how many articles/books are 'ghost' written. For the last God knows how many years, lap-tops/mobile phones, give an immediate photographic/written account of bankside activity amongst the current 'vogue' of anglers who may spend days at the waters edge. Is it more a case of 'cleaning up' the rough edges of an article.

 

[flightliner]

I also think that Bob Roberts could do real justice to a good angling book, he,s certainly not a "one trick pony" but one thats done pretty much all aspects of english coarse fishing, match ,pleasure, specimen (tho as regards pike I,m not a hundred % sure)with plenty of success.
He,s a pretty good wordsmith to boot and can make the mundane either more exciting but more to the point more relavant.

 

[dezza]

And one of the reasons why I have great respect for JW Martin was that he educated himself to the point where he was not only a great angler, but also a wonderful writer.

Read some of Martin's stuff, such as "Days and Nights with Bream", or "Chub on the Fly Rod".

All quite brilliant and far more evocative of time spent on the river bank of Trent and Ouse than slinging out a method feeder for F1s on a muddy noddy puddle.

If you have never read Martin, I challenge you to do so. If you are not enthralled by his prose, you are hardly a real angler. And remember that at the age of 15 or thereabouts, Martin was illiterate.

 

[Mark Wintle]

Bob did The Complete Book of Legering (David and Charles), one of a series of The Complete book of... that were mostly by Allan Haines (Coarse Fishing, Float Fishing, MatchFishing) but also Len Arbery (River Fishing). The best general angling history book I have is The Great Anglers by John Bailey. I'm not convinced a history of organised specimen hunting would be that long - it's worth an article or two - or that sought after.

 

[dezza]

Another great angler and writer, who taught thousands of people how to fish rivers was Peter Stone.

Richard Walker was probably the first to recognise Stoney's natural talent for expressing himself through the written word. Walker spotted this when he received numerous letters from Peter discussing various angling problems. Walker encouraged Peter to write, and by crikey Stoney did write - thousands of articles and many books.

Probably Peter's most important books were "Legering", "Bream and Barbel", and "Gravel Pit Angling". All three caused many anglers to think.

Another great angler who also could write was JHR Bazley of Leeds. Bazley could catch anything, and he won the National Championships twice - the only angler who ever did so.

And he caught all kinds of fish up to specimen size. Certainly no "One Trick Pony" there.

Sitting with Peter Stone back in 1996 by a gravel pit near Witney fishing for tench, I asked him who he thought was the greatest English angler of all time. Without hesitation, Peter said: "Jim Bazley", and "Trent Otter" wasn't far behind.

---------- Post added at 12:53 ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 ----------

I could go on and on about great English anglers who could also write well. One of them was Tag Barnes of Sheffield. The other is the very underrated Bob Church of Northampton. Bob is not just a trail blazing reservoir fly fisher, he is also a founder of The Northampton Specimen Group and was a great supporter of the NASG.

The Northampton Specimen Group still exists.

 

[barbelboi]

Bob did The Complete Book of Legering (David and Charles), one of a series of The Complete book of... that were mostly by Allan Haines (Coarse Fishing, Float Fishing, MatchFishing) but also Len Arbery (River Fishing). The best general angling history book I have is The Great Anglers by John Bailey. I'm not convinced a history of organised specimen hunting would be that long - it's worth an article or two - or that sought after.

John Bailey's book is certainly a good read - It cost me £16.95 in 1990, you can now pick up a good used one on Amazon for about £6.
Jerry

 

[chub_on_the_block]

I think the best two writers of the present day - just to balance it up with those from the past - that can also fish a bit are Chris Yates and John Bailey. Style of writing is a personal choice though.

 

[flightliner]

Bob did The Complete Book of Legering (David and Charles), one of a series of The Complete book of... that were mostly by Allan Haines (Coarse Fishing, Float Fishing, MatchFishing) but also Len Arbery (River Fishing).

There you go Mark, I said I dont read many angling books, never knew he had written one!
Still I think a good solo effort on all round coarse angling would be a good project for BR.

---------- Post added at 21:06 ---------- Previous post was at 21:03 ----------

I'm not convinced a history of organised specimen hunting would be that long - it's worth an article or two - or that sought after.

Totally agree!

 

[goonch]

As for the economics of specialist books, all I can say is that it is very very tough out this, especially this last year. You'd be surprised how few some angling books are selling; I don't know all the figures but I do know which ones have really struggled. Unless a book can recover its costs plus make a profit then it isn't worth doing; no publisher is in it to lose money. Self publish like LuLu offers another route with mush less financial risk though plenty of work involved.

The problem with LuLu is you end up with a pretty shoddily printed and bound book. I really hope that's not the way publishing ends up going.

Go with a proper publisher and there is no financial risk. They proof-read it, edit it, pay for printing and binding costs (hopefully with a decent printer) and deal with sales of the finished product. All while the author sits back and hopes there will be a few digits in front of the decimal point on the first royalties cheque. Though as you say, the publisher is only going to do it if it's a book likely to sell a few copies.

 

[Philip]

Good idea for a thread Nick.

Did Fred J Taylor ever write an angling book ? ...He was a major contributor to the angling press for many years and wrote books on various nature subjects but I dont know if he ever wrote an out and out angling book ?

He fished with some of the best and had a wealth of knowledge and stories and a really good way with words. He was even accepted would you believe into American angling's hall of fame.

A chronicle of his angling life written by him would have been a very good read.

 

[goonch]

Did Fred J Taylor ever write an angling book ?

Angling in earnest
Favourite swims and stillwater pitches
Fish of rivers, lakes and ponds
Fishing for tench
Fishing here and there: More favourite swims
How to fish the upper Great Ouse
My fishing years
Tench fishing (small booklet published by the Angling Times)
Tench fishing (published as part of the Richard Walker Angling Library series)

He also contributed to many more and wrote quite a few other countryside but non fishing books. One of the greats.

He was even accepted would you believe into American angling's hall of fame.

Strange isn't it. He wrote a couple of sections in this slim American booklet on carp fishing - http://www.anglebooks.com/product.php/31093/why-fish-carp-

 

[barbelboi]

Angling in earnest
Favourite swims and stillwater pitches
Fish of rivers, lakes and ponds
Fishing for tench
Fishing here and there: More favourite swims
How to fish the upper Great Ouse
My fishing years
Tench fishing (small booklet published by the Angling Times)
Tench fishing (published as part of the Richard Walker Angling Library series)

He also contributed to many more and wrote quite a few other countryside but non fishing books. One of the greats.



Strange isn't it. He wrote a couple of sections in this slim American booklet on carp fishing - WHY FISH CARP? | All Fishing Books | Coch-y-Bonddu Books | COCH-Y-BONDDU BOOKS LTD

Very true, I still have my first edition of his first book 'Angling in earnest' 1958 which was a birthday present. The only edition/book I believe that he appeared on the cover as Fred Taylor (no 'J').
Jerry
PS If I remember rightly also a major contributor to Creel in the 60's