For a stretch of free fishing, I’m a little taken aback at the scene before us. Having rescued Merlin Unwin from the office, we’re greeted by the rushing waters of a grand looking weir pool. It seems a fitting place to talk about his passion for books. The atmosphere is strangely rarified in fact, like a giant library where the constant refrain is “shhhhhh!”
“We’ve been publishing here since 1990, and never looked back,” Merlin explains. “The company started in London, but it was difficult to develop there. Premises were very expensive; we couldn’t afford to hire any staff and so we decided to move out to the country.”
I’m already wondering if being so close to a beautiful river had a quiet pull on the direction of Merlin Unwin Books. “Since the move to Ludlow, our focus became country books, with fishing a nice niche to develop,” he explains. It’s a typical piece of understatement from this gentleman of angling literature; one of their early hits, the companion volume to ‘A Passion for Angling’ sold eighty thousand copies.
As for Merlin Unwin the angler, he has broad fishing tastes. “I love all sorts of fishing and I think fishermen are very much missing out if they only limit themselves to one species or one type of fishing,” he says. But in particular, Merlin admits a preference for classic, straightforward methods. “I like uncomplicated tackle,” he says. “The fewer gadgets and complications the better.” He would be hard pressed to pick a favourite place or method, but adds “there’s a great thrill in watching fish rise.” Hence using floating bread for carp or casting dry flies to rising trout are big highlights in his fishing year. But today, we will trot for grayling.
With the closed season almost upon us, perhaps it’s also an appropriate time to reflect on some time-honoured reading material. Does he have a favourite book? “Chris Yates’ ‘The Secret Carp’ is perhaps my all time favourite,” he says. “All the things that go into a day’s fishing day are so beautifully captured, from tea making to the pleasures of old tackle, along with the capture of a thrilling fish.”
Today’s early bites come from fish that are dainty rather than devastatingly big, pretty grayling that give a twisting fight in the current all the same. It’s cold on the feet today, but the centrepin never seems to turn for too long before the tip of a quill float sneaks under.
It’s certainly a spot that would stir any fishing writer, or reader for that matter. For Merlin, it is the atmosphere and seclusion of the waterside that makes angling such a great sport for those who love words. “Fishing literature is a very, very rich seam,” he says. “Perhaps it’s because anglers are contemplative, they have more time to be philosophical, to reflect on life- and this encompasses a great deal more than just the business of catching fish. It’s interesting that other sports just don’t quite compare, and it’s quite rare to find great literature on golf, football or shooting, for example.”
The tail of the weir pool is another rich seam on a cold afternoon. Merlin brings a beautifully conditioned Teme grayling to hand, but is perfectly happy just to pass the rod and watch the float trot down. This is a fine mixed fishery, he enthuses- and as well as trout and an improving head of salmon, there are roach, dace and pike. His eldest daughter once caught a cracking barbel in the town, and he has seen some huge, if elusive, chub.
With such a healthy slice of traditional fishing here, I hesitate to start my next line of enquiry, on the future of books and e-publishing. “We’ve largely focused on the printed book,” he admits, “but e-books are here, and they’re here to stay. They can be wonderful things too, and we’re currently in the process of converting a lot of our existing range into e-books.” Is the traditional book threatened by the digital age? Merlin doesn’t believe this.“ I think there’ll still be a parallel market for real books,” he affirms. “There’ll still always be people who like handling a book, the feel of a book, not to mention their value to collectors.”
Merlin Unwin Books have been no strangers to technology, it’s also fair to say, and this is highlighted by some exciting current works. ‘Fishing with Emma’ is one such project, based on the pin-sharp, computer enhanced artwork of author David Overland. “It’s a lively cartoon strip where the reader is taken fishing for various coarse species,” he explains. “The techniques are bang up to date and the protagonist is a woman, for a change, called Emma.” A twenty-first century Mr. Crabtree (or ‘Mrs. Crabtree’) perhaps? “Well, we have some brilliant female anglers and it’s about time fishing had more women involved, so why not?”
Another current book for the digital age is “Fly Casting” by John Symmonds, which uses computer-enhanced photos to provide a crisp, user-friendly guide to an art many still find daunting. “I’d been reluctant about casting books in the past, but this one really stood out for me and I think it will do well,” he says.
So what can a budding writer glean from a man with so many years in angling publishing? It is not just about being able to write well that is prized, but having an interesting slant. Indeed, some of the unlikeliest of angles have provided the most fascinating of all the books he has published.
‘Fishing on the Front Line’ was one such leftfield hit. “This was the memoir of a soldier who found fishing was a great way to get to know the local people,” he recalls. “Nick Sawyer, the author, had a unique story to tell. He found that in various war zones, such as Serbia, fishing opened doors and he gained a lot of intelligence that way.”
Merlin was also prepared to take a chance with my own book “Flyfishing for Coarse Fish.” After I had been warned by some in the media that it was ‘a bit too niche’, his faith was rewarded with a title that became an Amazon bestseller.
A publisher is clearly there to sell books, but for Merlin the essential kick is about taking a few risks and discovering untold stories and fresh ideas, wherever they may occur. In fact, it strikes me that in this respect he is just like many of his readership, an angler with a taste for a new twist or a good yarn.
It’s not just the books that contain surprises either; and our quietly eccentric lover of words and rivers also betrays a keen interest in lower league football. He used to play in goal alongside the chefs and waiters of the local curry house football team, and as well as the finer points of stick float fishing we discuss the current form of Shrewsbury Town FC.
As we squeeze in a few last trots for the grayling, perhaps the only aspect that puzzles me, given his deep love of fishing, is that Merlin has never been tempted to write a book himself. “No, I’ve never gone in that direction. I have to be very honest, I don’t think it’s where my talent lies,” he smiles. “I’m very happy editing books and I love working with authors. But I think they have a special skill I don’t have, and I’ll stick to book design and publishing- that’s my forte. The fishing? That’s pure pleasure.”
Further Info:
‘Fishing with Emma’ is out in April at £9.99
Fishing on the Teme is free with an EA licence in Ludlow Town centre.
For more information on Merlin Unwin Books and a list of top fishing titles click HERE
