The Midland Angler

I recieved a copy of the Midland Angler today, from regular contributor Richard Fisk.

I helped Richard with an article he did on the River Leam, a midlands stream I spent nearly 3 years fishing when I lived close by in Leamington Spa and Warwick.

I am actually quite impressed with this monthly publication which is well laid out, has some excellent articles and fishery reports and is produced by Regional Magazines Ltd who are based in Sheffield.

The only problem is that you can't buy it in Sheffield!

I have a soft spot for this publication. I had my very first article published by The Midland Angler, way back in 1963. It was on Yorkshire barbel.

And lo and behold, on page 47, is a very old picture of **** Walker holding a very dead pike.

Old **** hated Pike. Most that he ever caught were knocked on the head and fed to his cats. He called them "snaggle toothed monsters." Whenever he hooked one he felt the same as Jorrocks did towards his horse.

"Cum Hup you Hugly Brute"!

In later years however he changed his attitude towards the pike and preached the conservation of big ones.

And what do we see on page 16? A picture of a very pretty roach being held by some behatted curmudgeon!

And by the way your picture of the view over The Leam on page 14 is superb Richard

And I like the water meadow scene too.

Thanks for the kind words Ron,

I was very pleased with the way the photos turned out, and, of course, the interview with your good self.

Hopefully it gives the reader a good flavour of the joys of this lovely, underfished river.

If anyone is struggling to get hold of Midland Angler, subscriptions, back issues and orders can be placed on 01536 764646 or by emailing subscriptions@regionalangling.net.

Failing that WH Smiths stock it throughout the Midlands, so I am sure branches outside of the area could order it in.

These regional angling papers are excellent. Midland Angler, North West Angler and the Angling Star, based in Sheffield,have so may more interesting features than the national angling weeklies.
They even feature non sponsored anglers fishing real rivers with natural baits who can manage 3000 words without plugging a particular product. Amazing.
They also seem to cater for the sea and game anglers which AT and AM dont these days.
Long may they continue.

You have made a very good point Peter.

I did a regular column, plus many features in the Angling Star for over 6 years. Before that, in the 60s, I wrote regularly for The Angling Telegraph and umpteen other local fishing publications.

It was really great to write for these publications because they let you say what you wanted (within certain limits of course).

Angling Star will welcome contributions from all sectors of angling.

I am very sad that these days Angling Times, and more so Angler's Mail, only cover coarse fishing. In the early days, Angling Times covered all forms of angling. Indeed, that's why it was called Angling Times.

These days they might as well call it "Coarse Fishing Weekly".

Come on Richard and Greg, why are you loath to cover game and sea angling these days?

It's been answered before, on here, I think,no demand.
Both forms, are covered very well elsewhere.

As Fred says Ron, game, sea and coarse are well covered by specialist magazines.

I do believe though that local coverage featuring local anglers will always be welcome amongst the fishing community and can see no reason why Midland Angler would not feature game catches.

Personally I'd like to see a Northern Angler published too.