Graham Marsden
Editor Emeritus
This is a dedicated thread for discussing article: John Searl Roach Book Launch
John Searl Roach Book Launch
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Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
Oooooh! nice! I bet its a good read too, I think I'll have to come down for a couple of days fishing Mark and if you leave your copy on the bedside table I can have a read - for free! 
It would make a nice Xmas present from my dearly beloved wife, I might just casually mention it over the breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper table and maybe when lying in bed too, just casually you understand.
It would make a nice Xmas present from my dearly beloved wife, I might just casually mention it over the breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper table and maybe when lying in bed too, just casually you understand.
Well Graham, if your good Lady is anything like the 3 I've had, then you'll end up getting bleedin' Socks and Hankies regardless of the number of hints you drop.
Better just rely on your fishing friends to get you what you really want . . . . .
I had actually planned to go to the launch but, as seems to be usual these days; I got another 'visit' from the Screw-Up Fairy!
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Neil Maidment
Moderator
I took my good lady into John's shop last year in, what turned out to be a forlorn hope, of a suitable Xmas present!
This book really sounds the business and hope I can get (or be presented with) a copy.
(bit disappointed I wasn't invited to contribute a chapter, after all, my one "possible" 3 was an absolute giant and worthy of several chapters! It went really well on gear intended for barbel!)
John's artwork would grace any location.
This book really sounds the business and hope I can get (or be presented with) a copy.
(bit disappointed I wasn't invited to contribute a chapter, after all, my one "possible" 3 was an absolute giant and worthy of several chapters! It went really well on gear intended for barbel!)
John's artwork would grace any location.
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
Whenever I have cause to go to Ringwood I can never resist a peek in John Searles shop, if I havn't got a good cause I will invent one. Everything in there costs an arm and a leg but everything in there I would just love to own, his art is to die for and his books to drool over to say nothing of some of the reels and rods.
My wife asked me yesterday (without any prompting from me) what I would like for Xmas - funny she should say that
My wife asked me yesterday (without any prompting from me
) what I would like for Xmas - funny she should say that 
S-Kippy
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I'd be very interested in an objective review of the book. I really fancy a copy but its a lot of money and I've shelled out on others of this ilk that I've been disappointed with. IMO anglers dont always make particularly good writers....though there are exceptions.
Anybody able to do that ?
Anybody able to do that ?
S-Kippy,
I have ordered both the hard back and leather bound editions that I hope to have waiting for me when I get home, post office permitting that is.
I will read it and give a report as soon as I can, but if it is anything like "A Brush With The Avon" it will be well worth the money.
I have ordered both the hard back and leather bound editions that I hope to have waiting for me when I get home, post office permitting that is.
I will read it and give a report as soon as I can, but if it is anything like "A Brush With The Avon" it will be well worth the money.
Mark Wintle
Well-known member
Nigel Connor has promised to do a review for FM. He should hopefully have received his copy by now.
I know I'm biased but I own a copy of virtually all of the specialist roach books published over the last 140 years, and this is an eminently readable book, and one that I'm proud to have contributed to. Prior to publication I has a quick peruse of some of the other contributions but it is only this week that I've seen the complete book. I find it thoroughly readable from cover to cover. By comparison, Mark Everard's The Complete Book of the Roach, which is the same price yet has nearly three times the content, I find very difficult to actually read, and despite repeated attempts have yet to fully read. It seems full of superfluous detail yet skimps on the stuff you'd expect to find. John's book sticks to the tales of giant roach and the circumstances surrounding them. One detail that at least some of the authors added at my suggestion is actual dates which gives a perspective to anyone reading the book in decades to come. This revealed some remarkable coincidences about peaks of roach fishing on different rivers.
One or two incidental factual errors and typos don't detract from a book that I've read 4 times already and still want to read some more.
I know I'm biased but I own a copy of virtually all of the specialist roach books published over the last 140 years, and this is an eminently readable book, and one that I'm proud to have contributed to. Prior to publication I has a quick peruse of some of the other contributions but it is only this week that I've seen the complete book. I find it thoroughly readable from cover to cover. By comparison, Mark Everard's The Complete Book of the Roach, which is the same price yet has nearly three times the content, I find very difficult to actually read, and despite repeated attempts have yet to fully read. It seems full of superfluous detail yet skimps on the stuff you'd expect to find. John's book sticks to the tales of giant roach and the circumstances surrounding them. One detail that at least some of the authors added at my suggestion is actual dates which gives a perspective to anyone reading the book in decades to come. This revealed some remarkable coincidences about peaks of roach fishing on different rivers.
One or two incidental factual errors and typos don't detract from a book that I've read 4 times already and still want to read some more.
S-Kippy
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Mark
That sounds very promising & also very restrained given that you contributed to it. I'm afraid I cannot bear books that are predominantly technical. I like stories.
Peter : That would be very good,thanks.
Skippy
That sounds very promising & also very restrained given that you contributed to it. I'm afraid I cannot bear books that are predominantly technical. I like stories.
Peter : That would be very good,thanks.
Skippy
Nigel Connor
Well-known member
Mark, the book arrived safely today.Many thanks for taking the time to get it signed by everyone at the launch and for dispatching it so promptly.
I will hopefully have read it in the next few days and the review will follow shortly.
I will hopefully have read it in the next few days and the review will follow shortly.
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
After much dropping of hints my wife has finally picked up the baton, "would you like that new book for Xmas" she said yesterday. "Hmmm!" said I as I rushed to switch on the computer for the phone number of his shop, "I will think about it."
Anyone got any other ideas for suitable fishing pressies while she's in a good mood?
Anyone got any other ideas for suitable fishing pressies while she's in a good mood?
Grumpy Git @
Well-known member
In much the same vein as Graham, my wife has tried phoning the shop on a number of occasions this week to get me a copy for Christmas. Unfortunately all she gets is a recorded message of "record message". So I thought I would help. Email sent to John giving her phone number
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
It was 10.30 this morning before I could get hold of him, he said he had spent hours queueing at the Post Office to post his books - yeah! right. The good news is mine is on its way yippee!
Steve Spiller
Well-known member
Looks like I've got something to add to my Chrimbo list
Well, seeing as how you asked . . . . . .
I have just received my copy of "Practical Carp Fishing" by Graham Marsden and Mark Wintle, (and yes, I did pay for it myself) but it took 10 days to arrive direct from the publishers.
On first glance through the content is superb, and the pictures are brilliant. You will find a few familiar FM faces in some of the pictures as well.
Even though this book has the word 'Carp' in the title I think that much of the content could easily be applied to modern Tench or Bream fishing as well, as it is simple but very practical advice.
When I have had time to read it thoroughly I'll put a report up on the forum.
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
..............and here was I thinking all FM members got a free copy. :wh
Mark Wintle
Well-known member
Graham and I only got 3 free copies of PCF each ourselves.
Worth noting that John Searl's normal shop hours are 10:30am to 3:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and yes, he is having to spend a lot of time queuing at the Post Office.
Worth noting that John Searl's normal shop hours are 10:30am to 3:30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, and yes, he is having to spend a lot of time queuing at the Post Office.
Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
That would explain why I couldn't get hold of him until 10.30 then, and here was me thinking he'd had a lie in