Fishing articles/stories
Submitted by Adam Gallash on Thu, 2007-06-21 10:30
I was reading yesterday one of the local fishing magazines and then proceeded to read an eastern states mag and then reflected on all the articles and stories I have read over the years and I really begun to question how much they vary from one another. Apart from fishing in different locations, do you think that once you have read a couple of articles on different species or locations, you've almost read them all? There certainly are a few good writers out there that keep you interesting and informed, but I want to know what you think it is about these publications that makes you continue buying them.
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Gully
Posts: 963
Date Joined: 04/10/05
Yeah I feel the same - the
Yeah I feel the same - the articles are all really starting to sound the same apart from a few exceptions. But alas I still feel the need to buy them all the same
Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Ditto
As a part time hack writer I have found that it is very difficult to find a topic that hasn't been done to death 10 times over. Thats why I have only written 5 articles in 2 years.
-mini fishing comps (rarely been done before from my knowledge)
- inventiveness in fishing (done before but covered the creation of the super snell)
- adaptability / slack water jigging etc (featuring Mr Gallash - done before, but with a salmon / dolphinfish identification twist - hehehe)
- next one printed and in July's FWA mag is on farming your spots (touched on before but not covered specifically, has some good tips for spreading the load and finding new ground)
- one after that going in FWA's September mag is on deckie do's and don'ts (not done before to my knowledge and has a humourous slant that I hope you will enjoy)I was too late with my pics to make Augusts edition. Plus written well before Shag jumped on board otherwise I would have had far more material to work with.(Hehehe)
Adam, you read both drafts before I sent them in so I hope you think they were a little bit unique.
I try and avoid writing specifically about dhufish or snapper or soft plastics as its all been done a million times before. Having said that I still buy all the mags as I still want to learn and still get enjoyment out of reading about someone elses adventures and wishing I was there with them pulling in those big fish or experiencing that hot bite. I think its a bit of escapism, tackle envy and the fact that I never get sick of seeing a good pic of a happy angler holding a descent fish. I'll keep buying them for the forseeable future but these days I have a good flick in the newsagents before selecting which one of a dozen I will purchase.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
dogsoldier
Posts: 943
Date Joined: 04/11/05
Yep your probably right
Yep your probably right there Adam but then you also get to see all the new toys that they are bringing out as well
I have a problem I'm a tackle junkie
Andrew
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
The best bit of advice I got
The best bit of advice I got from a fishing writer was to identify any gaps in the magazines content and go with that. Like you guys have said there's no point writing about something that's bee done a million times before otherwise people won't be interested. Sometimes adding a little twist is all it takes.
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Jay Burgess
jayburgess_14@hotmail.com
SPESS
Posts: 3356
Date Joined: 29/12/06
Yeah its pretty hard not to
Yeah its pretty hard not to buy the bluddy things every month then getting disapointed reading all the same stuff over and over. new writers do add a bit of difference but saying that i still enjoy reading about new techniques and products as im alittle on the "ill try anything" side of things. No matter what happens i still need something to read on the toilet!lol.
Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!
TAPOUT
Posts: 885
Date Joined: 27/01/06
I buy them for all the
I buy them for all the pretty pictures as I cant read anyway.
Adam Gallash
Posts: 15659
Date Joined: 29/11/05
Yep
I liked your articles Andy, I thought they gave a new perspective. I think your farming spots one was very generous with the information provided and is definately worth a read.
I dunno if its just me, but I've just been feeling like if I've read one, I've almost read them all and gone back to doing the Tapout, just looking at all the pretty pictures instead.
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Andy Mac
Posts: 4778
Date Joined: 03/02/06
Just bought the latest FWA and Wangler
I think Ryan's driftbaiting one was excellent as it makes people realise there are other options to basic bottom bashing. Heck even Deefa gets a mention in there.
The young bloke that writes for FWA and goes on his little adventures is good too as they are "different". The rubber ducky excersise was good. The one on using mussels for bream was excellent too.
But you are right I'd say 80% of stories are variations on existing themes. For the seasoned fisho it might be mainly "how to suck eggs" stuff, but remember there are always people new to fishing that want to know the basics hence the need to rapackage old material and give it a fresh approach. That's why there will always be a market for fishing mags. Some guys will love the high spec technical stuff others the how to tie a basic dropper loop stuff. Underlying all that, everyone likes to see pics of fish. That's why this web site does so well imo as there are heaps of fish pics for us all to drool over.
Cheers
Andy Mac (Fishwrecked Reeltime Editor & Forum Moderator)
Youngest member of the Fishwrecked Old Farts Club
SPESS
Posts: 3356
Date Joined: 29/12/06
Well said Mr macattack. Keep
Well said Mr macattack.
Keep it tight, reeeeeeel tight!
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
The only articles that I
The only articles that I usually bother to read are the ones that are specific to the area I fish. I was going through some old Wangler issues recently and I came across one from about 97 with some pilbara sweetwater barra action... now that's something I definately gotta do this coming summer!
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Jay Burgess
jayburgess_14@hotmail.com
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
Writing
I too practice in a little writing, most of my work was published in some small eastern states publications and more recently in hotbite. I actually find fishing stories quite exciting! There are many avenues of fishing practiced by other anglers which i am yet to try. Articles give an insight into those techniques and often trigger the inner fisherperson to begin planning the next big adventure.
when i am writing i find myself reaserching areas/species/techniques more thouroughly so i think i benifit from that.
I have an article being published in the next issue of Western Angler based on some of my research. Hope someone gets a little usefull information out of it.
Cheers
PB
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
Would you be able to tell us
Would you be able to tell us what your article is going to be about PB?
I have writen for hotbite as well and I'm thinking about writing for western angler. I've got some ideas what I'm going to write about but I need to do some reasearch over the warmer months and I'll try keep it hush until I know it's going to work :)
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Jay Burgess
jayburgess_14@hotmail.com
PilbaraBrad
Posts: 3628
Date Joined: 16/05/07
Sorry Jay
shhhhh, sorry jay you will have to wait my friend.
jay_burgess
Posts: 4648
Date Joined: 18/08/05
oh well I'll keep my eye out
oh well I'll keep my eye out :)
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Jay Burgess
jayburgess_14@hotmail.com
deefa
Posts: 642
Date Joined: 09/09/05
Hey Andy- you know Ryan only
Hey Andy- you know Ryan only dropped my name in his drift baiting article to give it some credibility don't ya..... :-o
J/K Ryan, was a good article mate, with some pretty piccies to boot...
And Andy- i dig your stylings too, they're generally something outta left field and interesting as well.
Mick B
Posts: 109
Date Joined: 20/08/06
Fishing Articles
Yes I agree, re-hashed and done to death.
The articles we ALL WANT are genuine assessments of fishing gear by the people who are using it
We need to know where NOT to spend our money on all the hooks, lines, reels , rods etc. that these magazines spread out before our eyes.
Trouble is the magazine editors are not there to give us what we want but to sell advertising space - and guess who DOESN'T want their products exposed to a genuine assessment?
The best magazine by a million miles is the Aussie BlueWater, the only one I now subscribe to.
Next best is a NZ fishing newspaper, sorry guys but I can't remember its name, and its been ten years since I read a copy, if its still going, bril.
I speak from experience of fishing magazines and papers from 4 continents, and yes, I write a bit along the way.
The answer for me is a well moderated forum, with well informed members.
I've only got 9 on my favorites list and this one is in the top 2.
As for stories, well, just tape record any group of fishing guys in a bar and you'll get them by the bagfull.
soupster51
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 29/11/06
It's a learning experience.
I've had a crack at writing an article and am currently working on my second one now so I will start straight away by saying that I am by no means an expert.
The thing that I have found whilst writing is that it does take a fair bit of know-how to make it interesting and informative at the same time. I have done a fair bit of research into my next article and I must admit I am enjoying finding out things facts that can go into it. Plus the obvious fishing trips to support the ideas in your article. Not every idea is going to be revolutionary, but writing about your fishing trips and the results (good or bad) of your ideas is the next step in the evolution of the fisherman. Share and share alike; just not all your great spots, just the ideas.
Just saying that most people that submit articles for publication have put a fair amount of time into them, and for this to continue positive criticism is the only way to go. Otherwise there will be no publications to read, as the bat and ball will be taken home and put in the shed.
Scott.
Three days without it and I get a little jumpy
The best reason for doing what's right today is tomorrow.