the fisherman mag drops the ball

[spinncognito]

Good to see folks come to the defense of their respective mags. I do enjoy both magazines. My feeling is if the frequency and the enormity of erros is increasing in any production, then it is time to step back and take a look at the processes. When quantity is more important than quality, no one wins. Just my opinion of course but why not go bi-weekly? Articles would be fresher and accuracy would improve. I am not in the business so this may not be a practical solution.

spinn

[MakoMike]

Zach,
Just curious, are you still paying $100 for a feature article or has the rate gone up?

[ZuluHotel]

Rates have gone up. I'd prefer to pursue that discussion through a different venue (see above, or call the office)

Z

[ZuluHotel]

Originally Posted by spinncognito

Good to see folks come to the defense of their respective mags. I do enjoy both magazines. My feeling is if the frequency and the enormity of erros is increasing in any production, then it is time to step back and take a look at the processes. When quantity is more important than quality, no one wins. Just my opinion of course but why not go bi-weekly? Articles would be fresher and accuracy would improve. I am not in the business so this may not be a practical solution.

spinn

Barring the MSBA callout debacle, I don't think anyone could faitly say the "frequency and enormity" is on the increase. Nor do I think you could say that The Fisherman is about quantity above quality. I think you get both--some stuff just may not apply as directly to the fishing you do.

[MartinD18]

I for one would love to see more eros in both magazines!

[bart]

who really cares if they make minor mistakes once in a while? it's not like it's gonna throw your whole life out of whack.

i love reading both your mags. gets me through the winter. keep up the good work

[Ed B]

I have been a subscriber to the Fisherman since 86 or 87 and OTW since a couple of issues of it's inception in 96 and I like both of them.

I believe that the Fisherman's ability to put out a weekly publication gives it a unique niche that no other magazine has ever filled. With the flip of a few pages in the report section you can get a feel for everything that's going on from Lake Ontario to Quabbin, Wachusett, Cod Reports, Surf Reports, Tuna Reports etc.. and lots of times mentioning people you know. Do I really care if the reports are a week old. Nope not in the least. I prefer to see that some dude I haven't seen in five years weighed in two six pound smallmouths last week at Wachusett, or what DZ or Tim Coleman did in the surf. It's all part of what makes fishing in New England great.

And the Fisherman gives you weekly articles by the likes of Coleman, Sampson, Lyons, Daignault, White, Teehan, Soares and other good writers who have been around for a long time. Zach I give you two thumbs up for a great job.

Ed

[tynan19]

I still get the Fisherman every wednesday at work. Definetly lightens up the work week. I have read many informative articles and I don't believe anyone knows how much work you must put in to it each week. Keep up the good work.

[Zeno]

I am going to chime in although its a little out of my "territory".
As someone who writes for Fisherman (NY) I can honestly say that the hardest part of writing an article is giving something to the reader to take with him after finishing it.Think about it ,what in the world is there that hasn't been written?Livelining pogies?Done.Large bait ,large plugs?Done.Teasers?Done.Even the "poppers at night" concept has been covered.Now think about the problem for a writer who wants to give something to the reader but has a quandary on his hands.Does he mentions something that has been written before?That's repeating ,right? Well ,if I don't put that darters should be used in "moving" water I will get killed by criticism.But if I do you will say "I know that ,its been written before".
The point I am trying to make is there are no secret techniques and no secret spots ,only a variation to old tried and true things.
And now for something most people don't ever consider when reading an article.............
When I just stared in the sport the articles in the magazines seemed to me like they we written by "Gods".These brutes of the men who braved Nor'easters and dragged cows on the sand behind them.Some of these writers inspired me to try harder even although at times I had no clue as what I was trying to accomplish.Over the years I got to meet some of these fellows in person and although I have "I knew that" attitude when reading an article at times I never forget the impression that those written word have had on my development as a surfcaster.There are guys and girls just like that who are reading the pages of these magazines today ,some of them soaking the written words like sponges.They are thirsty for information including some of the things we long forgotten ,to them are new.They are the future of this sport and although some articles might seem redundant they do serve a purpose because chances are to a certain percentage of a readers these things are new .
Lets face it ,we cant reinvent the wheel ,just improve it.

[TheSpecialist]

Zach I don't think anyone is bashing the job you guys are doing. I think the magazine hos gotten 150 % better since you have taken it over. I think part of the problem of rehashing might stem from reading the article in your publication early in the year, and then seeing it in another publication three months later. I am not sure if there is a cure for that or not.

One of my favorite reads now is the one by Charlie Soares talking about the large fish and where they were caught. I read that and think to myself there is still hope of getting that 50. Maybe a change of pace might be a weekly on some of the shops in the report section. Something along the lines of who owns the shop, their hours, address,phone number, what lines of reels, rods, and lures they carry.

[JohnR]

Zach - I'm glad you are there over your predecessor...

[TheSpecialist]

Nice avatar John

[piemma]

I have been a subscriber to the fisherman for over 12 years and I had been saving every issue. So ther are 50 issues a year times 12 years equals about 600 mags. I started going thru them and cutting out articles I thought worthwhile as reference material and then throwing out the rest.

What I found was quite interesting. The mag repeats the same articles periodiacally. Almost exactly as printed. I found articles that Tim Coleman wrote in 93, reprinted verbatum in 98 and again in 02.

I always found that the fishing reports were inaccurate. This clearly is not the fault of the mag but the tackle store dealers who inflate the catches to get guys in the door.

I believe that Zack has a tough job and works hard at what he does with virtually a skeleton staff. The mag is probably good for new guys but I personally will not be renewing when my subscription runs out.

[bluefish]

I live in Brooklyn NY and love the magazine! Although it is aNew England mag, much of the "info" applies everywhere striped bastages roam... love the magazine!

[Got Stripers]

I love the authors on OTW, hey Gene I was asking for you today, but never bumped into you. Stop by the booth tomorrow if your there.

[fishsmith]

Zulu,
hats off to you for stepping up and defending your magazine, I'm done with both mags for a while, but I have enjoyed both.
on a side note -
Little ole Striped-Bass.com brings out the brass of New England's fishing scribes. Nice job John!!