Carping on

Looking at the magazine racks of WH Smith today I was struck, not for the first time, at the number of carp magazines. There was Carp World, Carp Talk,Total Carp, Advanced Carp Fishing, Carpology, Crafty Carper, Big Carp Magazine and UK Angling Times Carp.

The front covers of seven of these eight magazines featured a man holding up a big carp. The eighth magazine had two men, each holding up a big carp. I can imagine the monthly editorial picture desk meetings of these magazines:

Editor: "What do we have for the front cover this month?"

Picture editor: "You're going to like this one. It's a bloke holding a carp."

Editor: "Hmm... Anything else?"

Picture editor producing another picture of a man with a carp: "What about this one?"

Editor: "I can't help thinking it's rather similar."

Picture editor: "Totally different."

Editor: "How?"

Picture editor: "He's not wearing a hat."

Those carp editors need to be looking at the rest of the angling press for ideas. Pike and Predator, for example, featured a man holding a perch. The tench special of Course Fisherman had a man holding - yes you guessed it - a tench, while Boat Fish used a picture of a man holding a big turbot.

You have to feel sorry for Fly Fishing and Fly Tying magazine. I picked up a random cover from the pile besides my desk and there was the familiar format, a man dressed in fishing gear holding.....well I can't actually see, but I think it must be a fly.