So there I am sitting with a cup of tea reading yesterday's issue of AM (it had a headline on the front - 18 top river tips - so I bought it...I know, I know!!).

There was usual rubbish about bogus record claims and "shark bites angler shock" and the boring old comercial/carp/match stuff (never seems to change).

Then instant unease is felt when turning to page 17 I see perhaps the most grossly deformed carp I can remember seeing in print. The poor fish must truly have difficulties feeding.

Now, I realise the commecial scene is not going to dissapear and I'm not in the habit of knocking what others feel is acceptable etc. but this picture makes me feel a little uncomfortable about the direction and ethics of modern angling.

I also can't believe that the editor of AM actually allowed its publication. I can feel a letter coming on!

Or am I just oversensitive?

can you scan it river rat and put pic up ??

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Sorry Bruce no can do. It's a horrible pic though, proud captor smiling to the camera with the poor fishes mouth looking like somebody has tried to slice it off. Not good.

sounds like a lot of braid abrasion ?????????

__________________
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

i have just seen the picture ,and it has no lips left at all ,it is an awful picture and not one that you would expect such a prominent well known specialist angler like ian welch to be seen with such a badly damaged fish ...

__________________
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

I have just posted the editor a letter - I bet it won't be published!!

Damaged mouths can be from a number of reasons, in my opininion its fighting the fish to hard and it just rips their soft mouths to pieces. this is why i dont carp fish anymore half the fish are in horrible conditions and the venues!