Even though UKMA have not got its own forum for anglers to discuss topics regarding angling, we are always scouring them ourselves to see what is happening in the world of angling in general.

We always notice that controversy on the forums always generates a large response from the users, rightly or wrongly, so we thought that it was time that we highlighted topics or news on the forums around the web in case that you had not already seen it (and to have your say should you wish). This new section also gives us our chance to put our views out to our visitors without getting into arguements with those that think they are right (sometimes they are, but mostly they are arguing for the sake of it).

The first of these threads that caught our eye was one on the Carp Forum website, called "Should Total Carp magazine be free?". When we buy something, we expect that the product has beneficial means to us to the value of what we have paid for it, regardless of what it is. The original poster has posted that out of the 179 pages of the magazine, 107 pages are advertising and only 58 pages of actual fishing reading material with the remaining pages "being trite" (to use the original posters words). UKMA know that advertising keeps the price down on the magazines or other media, and without advertisers, UKMA wouldn't be about, but where should media companies draw the line on what is an acceptable amount of advertising to editorial content, and what is not good value for money? Have your say by joining the Carp Forum and posting your response on the thread.

The next thread is one on the Cemex Angling forum called "Maggot boilie testers Aqua Dynamix" which started out with Aqua Dynamix director, Jon Bannister looking for new field testers for a specific bait in the company's product range, but quickly turned into what makes a bait any different to another and how bait application will give a better advantage over the actual bait itself. We all know that both are very important factors in being successful in the angling world as the wrong bait or application of that bait in the right spot will catch you fish over the best bait or correctly applied bait in the wrong spot being the kiss of death to your days angling. What do you thik on this? Have your say by registering on the Cemex forum (if you already are not a member) and replying to the thread.

Another thread that caught our eye was on the predominantly match orientated Total-Fishing.com website entitled "AT Semi" where several people have been up in arms over the choices for the Angling Times Team Championships Semi Final venues being hundreds of miles away from a lot of the teams. With the cost of fuel and little free time that a lot of anglers have nowadays, anglers are feeling that they are being hit very hard in the pocket in having to drive several hours each way to the furthest venue to fish practise matches and then to fish the actual match itself. As a couple of the UKMA team are formaer match anglers, we have been there ourselves with the long trips on a Sunday morning to get to the draw at 8am, and to drive back after the match in darkness for 2 or 3 hours for a minimal days sport. Could this be the start of the death of team fishing within the match circuit or do you find this acceptable and would do this for the teams sake (even if you are just a runner or part of the squad)? Have your say by registering on the Total-Fishing.com website.

Over on the Barbel Fishing World forum, one of the members has started a theread entitled "A Lack of Interest" which basically outlines his current state of mind regarding his personal angling at this moment in time. We have all thought at some point in time "what are the hell we still doing going fishing at the moment?" and interest in the hobby/sport has dropped due to another factor such as family, work, run of blanks, etc, but we always seem to get back into the swing of things, regardless of how low we actually feel and to the point of selling up completely, to find a month later that we are back to the tackle shop buying all new gear! What are your thoughts on this and the state of your own mind regarding your angling at the moment, or just to try to give the original poster a positive vibe, vist the site and join in.

If you see any threads that you think should be pointed out to our visitors on ANY forum, please feel free to send them over to us by using the Contact Form.

Although UKMA provide links to external sites on this page, UKMA do not accept any liability or responsibility to the content of these links, and they do not represent the views of the UKMA website or it's owners.