Angler's Mail Magazine – Week Ending 15 May 1993 – Three 100lb Catfish

Original UK Edition | Week Ending 15 May 1993 | Cover Price 70p | Vintage Fishing Weekly

Original vintage edition of Angler's Mail, the popular British all-colour weekly fishing publication, dated week ending 15 May 1993.

This issue features an exciting front-cover headline about three catfish weighing more than 100lb, including a remarkable 123lb specimen, alongside extensive coverage of carp fishing, specimen angling, tackle testing, fishing locations, match fishing and practical angling techniques.

The magazine also features contributions and articles involving Andy Dixon, Ken Collings and Bob Filce, together with the publication's regular fishing news, advice and reports.

An interesting collectable for anglers, fishing enthusiasts and collectors of vintage British fishing magazines, particularly those interested in the development of specimen carp and catfish fishing during the early 1990s.

Front Cover – Three 100lb Catfish

The front cover features a large colour photograph of a smiling angler holding an impressive mirror carp.

The angler is pictured outdoors beside a grassy bank, wearing:

• A black baseball cap with white lettering.

• Clear-lensed glasses.

• A red short-sleeved polo shirt featuring a Zavon logo.

• Dark trousers.

He is kneeling behind the fish, supporting it with both hands.

Featured Carp

The carp is prominently positioned across the lower half of the cover.

The photograph clearly shows:

• A substantial, deep-bodied mirror carp.

• A broad head with a slightly open mouth.

• A rounded belly displaying golden and cream colouring.

• Dark grey and olive tones along the upper body.

• Irregular dark mirror-scale markings across the flanks.

• A large, clearly visible tail fin.

• Darker scale patterns continuing towards the tail.

• Orange-brown fins.

• Distinctive contrast between the darker back and pale underside.

The photograph gives an excellent view of the carp's size, colouration and scale pattern.

The cover design has a bold red ANGLER'S MAIL masthead, with yellow, green and blue graphic elements surrounding the main photograph.

Main Cover Headline

THREE 100lb CATFISH – And We've Got the Lot Exclusive!

This is the magazine's principal news story, concerning three exceptionally large catfish reported during the same period.

The prominent headline makes the issue particularly interesting to collectors of British specimen fishing publications and historic European catfish angling records.

Exclusive Catfish Feature – Three Fish Over 100lb

The photographed interior pages reveal a major article under the headline:

CAT-CH US IF YOU CAN

The feature is presented as an exclusive report about exceptionally large catfish caught from the River Ebro in Spain.

The article features a substantial colour photograph of an angler identified as Bob Filce, holding a huge catfish.

Photograph of the 123lb Catfish

The interior image shows a large catfish being supported across the angler's arms.

Visible features include:

• An exceptionally broad head.

• A large mouth.

• Long, prominent whisker-like barbels.

• A wide, flattened head profile.

• Pale cream and pinkish colouring around the underside.

• Brown, olive and grey colouring along the upper body.

• Large pectoral fins.

• A substantial body extending beyond the central photographed area.

The catfish's whiskers extend across the photograph, helping demonstrate the scale of the fish.

Bob Filce is pictured outdoors near vegetation, supporting the fish while looking towards it.

The photograph has the appearance of a traditional specimen-catch record image from the early 1990s.

A bright yellow starburst graphic identifies the fish as weighing:

123lb – By Bob Filce

The River Ebro

The article describes a remarkable series of catfish captures from the River Ebro, an important European destination for anglers seeking exceptionally large freshwater fish.

According to the visible article, three South London anglers recorded catches involving catfish weighing more than 100lb.

The readable section identifies:

• A 123lb catfish, caught by Bob Filce.

• A 118lb catfish, landed by John Catchpole.

• A 101lb catfish, landed by Peter Roach.

The story discusses the anglers' success during a short visit to Spain and describes the excitement surrounding these substantial catches.

The article also references the use of relatively straightforward fishing rigs and bait presentations.

This is a particularly interesting period account of European catfish angling, when very large specimen catches were generating considerable interest among British anglers.

The accompanying photographs, reported weights and contemporary written coverage make this issue appealing to collectors of catfish fishing history.

Andy Dixon – River Witham Fishing Rigs

The front cover advertises:

Andy Dixon's Brilliant Rigs for the Witham

Andy Dixon appears in a small portrait photograph on the right-hand side of the cover.

He is pictured wearing a dark jacket with a teal-coloured collar.

This feature focuses on fishing rigs associated with the River Witham, a well-known English fishing water.

The article is particularly relevant to anglers interested in traditional coarse fishing, rig presentation and the methods used by experienced anglers during the early 1990s.

Ken Collings – Long Pole Fishing

Another prominent front-cover feature concerns Ken Collings.

The headline reads:

Ken Collings Gives Pointers on Handling a Long Pole

Ken Collings is shown in a small colour portrait photograph.

The article promises practical advice about handling long fishing poles, a key technique in traditional coarse and match fishing.

This type of editorial is valuable as a reference to the tackle, equipment and fishing methods popular during the period.

Where to Fish – Fishing Venues and Locations

The front cover advertises:

Where to Fish – More Venues to Note and Try

The magazine contains information about potential fishing locations, offering readers advice about waters worth investigating.

This type of feature was a regular attraction of Angler's Mail, helping anglers discover different rivers, lakes and fishing opportunities throughout Britain.

The photographed contents page confirms the presence of:

Where to Fish / Form Guide – Pages 12–17

This makes the issue potentially useful to collectors researching historic fishing venues and coarse-angling locations.

Carp World

Page 23 – Carp World

The photographed contents page confirms a dedicated Carp World section.

Carp fishing was becoming increasingly popular during the early 1990s, with considerable interest in specialist tackle, specimen fish, fishing methods and notable catches.

The cover photograph of a substantial mirror carp reinforces the issue's strong emphasis on carp and specimen fishing.

This section is particularly relevant to carp fishing enthusiasts and collectors of vintage carp fishing publications.

Tackle on Test

Pages 18 and 22 – Tackle on Test

The contents list identifies a tackle-testing feature on page 18 and a specialists section on page 22.

The issue also includes regular fishing advice and equipment-related editorial features.

These articles provide a period perspective on the fishing equipment available to British anglers in 1993.

For collectors, historic tackle reviews can be particularly interesting when researching vintage fishing rods, reels, accessories and tackle-manufacturing trends.

Angler's Mail – Interior Contents

The photographed contents page provides a detailed overview of the issue.

News, Advice and General Features

• Page 4 – Question Mark Over Angling Rates

• Page 5 – Opinion

• Page 6 – Angling's Second Young Professional

• Page 7 – Fish of the Week

• Page 8 – Action Call Over Ruined River

• Pages 12–17 – Where to Fish / Form Guide

• Page 18 – Tackle on Test

• Page 22 – Specialists

• Page 23 – Carp World

• Page 24 – Helpline

• Page 25 – Vintage Tackle

• Page 26 – Junior Mail

• Page 28 – Go Fishing

• Page 30 – Winning Methods

• Page 33 – Tackle Tips

• Pages 34–37 – Sea Prospects

• Page 43 – Swap Shop

• Page 44 – Mailbag

These sections provide a varied mixture of angling news, reader participation, instructional features and information about fishing equipment.

Vintage Tackle

Page 25 – Vintage Tackle

A potentially interesting section for collectors of traditional fishing equipment.

The feature reflects the continuing interest in older angling tackle and the equipment used by previous generations.

Winning Methods

Page 30 – Winning Methods

A feature focusing on fishing techniques and approaches to successful angling.

Sea Prospects

Pages 34–37 – Sea Prospects

The magazine also covers sea fishing, providing a broader range of angling content beyond freshwater coarse fishing.

Junior Mail

Page 26 – Junior Mail

A dedicated section for younger anglers, reflecting the magazine's effort to encourage participation in the sport.

11-Page Match Mail Section

The front cover prominently advertises:

PLUS 11 Page Match Mail

The photographed contents page identifies the following sections:

• Page 45 – England's New Sponsor

• Pages 46–47, 48–49, 52 and 54 – Match Reports

• Page 50 – Venue File

• Page 53 – Matchplan

• Page 55 – Frank Barlow's Report

The Match Mail section focuses on competitive coarse fishing, including results, match reports, fishing venues and practical match-fishing information.

This material provides a useful snapshot of the competitive angling scene in Britain during May 1993.

For collectors of fishing history, such reports may be particularly interesting because they document competition activity, tackle trends and the match-angling community of the period.

Other Notable Features

The photographed contents also indicate a broad selection of recurring editorial material.

Fishing News

Current angling developments, reports and stories from the fishing community.

Fish of the Week

Coverage of notable fish and catches.

Angling Helpline

Advice and information for readers.

Swap Shop

A section reflecting the buying, selling and exchanging of angling-related equipment among enthusiasts.

Mailbag

Readers' correspondence and discussion of fishing-related subjects.

Together, these sections offer a detailed look at the interests and concerns of the British angling community in the early 1990s.

Historical Fishing Interest

This issue is especially interesting because of the reported 123lb, 118lb and 101lb catfish catches.

Large European catfish were a major attraction for travelling specimen anglers, and reports such as these helped document the growing popularity of overseas freshwater fishing trips.

The issue also represents an interesting period in British coarse fishing, combining traditional pole fishing, match fishing, carp fishing and specimen hunting.

For collectors, the contemporary photographs, original reporting, fishing techniques and tackle references are a useful historical record.

Publication Details

Magazine: Angler's Mail

Publication Date: Week Ending 15 May 1993

Original Cover Price: 70p

Publisher: IPC Magazines

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Format: Vintage Weekly Fishing Magazine

Main Feature: Three 100lb-plus Catfish

Other Featured Subjects: Mirror Carp, River Ebro Catfish, Andy Dixon, Ken Collings, Bob Filce, River Witham Fishing Rigs, Long Pole Fishing, Match Fishing, Carp World, Vintage Tackle and Sea Fishing.

SKU: 1588

Condition – Please Read Carefully

Pre-owned vintage magazine showing noticeable age-related wear, storage wear and handling marks.

The photographs show the actual magazine being offered for sale.

Front Cover

The front cover retains its original brightly coloured design, with the red Angler's Mail masthead and the large photograph of the angler holding a mirror carp.

However, several visible imperfections should be noted.

These include:

• Noticeable wear along the top edge.

• Creasing and bending around the upper-left corner.

• Small folds and unevenness along the upper edge.

• A visible crease or small split around the top centre area.

• Rubbing and scuffing along the left-hand spine edge.

• A vertical crease and handling wear near the left margin.

• Small nicks and wear along the paper edges.

• Light creasing around the lower corners.

• Minor surface marks and general handling wear.

• Slight age-related discolouration to some white paper areas.

The front cover also appears slightly uneven rather than completely flat, consistent with previous handling and storage.

The main cover photograph and printed headlines remain clearly visible and readable.

Spine and Binding

The magazine shows visible wear along the spine.

The left-hand edge has several noticeable areas of creasing, rubbing and small paper nicks.

The photographed interior spread shows the pages opening around the original binding, with some visible stress and wear towards the central fold.

The spine should be treated as showing age-related wear rather than being in pristine condition.

Interior Pages

The photographed interior pages remain colourful and readable.

Visible imperfections include:

• Light age-related paper discolouration.

• Minor creasing along some page edges.

• Slight corner curling.

• Small handling marks.

• Some folding and unevenness around the top edges.

• Wear near the central page fold.

• General signs of previous reading and storage.

The photographed pages retain clear printed text and original colour illustrations.

The interior catfish feature remains particularly striking, with its large colour photograph and bold red and yellow headings.

The magazine has not been checked page by page, so complete pagination cannot be guaranteed.

Overall Condition

Fair to Good vintage pre-owned condition, with noticeable edge wear, spine rubbing, creases, minor paper nicks and general signs of age and handling.

Despite these imperfections, the magazine remains a presentable vintage reading and reference copy.

It is not mint, unread or professionally graded.

Please carefully inspect all supplied photographs before purchasing, as they form part of the condition description.

Important – Original Extras No Longer Included

This listing is for the printed magazine only.

Any original loose inserts, supplements, promotional items, free gifts, vouchers, separately supplied booklets or other accompanying extras are no longer included.

The printed editorial sections shown in the photographs form part of the magazine.

Any competitions, offers, prices or promotions printed in this vintage issue are historical and may no longer be valid.

Only the original magazine shown in the photographs will be supplied.

Packaging and Delivery

Your magazine will be carefully packaged to help protect it during transit.

UK Orders: Sent in a protective hardback envelope.

International Orders: Sent in a sturdy cardboard mail-size box for additional protection.

Ideal For Collectors Of

• Angler's Mail magazines.

• Vintage British fishing publications.

• May 1993 fishing magazines.

• 1990s coarse fishing.

• Catfish angling.

• River Ebro catfish fishing.

• Historic specimen fish catches.

• 100lb-plus catfish.

• Bob Filce.

• John Catchpole.

• Peter Roach.

• Carp fishing.

• Mirror carp.

• Andy Dixon.

• Ken Collings.

• River Witham fishing.

• Pole fishing.

• Match fishing.

• Vintage fishing tackle.

• Traditional angling methods.

• British angling history.

• Freshwater fishing memorabilia.

An original Angler's Mail magazine dated week ending 15 May 1993, featuring exclusive reporting on three remarkable 100lb-plus catfish, including a 123lb specimen, together with extensive coverage of carp fishing, match angling, tackle testing and traditional British fishing methods.

A fascinating vintage publication for fishing enthusiasts and collectors of angling history.

The magazine pictured is the actual copy you will receive.

SKU: 1588