Hi guys,

Any reviews on the book?
Is it worth a read?

In reply to Post #1
It's not properly out yet... The contributors haven't got their copies.
Well I haven't, anyway
Edit : ignore what I've written, mates have received them this morning!

In reply to Post #2
It is for sale . Was doubting to order one, but I know that it will be an expensive book taking into account all import taxes one has to pay for a shipment from the UK...

In reply to Post #3
Surely they have a digital version
?

In reply to Post #3
LINKY POO™ https://www.harperanglingbooks.co.uk/product/bcsg-book-8/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNjBo1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFNQ1FyRGw0aFlmcWNkdzZwAR5W7a7y72D0ip2srCX67VgzCdjsh9MlbxHhEXL9oxK3aSZtbeHzfewK43-Akw_aem__5-L2LZtGezq1OrkV34D3A

Been for sale a few weeks now if not a month. Paul Martin did post that shipments had just started late last week of pre-ordered books but it is one guy with over 300 to pack and ship.

I've never read a BCSG book, or looked into membership before.

Is it worth the effort to apply, the 40 quid, and are any of the books worth a read?

Sorry - bit of a thread hijack!

In reply to Post #6
Thanks Mark,
My piece is only a small one, nothing significant tbh... But the book does have the likes of Mr Bowers, Shaun Jarvis, and plenty of other interesting people in, so I think it should be a good read overall.
But I get your point about some people there that you've crossed swords with in the past. From my point of view, I've have liked to have seen a big piece by you in there for sure as that would have made a cracking read.

In reply to Post #1
Anything thought provoking from Bill Cottam, Gary Bayes, Marcus Watts and Geoff Bowers has got to be worth a read, hopefully it has different material/s from previously published stuff.

In reply to Post #8

In reply to Post #10
There will come a time in the not so distant future when carp fishing will never hear from me publicly again.

I totally understand why.
That would be a great shame Mark, as your posting, knowledge and results have definitely put 'hookbaits' in a different light.

In reply to Post #11

Is the Chairman Paul Martin ‘Norfolk Bob' of Cemex & here? Same Paul?

In reply to Post #12
Evening all.

There's a huge amount of information in the book, some of it won't appeal to all but for many they will learn a massive amount as well as enjoying a dip back into the past.

They're landing with customers as we speak and we've had phenomenal feedback already with over half the print run already sold.

I'm extremely grateful for the many contributions made by the authors. It's a great line up. One things for sure, when you look through that list of people there's going to be more than one or two things of interest to most of you.

Happy to answer any other questions should there be any.

In reply to Post #13
Lol, Mark I'm not the chairman! Just the bloke who did the book!

In reply to Post #15

In reply to Post #16
I'm not getting dragged into anything you old scoundrel!!

In reply to Post #17

In reply to Post #18
I have seen many things - but unless I'm in the pub they stay in my head 🤣

In reply to Post #20
pm sent for you Paul.

In reply to Post #20

In reply to Post #7
A load of upperty conceited ****s all in one place, no thanks.

In reply to Post #23
Obviously an unsuccessful application by the looks of it then...

In reply to Post #20
And of course you are a perfect gentleman

Looking forward to receiving my book soon mate

In reply to Post #24
Never my cup of tea.

Has anyone had theirs delivered yet?

Initial thoughts?

In reply to Post #27
Mine arrived today.


I've only skimmed it as I'm working - but as with the other BCSG books, its a very high quality publishing.

From a skim there's mostly new content but a few articles or interviews from other publishings. It looks to be a good mix of pieces the old school bait pioneers and also some of the newer school thinkers.

I'm on hols abroad next week - this will be coming, significantly adding to the baggage weight allowance and I'll enjoy the read.

In reply to Post #28
Ah very good

I'm away for the weekend aswell so hoping it arrives before I go

What are some of the chapters from the old school pioneers about? The history of how they developed certain baits?

In reply to Post #29
Yes mate some are, there's also the discovery of particles, stories from Derek Stritton on Fred Wilton - to be honest there's loads of history throughout the book.....

In reply to Post #30
Cheers Bob

Just re-entered the world of making baits from scratch so hoping there is lots of information on building your own base mix

In reply to Post #31
There is, some example recipes to get you started as well as lots of solid advice. You won't be disappointed.

In reply to Post #32
I've ordered one yesterday. Can't wait till it travels to the mainland

Sounds like an interesting read, some decent minds involved, will no doubt order a copy when I'm back home.

The last few BCSG books have all been well put to gether great reads.
There's always more that could be in any book .
Looking forward to reading mine.
As for the BCSG it's not for everyone, as with everything in life you get back what you put into something.

In reply to Post #35
Feedback continues to be extremely positive and progress on sales is very strong so far so we're anticipating it to sell out pretty quickly, possibly before Xmas.

Received mine and this book is a huge credit to anyone who had anything to do with it.
I absolutely love it, the quality of it and the format, you can dip in and out, use as reference, reminders, reminiscing and learning.

Brilliant well played all.

In reply to Post #38
Are you a member? Are you aloud to say?? Or just an interest in bait..

In reply to Post #39
I'm not and am actually now an anti member ;0)

I was invited over 20 years ago to go to the meeting chat with the guys etc and take it from there. It was everything I strived for when I was a teenager- but the dawning realisation that it was open membership and certainly not what it was meant I lost interest and didn't take it any further. It now seems just a club for a few pints and not the knowledge sharing of old, members take a mate and the mate joins and the cycle continues.

That's not to slag it off but I don't really like fishing with company, so spending social time with groups of people I have little in common with apart from fishing is not something that I'd be into.

The books are brilliant and there are a percentage of members that don't write often and only do when they have something to say - I love that.

In reply to Post #38
55 thanks for the feedback. It was a massive undertaking to bring it to print and I put a huge amount of effort into getting it as perfect as possible. It's nice to see that people recognise that.

In reply to Post #7
If the BCSG's values are all about British carp fishing, as the name seems to suggest, why did they choose to hold their annual Northern social weekend at a fishery known for stocking imported strains of carp, the Approach Fishery, formerly Willows near Leeds.

There's nothing funnier that watching a group of supposed "purists" fishing for imported wrong uns on an official BCSG weekend

I'm convinced the Northern region is just an old boys club who meet up to do quiz's, have a pub lunch and look at Cundiff's old photo slides of mid doubles and day ticket imports.

In reply to Post #42
Nicky the BCSG isn't about being a purist and it's not about catching British fish. People can fish for whatever they want and use whatever gear they want.

In reply to Post #42
There's nothing funnier that watching a group of supposed "purists" fishing for imported wrong uns on an official BCSG weekend

You consider any U.K Carp not to be imported at some point....hmm...degrees of difference.
At what generation do you consider them to be viable as a purist pursuit?

I'm convinced the Northern region is just an old boys club who meet up to do quiz's, have a pub lunch and look at Cundiff's old photo slides of mid doubles and day ticket imports.


What the hell Tell us how you'd do it then...go on...scaley bangers, bbq, piss up bruv, drum & bass, throwing each other into the water

What happened to each to their own :-P
EDIT, jic it's not taken in the spirit it was meant, that was a joke.

In reply to Post #41
The 8th edition is a fantastic publishing, well done to you, Dave Gawthorn (who I haven't seen in years) for kicking it off and all involved.

I took the book on hols expecting to dip in and out of a few chapters of interest. Ended up reading it all and have marked quite a few chapters to go back to (I did read quite a bit with quite a few beers keeping it company).

In reply to Post #45
Thanks Andy. Exactly the sort of thing I was aiming for.

In reply to Post #46
Also worth mentioning that there's less than 200 of the 750 books left and it has only been available to buy for a few weeks.

In reply to Post #47
All this free advertising I think I shall purchase one Paul.
Hope the Armalite still gets used and your well.

In reply to Post #48
Still have you in my phone as Mark Armalite! Good to hear from you mate. Hope you're getting out.

There are some excellent chapters in this book. Definitely worth a purchase for anyone who has an interest in bait

In reply to Post #49
Got mine Paul - already digging deep into it. Enjoying it thoroughly. Some great writing. Nice one.

Thanks Gents. Huge amount of effort gone into this book and hearing people are happy is making it almost worthwhile 😁

In reply to Post #52
Yeah it's an awesome book thanks Paul

In reply to Post #53
Received mine at the weekend really enjoying reading it.

In reply to Post #40
I'm the same.. remember going to some of the old CAA Confrences at the long gone Wembley conference centre back in the late 80s. It was all new and exciting.. you'd hear an anoncement over the tanoy calling the BCSG members to the green room. All very cloak and dagger ( probably just there AGM ) I wanted to be in that room one day.. Still not in that room.. Carp fishing moved on. You didn't need to be sitting with the great and good or have access to there bible " The Carp " to catch anymore . Information became readily available very quickly.

Your right, it has become more of a gentleman's club of Fellas of a certain age. I've no idea what the membership numbers are like these days. But I'd hazard a guest its dwindling. I Remeber watching something with Simon Hartop ( BCSG committee) on it. And he said the group need to start looking at a way to attract younger members if its to continue long into the future.

But still more power to there elbow.. There the longest running single species angling group out there. Late 60s I believe? Still producing quality literature no doubt still with the odd gem contained in them. That's not readily available that might help you catch a few more Carp. Regular regional meeting and fish ins. So all good.

So maybe there's still time for me yet.. ( early 50s, have I still got time )

In reply to Post #55
I "interviewed" a few years back and was put off - for context I'm in my early 30s but have carp fished for over 20 years. Turned up to a pub, photo albums in hand from over the years as instructed, and was quizzed on why someone my age would want to spend time with blokes a lot older than me. I explained how I believe younger generations have a responsibility to preserve the traditions and soul of carp fishing and that only comes through knowledge sharing between young and old. I also just like chatting about carp fishing with like-minded people, regardless of age. I left that interview with a very different perspective of BCSG to the one I thought existed growing up and decided not to take it further.

In reply to Post #54
Only 21 copies left now before it's sold.out.

In reply to Post #57
17!

In reply to Post #58
6 left!

In reply to Post #59
Congrats on the sales Paul, goes to show how bait is such an interesting topic all on it's own..

Ordered a copy yesterday btw..

In reply to Post #60
Now sold out!

Nice one Bob

You must be very happy with that

In reply to Post #61
Hopefully this roaring success will mean that there will be more in the future.

In reply to Post #63
Mine arrived today, very impressive on a first flick through.

In reply to Post #63
Lol, not a chance mate 🤣

In reply to Post #61
oops missed this

Any favourite chapters anyone?

In reply to Post #67
Mine......page 360

In reply to Post #67
I tried to provide quite a bit of variety in the chapters so there would be broad appeal. Feedback so far has been very positive. Don't worry if you still want one and missed out. Digital version will be available in the new year.

In reply to Post #69
I think you did a fantastic job. I skipped a couple of bits that focused on fishing in France, as that's not my thing. The bit that I didn't like as I was reading it was the Mark McKenna chapter, purely based on the fact that he stitched up some friends at the end of Baitcraft.
As someone getting back into bait making there was certainly some thought provoking content.
Please do another in the future.

In reply to Post #70
Home rollers will be the only ones that truly know what's going in there bait.

Are you saying the bait world is full of unscrupulous bait manufacturers. Who say one thing do another...

Liking the idea of a digital copy of the book.

Looking forward to finding the time to sit down with it and have a read, it certainly looks nicely compiled Paul..

In reply to Post #74
I'm nearly at the end of the book. While not every chapter was equally entertaining, it's overall a well-compiled read and worth your time.

Now selling for over £100 on ebay !

In reply to Post #69
RE:" Don't worry if you still want one and missed out. Digital version will be available in the new year."

Any update when the Digital version will be available.. purchase link?