For those of you that never heard of Fishing Collectibles Magazine (FCM), the magazine was published quarterly for almost nine years from the summer of 1989 until the winter of 1998. It consisted of thirty-five issues and contained articles on lures, rods, reels, tackle makers, creels, fish decoys and so on. It had experts baring their souls and knowledge, revealing stories, history lessons, horror stories, successful acquisitions, and just a little controversy. FCM was the typical good hobby magazine, educational, entertaining and timely. We had a couple of thousand subscribers but I got busy and involved with bringing a company public so it stopped. It was too bad but I was editor and publisher and I couldn’t find a replacement, so it stopped. Currently, people are still kind enough to compliment us on a good magazine, so we are going to attempt to publish FCM again but in a different format and venue.

The new FCM will be online and will contain at least three articles on collectible tackle, an editorial, something of a calendar, the occasional show or auction report, a visitor section for those willing to contribute, an actual travel fishing section and some advertising (I hope). It will be a project because I am still not retired from the software business. We, for practical reasons will have to edit submissions prior to placing them within the magazine. So please no colorful language or blatant advertising within your communications. We will start with articles we have already published until we have a decent backlog of articles. The good thing is it will be free. It will be tied to our H L Leonard Rod Company site for selling some collectibles.

I would like to see as much outside opinions, question or dissertations as possible. When we receive questions on rods and other collectibles we will whenever possible share an opinion as well as seek and publishing other opinions. I expect and hope the magazine will be an on-line forum for any category of fishing collectibles. I also hope we can address quality opportunities of actual fishing. I personally know a number of experienced successful anglers with local and away fishing knowledge hopefully willing to share their experience and skills. So if you are interested in a occasional or regularly scheduled column or article just email me. We are going to try and make this magazine as user friendly as possible. The same goes for opinions, if you have something to say let us know. We might help you vent. One of the topics I would like some input on is “EBAY experiences.” I have personally bought through EBAY with no problem but have not sold or used the service for business. We have experienced good and bad second hand situations for both buyers and sellers but have successfully avoided legal entanglements. If we can get enough input it should be an interesting subject and help a good number of collectors. Hopefully the magazine will be helpful and fun.

Hint of the Month: Lang’s November Fishing Collectibles Auction will be a killer for rare and high quality fly fishing tackle. Several major collections are being sold and the market is about to be expanded due a major publicity effort to the general public for the sale of the John Moores collection which is a gift to The Carter Foundation. The involvement of the charity means an opportunity of possible tax advantages and deductions on high priced items. The potential of new high dollar collectors will bring increases in the values of all collections. Any experienced collector has been through the “I should have bought that when…” phase should prepare for an opportunity of lots of unique items. Just when we think we have a hold on the market it changes.

Brian McGrath, Editor/Publisher