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Posts: 41
| Just wondering who likes MUSKY HUNTER and who likes ESOX ANGLER and why you like it. writers ? layout? pictures? |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Musky Hunter....it is completely musky based. Esox has strayed to the other fishes...which is fine, but I'd rather read something soley about muskys.
Mike |
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Posts: 476
Location: WI | Why not both? I look forward to receiving both magazines. I can't actually get enough of any muskie articles.
GotOne |
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| I used to get both, but now the only Muskie magazine I get is Muskies Inc'.s "Muskie". The other two just didn't have stuff I was intersted in. I'm not into tournaments, and the "How to fish this lure" articles got repetitive. I don't miss either one. I can learn more about my local lakes that I fish regularly from one Muskies Inc. meeting than from a year's worth of those two magazines. Just my $0.02 |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | I get both magazines and like them both. Just for the record, there are pike articles in musky hunter. The walleye pages in EA are additional content to the magazine and took place of nothing in it. I enjoy both, therefore I casted no vote in favor of the other. Should have had a thord choice of "both".
Edited by ToddM 12/4/2006 9:41 PM
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| I like both very much, and they offer different perspectives and informative nuggets of information. I have subscription issues with EA, so MH gets my vote for great content and flawless service  |
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | I've only read the last three off the news stand for ESOX Angler which unfortunately doesn't include the winter issue (checked on Friday). I didn't much care for one of the issues, one left me wondering if there is more, and the fall issue I enjoyed. I've been wondering if EA is something I want to subscribe too. I do like pike and walleye fishing since pike is what I grew up fishing for, walleye is awful tasty, and muskie is something a buddy of mine started me on an annual trip or two years ago and I took it to a new level this year after reading a few more Musky Hunter mags and watching Steve Heiting DVDs. As a recent MI member, I have enjoyed a couple of those too. My vote, how about all three. Some of the articles are starting to repeat even for me, but I wish I could remember everything I read. Sometimes it refreshes the mind. |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | I didn't vote, as there was no option for both. I like the fact that MHM is all musky content. But EA has some great writers as well who offer some cutting edge stuff. If I had to get one over the other, I'm not sure which I would get. That's why I subscribe to both.
Aaron |
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Posts: 32927
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I'm interested in the demographics. I wonder what the average age of each subscriber is. |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | They both come in handy for those difficult or peaceful moments in the "Musky Reading Room".
Kevin
Hunkered down for Winter. |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | sworrall - 12/5/2006 8:03 AM
I'm interested in the demographics. I wonder what the average age of each subscriber is.
I don't know about EA, but 79.5% of MHM's readers are between the ages of 25 and 54.
Aaron |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I prefer MH. Not a big fan of the exploitation of specific smaller waters that has occured in EA over the years. Otherwise a pretty decent rag. I like the Walleye content. |
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| I like them both...the Holland Pike stuff in EA this month was pretty cool..I'm not a big walleye jerker so there is a bit too much walleye stuff for me but I can turn the pages just fine...
both have about the same type of lure/equipment promo by their authors...I mean come on..Joe Buchers articles are an advertisement for all his baits..plain and simple...they both do it about the same.
I do like the new look of EA. Both are worth reading for sure. |
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| Both are just regurgatated material anyway. nothing new in the last five years. |
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Posts: 32927
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And just what, exactly, would you expect to be 'new' after 100 years of muskie angling? Not much left to present that hasn't been, so entertainment value had better be pretty high, and the target audience those who HAVEN'T read it all yet. |
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Posts: 313
Location: On your favorite spot | I'm proud to be a member of Muskies, Inc. but I don't find much informational value in the magazine and I wish they would cut back on the issues so we have funds available for important things.
Why are there still articles showing up that talk about and promote single hook sucker rigs??? I don't want to belittle the hard work that goes into the mag but we gotta ask - why exactly are we doing this? Does the publication further our goals as an organization? Sorry if I stepped on any toes here.
As far as MH and EA, I like MH with a grain of salt and I'll be getting EA after the new year. |
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Posts: 561
Location: Monee, Illinois | Musky Hunter because its all about musky... |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I like both, but latley I think that the articles in ESOX have been better. Overall I think the articles in ESOX are more informational to me, but that's just my opinion. Some of the Musky Hunter articles sound like a add for the authors sponors. |
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| Marc J
...Muskies Inc...Why are there still articles showing up that talk about and promote single hook sucker rigs??? I don't want to belittle the hard work that goes into the mag but we gotta ask - why
exactly are we doing this? Does the publication further our goals as an organization?
what have you done to find out the answers to your questions?
are you just complaining about it in public, or have you done something about it?
i wrote to editor Jim Smith and president David Cates after reading those articles in the August and September issues of Muskie magazine. i then talked to Jim Smith about it on the phone. i expressed my opinion that articles promoting single-hook rigs with extended time before hook set were not in keeping with Muskies Inc's values.
Jim agreed wholeheartedly, and assured me that articles such as that would not be re-appearing in the magazine. he blamed it on non-Muskies Inc affiliated authors, a result from difficulty in obtaining authors to write quality articles, and said that in the future he will look for authors from within Muskies Inc. only.
i expressed my opinion that as editor he is responsible for the content of the magazine, which he acknowledged and again assured me that the feedback from myself and others was heard loud and clear and would have an impact on future issues.
my impression is that Jim is a very dedicated person who wants the best for the muskie resource, Muskies Inc and Muskie magazine. he was open to feedback and took responsibility for his actions. he's operating under a lot of pressure to get that magazine self-sustaining while publishing 12 issues a year and still produce a quality product. with the exception of those editorial gaffs, i think he's doing a great job.
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| Jim is doing a terrific job. He's pretty much on his own though, and sometimes things slip through the cracks. A while back a picture got printed in Muskie magazine that featured a guy giving "The Finger". One or two other people also missed it, but I think Jim caught most of the blame. I read Muskie cover to cover, which is more than I could say for those other two pubications. They're fine magazines, but we all have different tastes. I don't miss not reading them, but I'm sure others would. To each, his own. |
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Posts: 1
| A friend sent me this thread and this is my debut post on this site.
I appreciate forums like this, and such polls, to provide information about individual preference within the muskie fishing community. And I am curious where preferences lie between the magazines on this forum, but I thought I’d offer an interesting side-note about this topic as it relates to a conversation I and David Fornara had with Joe and Beth Bucher at I-CAST this summer.
Mr. Bucher made some interesting comments related to EAM and MHM. I am only paraphrasing… but he had conveyed that it was too bad that often within the muskie industry, Musky Hunter and Esox Angler have been pitted against each other in such fierce competition, as though one has to make a choice for one over the other. (Even more recently I’m finding this happening with Muskie Inc. Magazine.) He expressed that he thought most muskie anglers get both magazines and that there was room in the industry for both. But more importantly, and what made a lasting impression upon me was this: He commented that often many hyper-focus so closely on the muskie fishing industry and get intensely caught up in the competition within this niche market. Meanwhile, large amounts of resources are being taken away from the fishing industry in general (and thus the muskie fishing industry), by other sports industries like NASCAR… even more-so during an economic slump..
I think he’s right. Not only do I think most muskie anglers get both magazines, but I think we often we get so caught up in the competition within this small market, that we lose sight of what it happening out there in the general fishing industry… and while we may not realize it, but it impacts us more than we think.
Obviously I'm biased toward TNB - Esox Angler Magazine, but we get all three and David is a lifetime member of Muskies Inc. so as soon as there is an "all of the above" answer, we'll cast our ballot.
Just my 2 cents.
Teresa Webinger
TNB – Esox Angler Magazine
Edited by teresawebinger 12/6/2006 2:49 AM
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| At this point, neither... I just received my last MHM issue after 13 years of subscription. The old saying holds true: nothing lasts forever...
Not to say that when I am at the grocery store or library, I won't pick up either and quickly browse through what content is available, but to me at least, I've burned myself out reading this material.
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Location: The Yahara Chain | ddfenner - 12/6/2006 7:56 AM
At this point, neither... I just received my last MHM issue after 13 years of subscription. The old saying holds true: nothing lasts forever...
Not to say that when I am at the grocery store or library, I won't pick up either and quickly browse through what content is available, but to me at least, I've burned myself out reading this material.
:o
Who will be grading the articles, now. I am bumming  |
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Posts: 32927
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Teresa,
You made some straight to the heart of the matter points, thanks for the insight.
In cases like EA and MH, it's almost second nature for consumers to at least enhance an air of competition. There's all the room in the world out there for two print media Muskie publications and a special publication like Muskies Inc, just like there's all the room in the world for Truck brands. Do a poll on which tow vehicle is preferred, and you will see similar brand loyalty. Men are odd creatures.
Polls like this one have a ton of pitfalls and are hardly scientific, but are informative none the less. What one might get from our user driven on-site polls is a general idea of the preferences of those who take the time to vote. That's a tiny subset of our daily traffic, and of course will attract the votes of those most vehement about one, the other, or all the magazines out there in this case.
I agree to a point with Mr. Bucher's comments, but other sports have always competed with boating and fishing. Muskie angling has been a growth segment for several years now, even considering a pretty badly depressed fishing industry. We feel Muskie angling will continue to grow in popularity as opportunity and information continues to be more readily available.
Thanks for joining the conversation! |
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Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | I use to get both. Now I get neither. Like EA better if I just pick up an issue. To me they read too much like infomercials. Especially Musky Hunter. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I'm curious for those that don't like EA or MH for some reason is it some sort of personal issue with the owners or contributors?
ie. Maybe you don't like Maina or have some beef with Saric? I'm just curious because I get both and love both and think they both are great tools to learn more about the fish we all chase... I learn something new from both, maybe not every issue but for sure within 2 or 3 I have learned something new to apply to the water and catch more fish...seems odd to me that all musky anglers wouldn't get both..maybe you think you know it all Fenner? and that is why you don't get one or both anymore? If so, anyone that thinks they know it all is sadly mistaken....
the info in both is like a library...I have every issue of MH from the 1st issue...and most of the EA's..great info to have at your fingertips if nothing more than a refresher course on whatever subject, season, technique etc you want to go over...
as for infomercials? to some extent yes but the information in both is solid...
Edited by MSKY HNR 12/6/2006 8:54 AM
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| We get all three and all are beneficial depending on what frame of mind your in when you page through it. I'd have to totally agree with Steve, after all these years.......earth-shattering material is not that readily available. Some months, it's wow, did you read that article others months the magizine just gets tossed in the pile. I always look at the pictures, no matter what.
I vote for all three
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Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | MSKY HNR - 12/6/2006 8:53 AM
I'm curious for those that don't like EA or MH for some reason is it some sort of personal issue with the owners or contributors?
ie. Maybe you don't like Maina or have some beef with Saric?
as for infomercials? to some extent yes but the information in both is solid...
I like both Saric and Maina. To me it has nothing to do with any personal issues.
I did get both for a good 3-4 years and saved all my issues. I do go back and read some of them when I want a refresher but most of the new articles seem like rehashes of stuff I already have and I personally get a little annoyed when the writers tell you to use their or their sponsers equipment in just about every article {Tim R., I agree EA is not nearly as bad}.
Edited by Obfuscate Musky 12/6/2006 9:24 AM
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| i read and enjoy Esox Angler, Musky Hunter, and Muskie.
on the whole, i prefer EA because i find it to have slightly better content for my needs, to be clearly better edited, and i also appreciate their stronger editorial stance on resource conservation issues. but i really like MHM as well. it isn't win/lose, but rather win/win/win.
i really believe that EA and MHM have been working to improve as a result of their "competition" with each other for readers. we get better products when this is the case.
if a particular article isn't earth-shattering, that's ok with me. there's always other articles that offer me something of value to improve tactics or techniques, and at a minimum there's lots of entertainment about a passtime i enjoy.
the thing to keep in mind is that a magazine subscription is relatively cheap in comparison to other fishing related expenses. the value for the dollar is exceptional.
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | both are great magazines! keep in mind without sponsors, ads, informecials etc whatever... neither magazine would be there for us to enjoy! |
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| I would vote for Musky Hunter. I think the information is about the same quality. Esox Angler is too expensive. I usually get both but lately have only been buying Esox angler if there is something I haven't read about.
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | I have gotten and will get both for a long time to come. I know the people from both organizations. Both companies, overall, are filled with great people. There is no plausible reason to have one over the other. Both cater to our base interests, show us alot of nice fish, neat locations, and techniques that may or may not be new depending if you are previously familiar with them. If you aren't then, I guess that they are new!
Like Mr. Worrall said, it is unreasonable to expect "new" information in every issue.
Both are class acts. I vote for both! |
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Posts: 24
| For me, the preference is EA. Strictly for personal reasons, which are...
With my fishing lodge, I need to be multi-species, so the pike and walleye info is more in line with what I offer. My customers more often than not are multi species oriented also. Next, I don't have any musky in any of the nearby lakes. So the single pursuit of musky is not there for me. Does not mean I won't take that pursuit up sometime in the future... my son Mike is pretty addicted, so him and I will have to get out there one of these days, to see if the piker can keep up with a musky nut.
I will read Musky Hunter from time to time... there are some nice tactics that equate from musky to pike. But for the most part, I really spend more time with EA.
I do think there is a place for both mags.
All the best, |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I get both....although I must admit, while I think both were successful in teaching me new things in the beginning the last year or so has been somewhat of a bore reading them. I understand how writing can be difficult though, so I will not criticize anyone. I will just say the initial excitement I used to have running to the mailbox no longer exists |
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Posts: 1168
| There's a place for both. I like reading about more than just muskies and have picked up a ton of insight on non esox articles in other publications as well. Heck, just reading up on trolling spoons for salmon tipped me off on what turned out to be some real, real good color patterns for muskie baits.
It's interesting watching the type of angler who buys 100% into what is written on those pages. It's as if some are brainwashed by MHM theories and that's all they can do. Hammer wind blown rocks and points...sure, a solid tactic but the resourceful individual will take what is written there and push it to another level beyond what they read. That's just one example. Or when a "new" tactic is unveiled in an article you don't even have to buy the magazines to know what it was on because you'll notice (at least I have) distinct changes in the way that people are targeting them...or if you do read the articles yourself you can predict what areas people will be pounding and what they'll be doing on those locations.
With so many more taking up this sport I can understand why articles seem regurgitated. There is a demographic of muskie anglers just getting into it who are looking for some "basics" and those to magazines are the first place they'll go. It was the first place I went, but once you get bitten by the bug and end up reading, re-reading, and re-reading every available muskie discussion, internet article, or book on the subject there are alot of things that will seem recycled. |
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Posts: 171
| Both. I fish for walleyes on Lake Erie, so EA is fun, but MH is all muskies. I'll keep getting both.
(My wife thinks EA is written better. She has a Journalism degree, and reads both.)
Erieboy75 |
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Posts: 2024
| I'll agree with the statement that EA's QUALITY of written articles is far superior to MHM. I subscribe to MHM, but when I do pick up an EA, the content is much better. I'm getting tired of half the article talking about a big fish caught. Is it necessary to write a page, even three paragraphs on ONE fish??? Then there are those who don't even talk about a fish in their article. They get right down to the point which is what journalism is INTENDED to do: clear, concise, and coherent. Superfluous babble is boring in my opinion and serves no purpose. Makes the author look like he's trying to fill his "quota" of words and needed something extra to get himself there.
Just my .02 cents. |
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Posts: 32927
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin |
My opinion, for what it's worth:
Both are excellent publications
Both try very hard to print a high quality publication
Both have similar stats, and that's reflected by the poll here
I think Big O is talented, and so is Steve Heiting
Both have been less than friendly with MuskieFIRST in the past, and perhaps recently both are beginning to understand we are NOT competition, they are what they are, and we are what we are...apples/oranges
I get both
I like both |
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| I've been subscribing to MHM for ~10 years and have enjoyed it - but starting to get burned out> I've purchaed EA a few times and generally been disappointed - the full cover price is very expensive and I didn't feel like it had much unique to offer. But on the other hand if I'd subscribed to EA for 10 yrs I'd probably have similar feelings about MHM.
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musky hunter vs. Esox angler