Angler’s Mail was surprised to hear the news as most major trade transfers happen late in a year, not early.

No announcement has yet been made on which tackle firm highly-respected angler Alan will join.

Shimano’s sales and marketing director Pete Chandler said: ‘Alan has been a great ambassador for the company over the years with results that are second-to-none, culminating in the unbelievable feat of five World Championship titles – four of which have been during his time with the company.’

South Yorkshire legend Alan commented: ‘I joined Shimano back in 1996, shortly after I won my first individual World Title, so I can only thank them for the many years of support that they have given me since.

‘After Mustad, they were my first main sponsor and with their backing it allowed me to fully commit to my fishing which was a massive benefit and helped me to get to where I am today.

I’m very grateful for everything that the company has done for me and to be involved in the design and development of some fantastic products over the years has been a real pleasure,’ added Alan.

Shimano took the opportunity to thank Alan for all of his hard work and commitment in promoting the brand and wish him the best of luck going forwards.

ALAN SCOTTHORNE’S BAIT TIP > CLICK HERE

Pike novice Mark Even showed the beauty of fishing by nabbing that 41-pounder on a £16.50 bank ticket. It’s an inspiring story.

Plus a boat-caught 40 lb 6 oz was landed by pike fishing expert Phil Wakeford.

Both sensational fish are exclusively reported in full in this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine, with photos of all the best fish.

Be sure to get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

Only £1.80, this week’s issue includes…

Angler's Mail magazine launches the "Search for Peter" this week - the great issue on sale now!

MR CRABTREE TV COMPETITION

The hunt for new stars to appear in an exciting new Crabtree TV series starts this week. Read all about a special competition involving Angler’s Mail and ace columnist John Bailey. For a bit more on this development, click HERE.

BEST EVER WEEK FOR BIG PIKE

Predators have gone mental – reports and pictures, including two EXCLUSIVE 40-pounders. Check ‘em out in our mag!

ILLEGAL FISH TRAPS “CATCH OTTERS”

Angling Trust official reveals a shocking and gruesome find.

BEST BIG CARP GEAR

Find out what’s been selling at top shop Browns.

THE BIG NEWS

• Monster chub from fourth choice venue
• Trent star Jan Porter “could have died”
• New fishing show is a success
• Brilliant new barbel bait impresses

STAR ANGLERS

• Tom Mangnall –winter success at commercials, with this rising match ace.
• Gary Newman –  roving for chub on a small river
• Colin Davidson –a brilliant carping history book.
• Andy Black – favourite lures

INSTRUCTION

• Essential Knowledge – Andy Browne explains shotting in this great new series
• All The Answers – No.1 coarse Q&A, sponsored by Greys Prodigy
• Secret Lives –  winter pike explained

WHERE TO FISH THIS WEEKEND

Compiled by local experts. Including Steve Collett getting to grips with a Birmingham AA venue

Be sure to get the January 31 cover-dated issue of Angler’s Mail magazine.

Facebook - become a fan of "Angler's Mail magazine"

JOIN ANGLER’S MAIL ON FACEBOOK >> CLICK HERE NOW!

It looks like something from a sci-fi film or mad cartoon. It's real - honest!

DUBBED “The Chainsaw Predator” the freshwater sawfish is the scary-looking quarry for Jeremy Wade in the fourth episode of his latest River Monsters series on ITV.

Jeremy, seen recently in Angler’s Mail magazine, and whose TV show times are listed in the latest mags, heads down under to catch up with the species with the Latin name, Pristis microdon.

Reports claim this shark-like fish hacks boats apart and saws people in half. Jeremy travels to the Fitzroy River in Australia in order to find out if this critically endangered creature deserves its reputation as a river monster and why it swims so far up rivers.

After being plagued by sharks, (which, ironically, he had previously traveled to Australia to find, yet didn’t catch one for weeks) Jeremy uses the simplest of tactics to reel in a 7-ft monster

‘It actually felt very strange on the line,’ said Jeremy. ‘A bit like a stingray in a way, but the jarring I could feel wasn’t the stingray’s tail hitting the line. It was the rostrum teeth…”

Fancy unhooking one of these?

Here, online, Angler’s Mail reveals some more about Jeremy’s latest conquest, the freshwater sawfish…

Growing up to 20 ft long and weighing in at up to 400 lb-plus, freshwater sawfish are not sharks; they are fish from the ray species that have the bodies like sharks and snouts (called rostrums) like sharp blades.

Strong gear is required for these fellas!

Found in countries like Africa, Australia, Pakistan and India, these fish have between 14 and 23 toothlike denticles called rostral teeth that rest on either side of their rostrums.

Male freshwater sawfish have more rostral teeth than the females. When sawfish are born, these denticles protrude less, and are covered by a tissue sheath, so that they don’t injure the sawfish moms during the birthing process.

Freshwater sawfish gather their food by swinging their rostrums from side to side to separate invertebrates from the surfaces they live on, and to stun schools of fish. These sawfish also like to eat freshwater prawn and shrimp.

Other predators in the water know not to mess with them and rarely do, but sharks and saltwater crocodiles sometimes take their chances, typically hunting juvenile sawfish, which are smaller in size.

The indigenous peoples of Western Australia have long relied on the meat of freshwater sawfish for survival. The animals’ other body parts are valuable commodities, too: For example, people sell their fins in Asia, process their livers for oil and make their skin into leather. The eggs, liver oil and bile of the freshwater sawfish are also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Jeremy and a local show a sawfish on the Fitzroy River.

• Angler’s Mail magazine lists best fishing on TV every week- check each issue for highlights.

FOR MORE ON THE LATEST RIVER MONSTERS SERIES AND HOW YOU CAN WATCH IT – CLICK HERE

Mr Crabtree and Peter, as they were. A TV series will go in their footsteps... the hunt is on to find four juniors to star in a show each!

A UNIQIUE new competition has just launched to find four youngsters to star in a new TV series alongside our brilliant columnist, John Bailey.

Who will star with Angler's Mail columnist John Bailey (right) in the new TV series?

Mr Crabtree Goes Fishing sold millions of copies and the cartoon character was alive in the pages of the Daily Mirror for 25 years.

Now he’s back! In the Footsteps of Mr Crabtree will appear on TV later this year.

Filming starts in March.

And right now the hunt is on for youngsters between eight and 14 to appear in the shows.

Entries need to be done online by a parent or guardian and enter online.

Angler's Mail magazine launches the "Search for Peter" this week - the great issue on sale now!

More details are in Angler’s Mail magazine, the top weekly – starting with the issue pictured with the special Mr Crabtree cover.

The Daily Mirror newspaper is also covering this exciting project.

Follow our lively Angler’s Mail magazine (priced £1.80) over the weeks and months ahead for more Mr Crabtree project news. And of course you’ll be able to enjoy our experienced angling expert, John Bailey’s regular column.

Here are some useful internet links to stay bang in touch with everything that’s happening, and to enter…

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE  > CLICK HERE

• “SEARCH FOR PETER” INFO > CLICK HERE
• ENTRY FORM > CLICK HERE
• TERMS & CONDITIONS > CLICK HERE

FOLLOW IT ALL ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER

You can also stay up to date with snippets via the two main social networks…

Facebook – become a fan of mrcrabtreegoesfishing and AnglersMailMagazine

Twitter – follow @mrcrabtree and @AnglersMail

The Marston, Oxfordshire-based butcher was targeting a stillwater in his home county which he chose after considerable effort.

For the full amazing story of this and another natural giant predator, grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

• How to report your catch to us > details here
• Pike products tested > click here

The rumours are TRUE – there are moves afoot to bring back Mr Crabtree’s amazing fishing experiences.

And Angler’s Mail plus our brilliant columnist John Bailey are involved in this exciting new project.

Our latest issue (pictured, cover-dated January 24) has a fond tribute to Mr Crabtree and his son Peter. The brilliant cartoons inspired John Bailey and generations of anglers.

But there is lots more to come, it involves TV – and you will be able to follow it all from its unique early stages via Angler’s Mail magazine.

Be sure to get the magazine issue on sale from Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Full details will be inside!

Keep checking back here on our website for useful links.

Watch out for snippets too at the lively Angler’s Mail magazine Facebook page.

Mad keen angler Paul has one advert out at the moment featuring Ollie game fishing and another one out soon river carping, as we reported two issues ago.

In an amusing interview, Fast Show star Paul told the Mail: ‘I’ve only dropped angling into comedy a tiny bit as along with the mighty Spurs I love it so much and it feels odd to do it.

‘I’ve done quite a few characters for Aviva and when they suggested an angler I thought why not and went along with it.’

For the full revealing story – including which famous angler inspires his TV adverts character – grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

• Jeremy Wade’s River Monsters latest series on ITV >> details here

Venue boss Stuart Gillham, a top big fish angler back when he lived in England, said: ‘The male fish has avoided capture for 21 months. It was last caught at 240 lb and has gained 200 lb.’

For the full amazing story, grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

• How to report your catch to us > details here

Ian Steel, 57, and best pal Neville Payne, 48, both from Pocklington, North Yorkshire, were after specimen pike at the British Waterways-controlled weir when the disaster struck.

Their small aluminium boat was sucked underneath the torrent by a huge undertow and the boat capsized.

After a long rescue attempt, both men were pulled out the water by specially trained fireman but Ian tragically died in hospital.

Neville was still in hospital a week later when the Angler’s Mail was going to Press. He is being treated for hypothermia and the effects of swallowing polluted river water but is expected to make a full recovery.

Firefighters estimate the men had been in the water for up to 20 minutes when they arrived.

Specially trained swimmers pulled Neville out within five minutes. He told them his friend was also in the river. It took a further ten minutes to rescue Ian by boat.

By that time his lifevest and much of his clothing had been ripped off by the force of the water.

For the full horrific story in a pages 4-5 news special, grab this week’s Angler’s Mail magazine.

And get the magazine every week for top tips, big news, best products, and venues that are in form.

• Big Trent pike on Angler’s Mail free gift > click here