Its been a wee while since my last general news blog....There's been many things afoot and plenty to get tongues wagging.

If you hadn't already read in my reports of the last few month's I've joined 2 new syndicate waters. Firstly Stenhill near Cullumpton in Devon...a small, secluded 25 man water with a good head of fish to 30lb+. My winter water and back up venue! 

Next up was my main venture for the year in the form of the magnificent Crayfish Pool. For those of you who don't know of the place, well your not in the right circles! lol

A very tricky 20 man syndicate water of 3 acres. 35 fish present and my are they tough cookies to bag! I've managed one out so far at 32lb 7oz for 8 nights fishing.

Other news, congratulations to fellow Catfish mad Huw who has just banked a new PB common of 25lb 4oz. Very well done pal and we look forward to many more of your excellent reports soon.

Huw has also come up with a few ideas with regards to some angling challenges.....check out his ideas on the forum and please do get involved if you have the time etc.

Magoo has been out and about recently, changing his barbel gear for the trusty carp rods during the close season for the rivers. A little bird tells me he's done pretty well this week on the floaters....pics to follow with any luck!

Still hoping to get some sort of social event lined up for later this summer time. Not 100% sure on a venue as yet but please email me any ideas you guys have and don't forget to give me your name on the forum so I can gauge the response and gather some sort of numbers up.

I'm sure some of you saw the news bulletin in the mags recently....£250,000 WORTH OF IMPORTED CARP WERE CULLED! Due to illegal importation. 

Now, whats going through these people's heads????I just don't understand it...maybe it's just a few of us but has carp fishing got to the stage where its BIG FISH or bust? Lets face it with KHV and SVC rife amongst the aqua cultural world surely importing carp at that level or even at all is just down right lunacy! 

Lets face it, not even with a section 30 and a fish health check can the fish be absolutely 100% failsafe fit for joining the rest of your stock fish. I'm sorry to those of you out there who just want to bag a big fish as you have little time on the bank....I understand this, but doesn't any carp however big float your boat????Surely if we've got past the stage of just enjoying our fishing then we're on a serious crash course. 

Only 20 years back it was hard to find a good carp water with decent big fish. This tended to be for the 'lucky ones!' But now its carp puddles every where! F1 this and baggin up that....what happened to just taking your lad out for a spot of fishing. Now we have instant 40's waters. I'm sure there are a few anglers who would happily pay £40-50 for a 24hr session to fish a stock pond for imported carp to 50lbs. But every week we see the same 40lbers onb the bank in front of sponsorship banners. Maybe I'm being out spoken here but it's not the way I want to head. I'd rather fish for true 'Brits' from quality well established waters.

Anyway, something to get you all talking about! lol Let us know what you think good, bad or indifferent!

All the best

'Nuts'