What the Staffordshire Predator Anglers Group means to me? By Mark Phillip
Stanstead, Essex.

Living in Essex I can imagine a few people wondering why I am a member of a predator group based in Staffordshire. I can hear people shouting now, "Just to get on Blithfield - that's why!". Well, that's not the answer. It all began a few years ago when I was contacted by my good friends Andy Blazey and Richard Wesley from Newmarket. They had met two lads, Ivan Owen and Phil Rowley on a fishing trip to Ireland some years back and formed a firm friendship. So when SPAG began to take shape, the news all filtered back to me via these people. I was not aware at the time that joining SPAG may give me the opportunity to fish Blithfield. What became immediately apparent though was that here lay a newly formed specimen group focussing on predator fishing, with clear objectives and no political agenda. It also looked like this group would gain access to a number of 'privileged access' waters in the near future. In my opinion, no forward thinking predator angler could afford not to be involved. I sent off my membership fee and was soon blanking on Grafham Water in the fog with my fellow SPAG members! A year later I gained access to fish Blithfield and then started to really understand what being a SPAG member is all about. I'm not referring to the actual fishing, but to the new friends I've made when I've been up at the reservoir. It's fantastic to meet like minded predator hunters who go about their business in such a good humoured and friendly way. This is what SPAG is about as far as I'm concerned. Sharing information and ideas, getting together for a good laugh, and above all - promoting safe handling and fish conservation. I'm sure many people are aware of my health problems over the last year or so. The support I received from the group was really appreciated and goes a long way to confirm the quality of this organisation and its members. I'm sure as time goes on the group will go from strength to strength. I'm proud to be a SPAG member and stand by the aims of the group.

Pictured is my 31.08 from Blithfield - cheers to Mick Bates for keeping me calm when it came over the net!