Purplepeanut007 PP007 FLOAT MAKING & FISHING ADVENTURES - THE RIVER IRWELL AND BEYOND.

Barbel Stick Float Independant Review By Andrew Boyne Andrew approached me a few weeks ago to see if I would like my Barbel Stick Floats reviewing indipendantly. Andrew is a respected angler and the holder of the River Irwell Wild Brown Trout record. Not caught on my floats may I add....lol Here is his un-edited review below. --------------      Sometimes it's the little things in life that give us the most happiness. Take the humble fishing float for example. It was with great joy that I received my beautifully hand crafted Barbel Stick last Thursday, a creation of expert local Float maker Mike Cootes.  Feather Inlayed Barbel Stick Floats It was an anxious few days before I could get to the River Ribble but I finally got to give it a run through the Ribble this afternoon. It was a really enjoyable afternoons fishing watching a lovely float meander down the river. First run down produced a Brown Trout which did it's best t...

I had a pass off the Mrs this Sunday so with a quick line to a new pal of mine, John Derbyshire a plan was made to fish a little known river – to me anyway - ……The River Douglas in Bolton. I still don’t know exactly where we were  but I know we were near the Reebok Stadium. John said it’s a little river for roving so I was  traveling light, a bag and a rod…..that was it …..which is super light for me ......lol. I told john while we were having breakfast at his house that I do not possess any Irwell sticks. He stopped chewing his bacon butty and stared at me in disbelief and said ………………… “ A float maker without any of his talisman floats…………your kidding right Mike “  “No” I replied. “ I thought I had a feather inlayed one but I couldn’t find it “ john chuckled and said “ well………….you’re not using mine “ with a big grin on his face. I nipped to the car, opened my float box and found , just one , lonely carved chubber. It was quite heavily loaded and took about 4...