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

I have been a “ Bad Lad "   on Ebay again .  😈 An Abu 506M Closed Face Real has been on my hit list for a while now for silver fishing on rivers in the winter months. Today I took delivery of one. It is in good condition and ready to use even though it is over 30 years old . . . . 😲 I decided to change the line of course, so,  I took a trip to  “ Elton Tackle “ in Radcliffe  and purchased  two spools of Prestons Reflow Line. One spool for the mainline on the real and another, lighter spool for hook lengths. I prefer pre-stretched lines on closed face reels. They do not have the longevity of some of the standard lines but presentation it vastly improved when the pre-stretched are used as mainlines. I currently have an Abu704, but, from now on it will use this with heavier pre-stretched lines on the Irwell for the big chub and monster brown trout. May be the ribble if I am feeling brave. . . Lol To aid in presentation I apply some silico

I had a few hours spare after work this week and fancied a dangle on a river somewhere. Andre Boyne had kindly invited me up to a stretch of river he knows very well. So with the “ Mighty Megan " all loaded up I high tailed it up to the Ribble where I hoped to catch a barbel or big chub. . . . . on the float of course . . . . . 😉 My new Lofa which is now Andrews new Loafer. LOL The weather forecast wasn’t good . . . . RAIN . . . but the river was not too high and was nicely coloured so things were looking good. Andrew was coming down a little later so I headed over to a fast, shallow stretch of the river the barbel liked to hold in at the moment.  Andrew had already pointed this run out and I had tried it a few days before on a "Barbel Stick" snd a "Lofa".  I had some lovely silvers and a few trout but bumped a brace of barbel which probably killed the swim. Silvers from a previous session ona barbel stick. I was more prepared this

A while ago I was given an old " Youngs Trudex " centerpin reel by Derek Kenyon. ( AKA Casterman ) It was in very poor condition when I initially received it and would not spin one full revolution but with a little time and research I have managed to turn it into MORE than a decent runner, in fact, with a little more work I think it will be my "  go to " reel for short Irwell sessions this summer  ( If I can get away from work ....lol ). I placed it on my state of the art Drennen Acolyte Plus. They felt made for each other. The balance was REALLY good but I will hold judgement until I can test drive the pair on the opening day of the river season. If I do not get chance to go to Bridgenorth on the River Severn then the pair will get their first date on the River Ribble or if staying local the River Irwell ....... ( Little Britain Anglers ) Here is the Trudex. Spins well enough for a test drive I think....😊 Here is a quick video to

I have managed ( eventually ) to put on the blog the video of the only River Irwell barbel I have caught from march 2015. I was playing the fish fine until realised what I had hooked then I fell to pieces with nerves.....lol The fish was caught from a private stretch of the Irwell run by  Little Britain Anglers Just thought we would warn viewers there is some colourfull language as we was a tad excited........😆 Below us a link to Little Britain Anglers Wbsite http://littlebritainanglers.co.uk/ Below is the link to the day I caught an Irwell Ghost !!!!!! http://purplepeanut007.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/river-irwell-barbel-another-dream.html?m=1 If you would like to look at all of the hand crafted floats I make please click on the link below and it will take you to my float page. http://purplepeanut007.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/hand-crafted-floats-float-making-by.html?m=1 TTFN Peanut

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Best roach net I have had so far on my hand crafted floats. When I got up on Sunday morning I was hardly inspired to try the River Irwell. The river had been at its highest level all year the previous night and was still very high this morning so, I opted for a local still water, but which one ????????? I fancied a bit of roach fishing but its not that easy in Manchester to find a good roach fishery with clean fish with sharp colours, very different frim their washed out commercial cousins !!!!!!!!!! I have found a rough diamond of a water with a good head of stamp roach but to get to them you have to wade through the hordes of 3oz perch. So, with my water chosen I popped into Elton Tackle in Radcliffe for a few bits. A mate if mine was there, ( Craig who, last week had a massive net of roach from a North West river. Some of his roach were over 2lb !!!! ) as well as Phil Greggory ( Shop Manager )) Who kindly offered me a brew while Craig got his biscuits out. Craig looked a

Irwell Sticks On The Irk !!!!!!!!!!!! With a spare couple of hours this morning I headed of to the River Irk for the first time. I new it was going to be a VERY difficult couple of hours as the fish population density is minute, a lot less than the Irwell and would benefit from some stocking.......If you are listening........ E.A. .........!!!!!!!! A few brave pioneering souls like Phil Clayton , Michael Duddy, Adam Mack , Richard O'Riely & Paul James to mention but a few have lead the way regarding this little River so with big shoes to fill I headed off for my first session. I had looked at the river the day before and it was virtually un-fishable 4ft up,  batting through and deep chocolate in colour. Today, however, she was still carrying extra water but had dropped to about 1.5 feet above normal levels and just had a bit of colour. She looked pretty good to be honest so I grabbed my gear from the mighty Megan and made my way to the first run hoping for a chub