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

John Derbyshire has been promising to take me on one of his local pits for a bit of Crucian Carp fishing for some time now. So we organised to meet on Bank Holiday Monday. When I arose from my pit in the morning I gave John a call but . . . . . . no answer !!!!!!!!!! I didn't panic . . . . .as his phone went straight to voice mail so I new his phone had ran out of juice. My phone started  to buzz about a mile from our rendezvous point I pulled the car over and grabbed my phone. . . . . It was John. " I'm so sorry mate. My phone has ran out of juice so I over slept. I can be there  in 20 minutes " !!!!!!! " Hahaha . . . . No worries John. Me and my old man will wait for you " True to his word 20 minutes later Johns van comes around the corner. " Alright boys came a jovial greeting from John" A quick visit to the tackle shop and we were on our way to the pit. John had " Bigged Up " these small pits and couldn't...

I have met lots of friendly blokes and good fishermen at Salford Friendly Anglers meetings in the past. One of these fine anglers being John or JAYS as he is known on facebook. On Tuesday I received a message from John asking if I had finished a batch of floats.  I have been making for him. " The Tinca Sticks and Irwell Sticks are done pal but the pike and perch floats still need sorting “  I replied. “ GREAT . I am desperate for the Tinca Sticks as my tench season is well underway. Can we meet up soon “ ? John lives in Stockport, I live in Whitefield so we arranged to meet about half way in Chadderton at a pub called The Boat & Horses right on the Rochdale Canal , an SFA stretch.  I landed at the allotted time,16.15, and text John of my arrival. I was rummaging around in my boot looking for some floats when I heard a voice I have not heard for well over two months  “ Hellow Mike “........ It was John. I hadn’t seen him in ages. We...

With a spare couple of hours and the rivers out of sorts in Manchester I opted for a “  Smash & Grab “ session on a small pondto give my Sneaky Lifter " floats a sterner test. I originally called them Tinca Stick MKIII 's but they are that thin and sensitive you cannot suspend large baits with them. So, they are a different float really. They are perfect for fishing suspended partical baits or fishing on the bottom. So I came up with the name " Sneaky Lifters " as they are perfect for catching shy bitting fish using a variation of the lift method. Here are the originals........  I have recently been told about this pond and its all a bit " Secret Squirral " and its not to far from my home so, thanks for the info pal. ( Many thanks Mr Anonymous)   The weather was not inspiring me but as you all know I don’t get out to fish very often so with very little preparation I threw my kit in the mighty Megan & gave it a bl...

I have been waiting for this day for a couple of weeks now. It was time to test out my new float. I have christend it........... " The Sneeky Lifter "   Why..... you will find out as you read......  As I was shotting up I put two BB on to lock the float then a no'1, a no'6,  and  no'8 was then added dropper shot. I have started to get to grips with my old local lake and started getting into my feeding routeen. The fish always  come on the drop at first. rudd, and roach mainly. Good flbusy fishing if thats your thing. I put just one no'8 3/4 of the way down the line. It was fast and furious from the off . I didn't get a chance to test the float properly as it just kept flying under. Lots of small rudd and roach obliged. The float was  VERY SENSITIVE............ Somewhere between a Canal Grey & a Stillwater Blue. After an hour the smaller fish start to get pushed out and the larger fish usually move in, genera...