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

After my last successful outing catching chublets on the River Irwell I decided to try and replicate these proceedings a little further upstream on a different run and hopefully add some more useful information to the collective. The run I had chosen had various characteristics. At the head of the run the current is very fast and shallow it then calms down a bit and splits into two currents, one on the near bank and the other on the far bank. The currents then split again one down stream and the other back on its self forming an eddy on the far bank. “ Plenty to go at here I thought “ . . . . . LOL To be honest with you all I have fished this run before but the last floods had changed the river considerably .I fished this run last  October and did quite well. It was the Acolyte christening blog,  the day resulting in some nice chub and good brownie. Below is the link to the “ Acolyte Christening Blog “ http://purplepeanut007.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/acolyte-plus-chrstening-r

I haven’t been working much on a Saturday lately but been sucked into my house renovation so fishing has still been difficult to organise but a chance call from “ Red Head Fred “ ( John Derbyshire ) asking me if I fancied a quick rod sharing session on the River Douglas was well and truly snapped up !!!!!!!!! We meet at Johns new gaff and he gave me a quick tour whilst grabbing some bits for our quick roving session. Fifteen minutes later we piled in his van an hot tailed it off to the stretch we usually fish. Now, this stretch suffered from a pollution incident a few weeks ago. We were all still fuming so an exploratory session was needed to see if there was any detrimental affects on the resident fish population. Here is the link to the pollution incident. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/14776557.Chemicals_cause_of_river_fish_deaths/?action=success#comment_17041124 We only had three hours as I had to be back home for 17.00. As we arrived at our first r

I had forgottento do this write up. . . . . . I decided to have another quick hour on the same peg I caught that nice brown trout from  but, unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. Two chublets and the rivers full population of minnows graced my net. After of arm aching minnow bashing session I packed up and moved to pastures new......... I have been getting out a little more lately so I decided for a change. There is a little known run on the middle Irwell that I have never fished that was going to be crossed of the bucket list today . 😉 I had been warned about the rivers current here  because you have to wade accros it and the river also narrows up next to a sheer cliff face.  I carefully inched over the bedrock to the other side of the river to gain access to the run only known by a few. The journey to the run was not to bad, as I have said, I crossed the river in around two foot of water. It was not as bad as I was expecting it to be to be honest and I c

Tony Peet very kindly took my " Inserted Stick Float " For a testing session.  Below are the results of his findings. 😊 " I decided to have a quick go on the River Ribble this morning. The sun was just rising and with a clearish sky,  I knew I would need to make the most of the first few hours of the day. The swim I picked was quite deep and the flow about half walking pace. I had decided to fish two lines, one a rod length or so out about 6ft deep, the other would be mid river  11ft.  Before I set up in a swim I know I normally feed it. I was loose feeding hemp corn and maggot. Straight way I had a problem. I had took my best catapult out last week and not replaced it 😣. The only one I had was my winter maggot one for short range feeding. Not the best start!!  I managed twenty or so mini pouches of  bait and BANG the elastic broke!! Well,  I had got some corn across and I could feed the near line by hand, but it didn't stop me bemoa

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

The Last Day Of The Season  - 2016 Well, it’s come full circle again and it is the last day of the river season. I was at Salford Pets for 7.30 to make a few floats. One pike pencil for Kaden McCarthy who is a 14 year old prodigy, a member of Salford Friendly Anglers and is showing the adults how the catch pike in the Mancunian canals and a pair of Perch Bobbers for a competition in one of the groups I am a member of. By the time the floats were ready for lacquering it was 10.30. I had yet to sort out my river kit. It was a right mess from my last blank on the Douglas. (Something terrible has happened to that lovely little river) By 11.30 I was in the “ Mighty Megan “and off to a quite stretch of the Irwell, hopefully to bag a few chub…….may be even a barbel. Here’s hopping …. lol I wanted to christen my new Avon float which I had rigged up the night before. Knowing the run I introduced some freebies as I tackle up. The river looked spot on with a ting