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

22.02.15 Peanut & The Casterman Handcrafted Stick Floats Vs Shop Bought. I didn't know where to go fishing this morning, first it was the River Croal then I decided on the River Tame. Just as I was about to leave home for the Tame I got a call from The Castsrman. " Where are you off to Peanut " he states in a broad bury accent. I told him I wasn't sure and what were his thoughts on the matter . "Any where will be as bad as the next Peanut. We have had some snow on the hills last night so any extra water coming down will be freezing cold, but at least there is some colour in her, that's one saving grace " he replies. We decided on a secret stretch that we fish rarely, you can fit three people on this run so there was more than enough room. Rigged up and ready to rock and roll........ A great time saver on the bank is to rig up your stick floats  ""Pole Float Style" I arrived first and had pick of the pe

20.02.15 Another Stick Float Test By The Casterman. Friday I finised work earlier than normal when on my way home I received a call from my pal to see if I fancied coming to watch him throw one of my new stick floats around the River Irwell .....  lol so ........straight from work I walked along the peg to where the Casterman was fishing. He didn't hear me approach and I keept quiet as I noticed a healthy bend in his rod. The line was singing as the fish put even more pressure on the line and his trusty Daiwa 125M. One of my floats which I had giffted to C.M. was also dacing and bobbing around as the fish kited and board further down stream." I'm good luck for you I am " I said as he pumped the fish slowly upstream  " Your right there Peanut " came the reply. " I've been here for over an hour and I've had nowt up until this fish As I got in position to take some action shots the Casterman realises the fish is foul hooked in the tail.  

STICK FLOATS - TESTING TIMES ON THE RIVER IRWELL. On Sunday morning, with a certain amount of trepidation, I took my new stick floats out from their holding tube, placed them in my tackle box and went to meet      " The Casterman " for our stick float fishing trial. I felt like a kid on exam day. I have put a LOT of effort into making these floats. Raw material sourcing and trialling etc. not to mention the amount of time it takes to make just one float so I was hoping they gave a good account of themselves !!!!!!!  A quick brew and I was off, river levels were on their way down and temperatures were on their way up, favourable conditions, no excuses there then. :) .... lol.     I pulled up in the car park near our stretch of River for the day ......... - No sign of  " The CasterMan " - he is usually early !!!!!! A quick text too Casterman -………..no reply ……………………………., but, not to worry his motor pulled up next to me and he jumped out full of beans .

Little Britain Anglers - The Beginnings - March 2014 I joined a new angling club last year in march , " Littlle Brittain Anglers ".  Check them out on Face Book.  It is a truly wonderful club to be in and bursting with friendly characters none more so than the Life Chairman and chief pollution fighter " Eric Owen Eric exposing yet more fly tipping on the banks of the River Irwell in Radcliffe. Eric and I hit it off straight away. We were both vigorously discussing a pollution incident via the Salford Friendly Anglers face book page when out of the blue I received a personal message off Eric asking me if I would like to fish his own personal stretch of the River Irwell near Bury or " The Red Zone " as it was known at the time.Well, you know me kids, it was like giving a 10 year old free sweets ................ I was down at Eric's house before you could say " stick float " ... lol. Now, I had heard about "The Red Zo

River Irwell Chub On The Stickfloat. This session was about trying to extract a chub from the upper middle Irwell on the stick float and I was looking forward to a new challenge. The River narrows off at this stage and can be fished easily with a stick float on most stretches.   It was a lovely mild morning the sun was shinning when I arrived at my chosen peg and I noticed a few fish topping further down the run. My set up consisted of 4lb line straight through a stick float an 18's hook and maggot as the hook bait. I set up the " Peanut Station " a few feet into the river, finished faffing around with my tackle and rig and I was ready to rock and roll. The Peanut Station The legs on the P.S.are to long for a lot of situations. I must saw a third off each leg and put a screw & thread on the bars so I can screw the extra pieces in if needed. I chose to fish the deepest part of the run, just where the white foam is visible in the above picture. The