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

I have been lucky enough to meet many talented people over the last two years. A chap called “ Andrew Boyne “ was one of these such people. Andrew is a talented angler and has a 15lb plus River Ribble barbel to his name. Not to mention the River Irwell brown trout record with a 10 lb plus fish. Andrew and I did a little testing on the Ribble one day when I noticed one of Andrew lovely tip rods. “ Where did you get that rod “ I asked? “ I built it myself Mike, here, have a proper look “. I did just that and it was looòovely. I have made a few rods in the past but nothing like this. “ Do you like it Mike ?  I’ll make you one if you like " !!!!!!!! I nearly fell off my chair !!!!!!!!!!! Are you serious !!!!!!!!!!!!! " Deadly "  came Andews forthright reply. Over the next few weeks we had numerous conversation regarding my style of fishing, venues I fish and my requirements for the new rod build At first I decided on a shorter

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

Andrew Boyne has written a nice guest piece regarding my new loafer float . . . . .  . . Good result . . . . . . 😉 Andrew write up folks . . . 😊 " Had a few hours on the Ribble this evening, hoping to find it in better form than when Mike and I last visited. Unfortunately it wasn't, in fact it was even worse! An hour each in 3 of my banker swims produced a hand full of small chub. Trudging back to the car i decided to have a look at a swim I've not fished since last season. A couple of trees had gone down since i last dropped in there and their branches laying out over the water looked like a classic fish holding spot. Access close to the snags was dodgy but a peg 30yds above provided a nice spot to fish. It was impossible to chuck down with the tip due to overhanging trees - thankfully i had my trotting gear, and Mikes Loafer with me! Bait was to be a lump of paste wrapped around a size 8 Raptor Big T - no messing in the fast water. You need a big float to

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

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 to mess up m