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

A long over due trip on the  Lower River Irwell  to test out my new stepped stick floats was tonight's mission. Many in our club would like to know where all the silvers and small barbel have gone ? So tonight was a scouting session to try and find them !!!!!!!!!! I opted for my Abu 704 closed faced reel tonight as the wind was a little gusty coupled with my 14 foot Acolyte Plus. Bait was two pints of white maggots, a pint of hemp. Two stepped stick float rigs were knocked up at home and stored on line winders. All was ready for my little experimental session. 😁 It took around 30 minutes or my first bite and fish, a lovely chunky dace of around 5 ounces.  I shallowed my rig a little and placed a No 4s back shot on about 15 centimetres from the float to aid my presentation and got and instant response, small but very welcome. 😁 Felling a little more confident I steadily upped my feed of hemp and maggots hoping to attracted the larger fish.  Incr

A long awaited session on the River Ribble finally came off this week. I had arrange to meet Pete Bell A.K.A  " Ribble Pete " A great float angler who knows the lower river like the back of his hand. I arrived at the river at 07.30 . . . . around an hour after sun up. " Ribble Pete "  was there since 06.00 with his usual set up. . .  Tip rod upstream and his stick rod in front. As I arrived Pete was netting a lovely roach of around 10 ounces. " Arite Miiiiike. Long time no see " Came the friendly reply in a broad Bolton accent from beneath the olive green umbrella. " Glad you made it Mike......they are really having it this morning surprising really as the river is well up but if it rise more than another six inches on top of what it is now it will kill the fishing so don't mess about and get fishing next to me. Having received my instructions from the  Ribble float master . . . . . . .  I jumped on the peg upstr

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

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

Both John and I finally got round to our River Yarrow trip. We have both been looking forward to this for a long time as next to nothing is known  ( by us ) about this little river. We were hoping for chub roach and dace but any fish from a new river would be most welcome. We tackled up next to the van as it would be easier to do so. Once ready we walked over to the field which the river flowed though. As we approached the river John stopped dead in his tracks . . . . . “ Is that Hogweed Mike “ ? “ Unfortunately yes it is mate “ I replied. Hogweed is a horrible invasive species which gives u a very nasty burn . If it gets into your eyes it can actually blind you . . . . . Horrid stuff ! ! ! ! Hogweed Hogweed Burns Click the link for more information on Hogweed http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/problem-solving/giant-hogweed-everything-you-need-to-know/ A little down hearted we fought through the Japanese Knot weed down to a VERY small wild river.