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

Morning all. Both John and I where off to a new stretch of the river today. Our chosen destination was the Wye Lee stretch of the River Wye near the bridge pillers. We arrived to find ourselves the first people there so had the pick of the pegs. John already new where he was gonna fish as did I due to short recce the night before. John was in the the first peg next to the pillers. A bit of a boilly, washing machine peg due to all the sub-surface obstructions. It looked very "Barbely" but he may well loose some end tackle. A bonus John had was we had witnessed a barbel capture from there the night previous so at least we new the were in the vacinity. It had been very warm the past week. I had my suspicions the barbel may still be spawning, or at least cleaning off in the fast water. My choice of run was a double croy. A croy is something like a jetty of rocks, man made, in this case, heading out into the river to about 40 feet. A double croy has the same jetty of rocks mirrore...

I kicked of my river season yesterday on the Ribble trying out a new waggler plus a few sticks floats. Traffic was good for a change as I made way up the M61. I couldn't wait to see the river again. . . that wait seamed like years.... !!!!!! When I arrived the river was one her bones !!!!! I had never seen the Ribble this low before !!!!!! Most of the pegs were unfishable for me with the floats I wanted to use.  There was either no flow or too much pace. I opted for a gravel run at the end of a deep,  virtually still pool.  There was more pace on my peg as it shallowed up to about three feet . . . at least it would move the sticks along. As I was running a new stick float through the swim there was a massive CRASH !!!!!!!  I nearly jumped out of my waders !!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯 A fish had leaped clean out of the water and crashed back into the deeper part of the pool to my left. I got a clean visual of it as crashed down the second time. It was ...

Here is the second addition to the  " Heavy Wire Stemed Avon " Range. It is the same weight as the original orange version but finished in sexy pink with silver thread and a jay feather inlay. This also 3 -4g (4 - 5 AAA ish ) with an alloy stem. This will be paired up with the original orange one for two friends to use in the River Ribble and the Dove. Lets hope we will be seeing both these floats in the new season next to some lovely captures. The ball is in your court gentlemen.  I've done my part. . . . . Lol Until the next time . . . . . TTFN Peanut If you would like to look at my handcrafted floats just hit the link. 😊 http://purplepeanut007.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/handcrafted-floats-2017.html?m=1 http://salfordfriendlyanglers.co.uk/join/

After making Victor Homewood an.........  " Ultra Bling Jumbo Pacemaker " I liked the comments it received on Facebook and decided to make myself one. I shortened the float and reduced the buoyancy by approximately 50% so the weight is 7AAA or 3.5 swan which is exactly what I need for the River Ribble and some parts of the River Irwell where sticks cant cut it when on bread and meat.  It has a yellow, black and white tip, purple and gold whippings with a metallic green  body. Framed between the two green body sections js a jay feather inlay. I hope you all like it. 😊 I may even get my act together and go back to Bridgenoth on the River Severn. A place which still has a special place in my hart. This was where I learnt to trot a float in my very early teens with John Doran, Mike Shaw & Dave Mason amongst others. Until the next time . . .  TTFN . . . . If you would like to look at my handcrafted floats just hit the l...

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...