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

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 t...

I had a pass off the Mrs this Sunday so with a quick line to a new pal of mine, John Derbyshire a plan was made to fish a little known river – to me anyway - ……The River Douglas in Bolton. I still don’t know exactly where we were  but I know we were near the Reebok Stadium. John said it’s a little river for roving so I was  traveling light, a bag and a rod…..that was it …..which is super light for me ......lol. I told john while we were having breakfast at his house that I do not possess any Irwell sticks. He stopped chewing his bacon butty and stared at me in disbelief and said ………………… “ A float maker without any of his talisman floats…………your kidding right Mike “  “No” I replied. “ I thought I had a feather inlayed one but I couldn’t find it “ john chuckled and said “ well………….you’re not using mine “ with a big grin on his face. I nipped to the car, opened my float box and found , just one , lonely carved chubber. It was quite heavily loaded and took about 4...

I have been waiting for this day for a couple of weeks now. It was time to test out my new float. I have christend it........... " The Sneeky Lifter "   Why..... you will find out as you read......  As I was shotting up I put two BB on to lock the float then a no'1, a no'6,  and  no'8 was then added dropper shot. I have started to get to grips with my old local lake and started getting into my feeding routeen. The fish always  come on the drop at first. rudd, and roach mainly. Good flbusy fishing if thats your thing. I put just one no'8 3/4 of the way down the line. It was fast and furious from the off . I didn't get a chance to test the float properly as it just kept flying under. Lots of small rudd and roach obliged. The float was  VERY SENSITIVE............ Somewhere between a Canal Grey & a Stillwater Blue. After an hour the smaller fish start to get pushed out and the larger fish usually move in, genera...

These large whipped feather inlayed stick floats below are up for auction for a worthy cause......... The ABF Auction In Memory Of Brian Hallyard. These are large stick floats intented for barbel and chub fishing in faster water. If you fancy helping a worthy cause have a bid on them you never know.......😉 Tight lines........Mike. Here is the link to the auction. Thanks . Ends 28.08.2015 http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/21298/auctions/24563/auction_items/573093 If you would like to look at all of the hand crafted floats I make please click on the link below and it will take you to my float page. http://purplepeanut007.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/hand-crafted-floats-float-making-by.html?m=1

Got a pass for Sunday so, a quick word with my old man and we settled for fishing " The Cut " which is an Unsworth Anglers club water - He was following me up later as he had a few to many pints of Joseph Holts mild the previous night and felt a bit rough......the poor lamb.....LOL. I reached my  peg in good time and luckily for me the rain gods kept their distance. I set up my Conni X and fited my "Merlin Mordex Centerpin real ".This was its maiden voyage as well and I was looking forward  to having a play with it as well as assessing the new " Tinca Stick " Now, bait for the session was 6mm pellets -  de-frosted - and chopped meat & a little hemp to hold the fish in the swim......I also had some skanky maggots that had been in the fridge for about two weeks and most of them were casters but Salford Pete was on a maggot run and would be here shortly with fresh bait. The MK II Tinca Stick took 4BB plus to cock it, which is ...