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

RIVER IRWELL. ACOLYTE THE CHRISTENING. Well, two weeks ago I had a quick session on the Irwell in Salford trying out my new Barbel Stick Float. All DID NOT go as planed. The float performed great,  just as describe in his independent review by Andrew Boyne.  On my Fifth trot down the Barbel Stick banged under and I was into my first fish on a new section of river. After a spirited battle a brownie of about 10 oz graced my net…….A good start I thought………………. I put my rod down behind me an un-hooked the little beasty. My gear was behind me so I turned round to grab my disgorger when I felt something out of place under my feet…………………. IT WAS MY ROD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know when you get that sinking feeling ………….. like just after you have banged your car …………. and its YOUR FAULT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, that’s how I felt inside. This rod was my pride and joy and I would not swap it in a million years. I ...

River Mersey. Loaded Inserted Stick - Testing Session - One. G ot up late but all my gear was sorted the night before and rigged up a special float I had made specifically for this day. Loaded Whipped Inserted Stick Float   I loaded up the  " Mighty Megan " and hot footed it down the M62. Craig and Casterman were already watching their floats sailling down the River Mersey when I rocked up with all my gear. All the good pegs where still avaliable so I asked Castermans advice as to where I should  have a dangle as I had never fished this stretch before or indeed the river for that  matter. I opted for the next peg down from Craig and quickley set up as light  as possible for the resident roach and perch that frequent the stretch we were fishing. It didn' t start well as I boshed my carfully prepared rig on my fith cast. I set up again using stotts instead of split shot to minimize any false bites while feeding hemp amd fishing m...

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...