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

Well, I finally got around to my first ever session targeting grayling. I got to Jayzs around one ish and we decided to go in my car to save any messing Jayzs had minimal tackle. A small tip rod a bag and a chair. He was practising his upstream feeder fishing today to enable us to have a social fish together.  I was, of course, on the float. As we tackled up Jayzs threw down the gauntlet and crowed ........ " I'll bet you 5p that I catch a grayling before you set up Mike " Now I am a bit daft but not daft enough to take a bet from and angler of his calibre after a species I have never caught. " Not taking that bet pal. You must have watched me tackle up before " I laughed. As I finished setting up my rig Jayzs chuckled and said  . . . .  " You should have took the bet Mike. I haven't had a touch yet ". " That's a little concerning " !!!!!!! I laughed and proceeded to show him my new  ...

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 ...

I have wanted to put my mark on a traditional stepped inserted waggler for quite some time now but I never seemed to get round to it. Recently I purchased various new threads,  so, as per usual I started a pair then put them to one side them so I could re-visit them at my leisure.  Eventually I got round to whipping them just as my new threads arrived.  Good timing aye !!!!!!! This pattern lends itself to more than one feather and as you have probably guessed I like a feather or two on my floats.  I tried a little free styling and came up with the design below.  I am not 100 % happy with it as there are a few minor changes I would make but all in all not a bad result for my first attempt at a  . . . . .  .  Traditional  Treble Feather Inlay Stepped  Inserted Waggler . It is a general float for all different types of species but lends itself to maggot and caster style of fishing I hope you ...

For the last few months I have been trying to get John Derbyshire to join Little Britain Anglers. Two weeks ago I showed him and his pal Paul Johnson around our little club. Both were impressed with the set up and promised to join in a couple of weeks time. Today was that day. . . . . I arrived at 08.15 having already organised our session with Eric Owen & Mick Doddman. The lads weren’t their when I arrived so I took the decision to fish an un-favoured peg. “ The Sunken Tree Peg “  (The one I caught my first  Irwell chub on in fact) Leaving the fliers for the newbies. 😉 I decided after a quick try to put my favoured Irwell sticks back in my bag and took out a loafer as the pace of this peg is fierce to say the least as the run is spawned from some shallow rapids bellow the willow peg. It is a very difficult peg to fish on the float. The river cuts into the near side where there is a submerged tree. This peg screams big fish but only fish to ab...