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

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 ...

I am fixated on these small floats at the moment.  " Carp Stalkers "  are a simple enough float to make but the simplicity in their shape gives the maker much more scope for decoration. The three floats below will take approximately 4 BB and are best fished down the side or up in the water. The Glow In The Dark Yellow has a prial of vibrant scarlet wraps, a purple tag with golden spirals and black tippets.  The " Day Glow Purple " Stalker has a prial of violet wraps, which is the same colour as my standard purple tag. Finally " Day Glow Orange " Stalker is a new addition. It has a prial of orange wraps and a violet tag and is finished as the two previous floats with golden spirals and black tippets. I really like the look of these three and the colour combinations are endless. I think I have done these floats a dis-service as by calling them " Carp Stalkers " as they are a great all round float for m...

Below are a set of three " Retro Porcupine Quills " Black being a new addition. The other two are in the same colours as my original set. They are a slightly larger float and take a little more weight to cock ( 4BB ) compared to the originals I made for " Salford Pete " The next set completed are a prial of " Sneaky Lifters " Sporting yellow tips, pink indicating bands and finished of in original " Carp Stalker " thread colours. http://purplepeanut007.blogspot.com/2018/05/glow-in-datk-yellow-carp-stalker.html?m=1 Finally we have have a " Glow In The Dark Carp Stalker " Here is a group shot of all seven floats I am going to have a play with the porcupine quills when I get a spare five minutes..... LOL. I have a few ideas to bring them up to date. Retro floats are lovely but I always like to try and create something a little different for the eye by putting my own twist on things wherever possible ...

I have mentioned on previous posts that I have been persuaded to fish some matches on few commercial fisheries with my mates " Bald Eagle " & " Mumfy " Eagle and I used to pair up in the early nineties and win a few quid together on some northern opens but home and work pressures have kept me away from this scene for quite some time now. A mutual friend..... " Mumfy " Invited us both to " Moss Farm Fisheries " In Irlam. I have never fished it before but Eagle said . . . and I quote. . . . " If you don't frame on this knock up Peanut  I will snap all your fancy rods and burn all pretty your floats "  !!!!!!!! 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲 I thought that was a little harsh considering I haven't fished a match for over 12 years !!!!!!!! Lol 😉 Eagle picked me up and I was on time for a change. As we drove to Moss Farm we reminisced about fishing the Ribble together when we were kids. I was always still as...

As you all know I am a float angler through and through, however, even I recognised there is a time a place to dispense with the float due to river conditions. Basically,  it boils down to the fact that I don't want to drive thirty miles to the ribble and have to drive home because the river is five foot up, looks like chocolate milkshake and is unfishable on the float. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also wanted a nice piece  kit for  " Salford Pete " to use when we manage to get out together. ( Trotting for five hours is hard work in your forties . . . . . .never mind your seventies ) He is always talking about our old trips to Bridgenorth fishing for barbel, which was mainly tip fishing in the ealy days so I thought this would be a nice joint present between us. When I approached Andy about the build we had a long chat regarding mine and my dads requirements. I wanted a spliced tipped barbel rod that I could use on the Irwell as well as the Ribble. I ...