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Halibut pellets in winter? Boilies in winter?

M

Marcus Ruoff

Active Member
As winter is just starting now I wonder how many of you continue to use halibut pellets and (fishmeal/krill) boilies in winter for barbel?

I read that it is the common way to switch to meat/cheese/maggots etc. in winter.

Is that because most people THINK that this should work better in winter and go on to catch on these baits anyway because these baits get more time in winter on the water than usual?
Or is there scientific proof or a real and fair comparison between pellets and boilies and the common winter baits like meat/cheese/maggots?

Has anyone of you fished the winter baits side by side with pellets/boilies all winter through? If yes, what were the results?
Any conclusions on this?

I am aware of the discussions that oily products are not digested as well in winter compared to summer. But as less bait goes in in winter does it really matter? Do fish know the difference?

Thank you for your opinions!
 
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The first thing I'd say is, meat and cheese are both 'fattier' than all boilies, and most pellets (all pellets that have been in the river for more than 15 minutes). I think with barbel expending less energy (moving less) and eating less in cold conditions, in those few hours that they do eat they will eat whatever comes their way. It's more a case of finding the fish, putting a bait in front of it/them, and hoping.
 
Even side by side isn't a good test - as a barbel might just happen to be nearer one, and that just gives a false picture. What you really have to do is go with trends over many years on the same stretch using one bait one year and another the next. Many years because other variables naturally come into play, e.g. temps, levels, rain, sun, air pressure, etc, etc.....

And, really, who has the time to do that? As Terry rightly says, just do your best to put a good quality bait in front of a feeding barbel.
 
Joe Winstanley said:
I use maggots a lot in winter, but I can’t say I see a lot of other anglers doing the same. I reckon most anglers are still using the same baits they use in summer, just less of it.
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I think that comes down to the ease of other baits. It’s a lot easier to just grab a tin of meat or some boilies or pellets from home than it is to go to the tackle shop and get some maggots
 
Yes agree think maggots are a very good winter bait, the only thing that held me back was sourcing them, bought some this week from a good tackle shop that sales lots to the match guys, hence good quality. Also bread, liquidised in a big cage feeder and flake on''ook is a great method.
I am using a quiver set up for this far better.
And of course the stick float.
Rather than sulk in the winter months I guess we all need to think of different ways to keep us ticking over.
 
I don’t use maggots because of the nuisance tiddlers and horrible eels 🙁 I use Bacon Grill mostly from Tesco’s.
 
I use maggots a lot in the winter in clear / cold water conditions and also use boilies on a "sleeper" rod. I don't buy more than two pints at a time generally and they can last a couple of sessions, have a bait fridge which keeps them good for up to a week ;)
 
Richard Isaacs said:
Imitation baits are your friend here Rob. I have exactly the same issues using live maggots or casters
Go with the plastic and ignore everything that doesn’t slam the rod round
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The inference from that is that barbel happily ‘eat’ plastic.

Ive never tried plastic for barbel and have had mixed results with other species.

I catch plenty of tench on plastic, but I can’t catch roach on it…….
 
Tim Marks said:
The inference from that is that barbel happily ‘eat’ plastic.

Ive never tried plastic for barbel and have had mixed results with other species.

I catch plenty of tench on plastic, but I can’t catch roach on it…….
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Cant say I'm a huge fan of plastics for barbel, but I also use them an awful lot for tench.

Waiting for proper bites as Richard rightly says is the key, but I generally find when I'm getting trouble with chub and roach it's because there arent any barbel about. Imo, the nuisance fish don't hang around if there are barbel in the swim. Do nuisance fish feeding help bring barbel in? E.g the baiting pyramid. I think the jury's out for me on that one.
 
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