Hello, my name is Noddy and I have a question.

[Michael Foster]

Howard, I would definitely go for an in line flat bed feeder such as the drennans, couple of big blobs of putty as back leads and the rig is a safe bolt rig, again drennan barbel hooks on a short drennan braid of around 10-12lb. Like the lads have said fake buoyant up the shank and a couple of real ones on the hook.

Bit different to other recommendations but for chub/barbel I have found by far the most effective. The need for the long hook links is definitely not needed. Just plop the feeder in on the same spot regularly and fish come to it and see the rig as not a threat as they just want the maggots

Good look
Jason

Jason

Spot on. This rig accounted for a lot of big Cherwell barbell in its heyday and multiple catches too, in both clear and coloured conditions, summer and winter, especially if used in conjunction with a large bait dropper. The chub would hang themselves, even with a size 6 drennan super specialist! Have used it on the few trips I have made to the middle W.Avon , and have taken multiple catches in bright sunlight and darkness. A couple of friends have found it very effective towards the back end of the season on the W.Avon as well. Once they get on the maggots, there’s no stopping em!

Mick

 

[Simon Lush]

Jason

Spot on. This rig accounted for a lot of big Cherwell barbell in its heyday and multiple catches too, in both clear and coloured conditions, summer and winter, especially if used in conjunction with a large bait dropper. The chub would hang themselves, even with a size 6 drennan super specialist! Have used it on the few trips I have made to the middle W.Avon , and have taken multiple catches in bright sunlight and darkness. A couple of friends have found it very effective towards the back end of the season on the W.Avon as well. Once they get on the maggots, there’s no stopping em!

Mick

Size 6 DSS with about a dozen maggots crammed on it slowed the Chub down Mick ! Barbel didn't care when they properly got on them We were getting Maggots for £4 a gallon then though mate ! be pricey nowadays

Oh and braided hooklink every time, never use mono to hook for Barbel any more, combi if its a long one, straight braid if its short but ALWAYS braid to the hook.

 

[Michael Foster]

Size 6 DSS with about a dozen maggots crammed on it slowed the Chub down Mick ! Barbel didn't care when they properly got on them We were getting Maggots for £4 a gallon then though mate ! be pricey nowadays

Oh and braided hooklink every time, never use mono to hook for Barbel any more, combi if its a long one, straight braid if its short but ALWAYS braid to the hook.

I’ve still got some of the feeders I used. Drennan 2 oz with 4 inches of stiff rig tube superglued through the middle, was before drennan bought out their inline feeders. Found one of my old bait droppers in the garage (old Heinz spaghetti tin coated in black hammerite), what a beast, half a pint of maggots in one drop!!! No need for hair rigs!!!!

 

[Simon Lush]

Mine was made from a pineapple chunks tin ! i remember one day watching four doubles ripping up the bottom, i lowered that dropper right on top of them and they simply parted to let it fall and open then dived onto the 1/2 pint of maggots that came out ! fair to say they were on em Great days those.

 

[Michael Foster]

Mine was made from a pineapple chunks tin ! i remember one day watching four doubles ripping up the bottom, i lowered that dropper right on top of them and they simply parted to let it fall and open then dived onto the 1/2 pint of maggots that came out ! fair to say they were on em Great days those.

And that was the key, keep that dropper going in for an hour or so before lowering your feeder or straight lead into the swim. Only ever used braid as well on short hook links, especially when bolt rigging, 10lb Merlin, never let me down once. I would use mono in the winter if using a longer hook length and a running feeder, some black ducting tape around the feeder to control the flow of maggots depending on the water temperature. Too many people's dismay, I use to use drennan double strength as a hook length and scale down to a size 12 hook, used a floppy 11ft foot rod which would absorb all the lunges, and never lost a fish ever. My advice when using the maggot feeder is don't scrimp on the bait, pointless using a very small feeder, the more maggots going in the merrier!!

 

[Howard Cooke]

Well, on Friday I gave some of the suggestions a go (could not get some of the recommended hook length material so that will have to wait for another visit). What seemed to work well was a feeder and long(ish) fluorocarbon hooklength of around 2.5 ft. Used a size 12 hook and threaded a fake maggot over the eye. A good rig that. For variety, I used the inline feeder with a back lead and short braid hook length. That felt like a good rig too, especially fishing closer in where you could just lay the whole rig down and straighten it all out in the process.

Thanks again for the advice.