I'm spoilt for choice down here with the Hants Avon and particularly the Dorset Stour, both have areas holding large populations of chub including some true leviathans. There are many ways to approach the challenge and I've had my fair share on maggot feeder with the well known inline Black Cap/ultra short hook link the historic classic. But I've not fished that, or similar, method for more than a decade. Trotting has been my choice, specifically in autumn/winter.
Those large populations and local knowledge make location somewhat easier and influence the tactics. The main aim is to get the chub to loosen their inhibitions and compete for the feed. The maggot feeder is great for introducing the feed but accuracy is compulsory to make the most of the method. Quantity of feed is not always compulsory but can help! I've sat behind a few very skilled "Black Cap" anglers at the top of their game and in the right hands and right conditions is extremely efficient. One classic example was the late Cam Cleary on a well known spot at Throop. He spent a good 45/60 mins feeding the spot with unerring accuracy via a Black Cap. He then decided it was time to attach the insanely short hook link culminating in a single maggot on a #20. He started to catch, continuing to feed at the same pace and accuracy. Any pauses in activity just saw him continue feeding. Cam's record on Throop was up there with the best. Whilst I didn't witness it, he is known to have removed the hooklink either by design or on the fence behind him, and continued to demonstrate how the chub were so uninhibited they were picking up the feeder to get at the maggots.
Loose feeding by hand (when trotting) is nowhere near as efficient at achieving that loss of inhibition but can be highly productive and for me far more enjoyable. In certain situations a bait dropper can also be very effective.
It took me until 2012 to get my first 7lb chub on the float from the Stour and have had a few more since. Had I fished with the feeder during that time, I'm certain I could have added a few more of those superb chub but who's counting!
I have a selection of rods but very much favour a pair of old JW Young 13ft Specimen Float. Sometimes I set up both, one always with a centrepin and top & bottom Chubber, Avon or similar, the other with a fixed spool and Waggler or Trent Trotter or similar.
I have a zillion floats but often favour the Clearwater range and sometimes those available from Dave Harrell.