As we move into autumn and early winter there can be little doubt that maggot and maggot feeders are the thinking barbel anglers’ go-to approach, particularly on the Trent, although I have no doubt whatsoever that they will work everywhere. Barbel love ’em. Always have, always will.

When the barbel boom struck much attention was directed towards pellets, pastes, boilies and hemp. For a while the majority of barbel anglers used a combination of them.

Like any fad the novelty began to wear off and today we see maggots making a significant come-back.

Indeed it is not a stretch to suggest they have become a bit of a fad with recent converts to barbel fishing as they are remarkably effective on short sessions, for example, arriving as dusk approaches and fishing for a few hours into darkness.

Effective and economic at this time of year

There’s clearly a case of history repeating itself with maggots. I caught my first Trent barbel in the mid-1980s and by the mid-1990s I was deliberately targeting them along with Archie Braddock. Archie had done virtually all the groundwork being an early pioneer of Trent barbel fishing. We would arrive on the river in late afternoon and deliberately set out our stall to catch barbel. Hard to believe these days that we inevitably had the river to ourselves. You’ll be able to find more about those times in my new book, the Mighty Trent, due for release on 6th November.

Anyway, guess what was our first bait choice thirty years ago? That’s right, maggots. Or in this instance dead ones, flavoured with the flavours Archie himself had developed. I will say this, blanks were very rare.

Masking the hook. Does it matter?

Back in those days we tended to use larger hooks, mostly Star Points, loaded with up to 25 maggots. Today, folk try to be a little more sophisticated using smaller hooks and perhaps just 3 or 4 maggots on the hook.

I’m not saying maggots will single out huge barbel to the exclusion of smaller samples but they are one bait that increases your chances of action.

Give it a go.

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Available now from Little Egret Press

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Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts1 Day ago

Who remembers the good old days before digital photography? When the serious angler used slide film. It wasn’t cheap, was it? You eked film out till you had 36 shots to develop. Then you posted it off to the lab and prayed it didn’t get lost in the post.

Well, I learned there was another pitfall. This slide film was developed in the wrong chemicals, intended for print film, not slide.

I could have cried. In the space of a few weeks I had landed perhaps 15 of my best 10 roach of all time up to that moment. OMG. I can’t explain the sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that left.

Oh well, you brush yourself down and press on. Catch some more. Anyone else have any horror stories to tell?

Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts6 days ago

Just uploaded an article about the opening of a new fish pass on the Trent at Colwick. Sounds like good news for migratory species in particular and it has the potential to revitalise coarse fishing on the upper river and its tributaries.

Bob Roberts

Bob Roberts6 days ago

Now the dust has settled following Wednesday evening’s NPS show at Newark Showground – this is just part of the audience – it is time to reflect.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who dropped by for a chat or to purchase a copy of my new book, The Mighty Trent. It was a huge privilege to meet you all and my only regret being I wish I’d had more time to spend with each of you.

Based on book sales and various other discussions I reckon I spoke with over two hundred attendees during the course of the night which equates to just one minute each, but, wen we take out the time allocated to the talks so it boils down to barely 30 seconds each which is far too short.

Should you bump into me when I’m out and about please feel free to stop me and say hello. I at least owe you that. And if the timing is inconvenient I’ll explain and we can do it later.

I know from someone who had pre-ordered a copy that he received an email yesterday telling him his book had been dispatched and from what I can gather, all pre-orders will now be winging their way towards expectant purchasers so listen out for a knock on the door anytime soon.

Thank you everyone. I’m feeling suitably humbled and now looking forward to hearing some constructive feedback either online or privately.

Tight lines all.

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