5 Deadly Tricks With Maggots...

...when barbel are the target, Alfie Naylor works his magic on the cheap grubs that can catch big.

- Tony Grigorjevs

THERE’S no doubt that barbel fishing has experienced a spike in popularity in recent years.

Almost every river in the land has had an explosion of the species, which has made them more accessible than ever – and when you consider just how hard these beasts can fight, it’s no wonder they have become a prime target among anglers.

Newcomers have been brain washed into believing that pellets and boilies are the only baits worth considering if you want to see the rod wrap round. But is that really the case?

Daiwa and Premier Baits-backed Alfie Naylor has caught countless double-figure specimens and agrees that both those baits play a part in barbel fishing, but he is convinced that a more natural alternative is even more important in winter.

“Maggots get used by anglers in so many different scenarios but they don’t get as much use as they should when barbel are the target, and that is a mistake,” explained Alfie.

“There is no doubt barbel love to feed on them and they are a much more versatile bait than people realise. They can be used in lots of different ways.”

This month Alfie reveals five deadly ways of using maggots that can help you put more big barbel on the bank this winter.

1 GLUGGED PVA BAGS

“Catapulting maggots isn’t really an option for barbel if you intend to use a feeder or leger set-up because very little, if any, of the bait will get to the deck where your rig is waiting.

“One of the best ways to get the bait down to the bottom and right over the top of your hook bait is to hook on a PVA bag.