As the water starts to clear, fish stocks in commercials will back away from the bank, meaning on many venues, that can leave them out of pole range. This forces you to rely on a rod and line approach to keep in touch. The feeder is the obvious choice, and modern day favourites such as the Hybrid or Method will often get a workout.
But you could be hampering your chances if you follow the masses and dismiss an old-school classic. The maggot feeder was the first choice of many before the commercial boom, but has largely been left behind. Yet the tactic is a brilliant option when you are trying to catch a variety of species ranging from big carp to hand-sized skimmers.
THE BEST SHORT FEEDER RODS ARE IDEAL FOR MAGGOT FEEDER FISHING.
Fine tune hooklengths
The fish will regularly move around your swim, and you must make sure your hookbait is always close to their mouths. Adjusting your hooklength will do just that, and 18ins is an ideal starting point, extending it to 2ft in clear water. If you are getting liners, then this is a sign that the fish are close to the feeder, and it’s time to shorten it to 12ins.
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Stick to light tackle
Light terminal tackle is part and parcel of fishing in the cooler months, but many anglers make the mistake of stepping things up too far when they turn to rod and line tactics. A 0.12mm or 0.14mm hooklength is more than ample to deal with quality silvers, F1s and even the odd bonus carp, while a robust size 18 hook will be up to the job.
THE BEST POLE FISHING LINES MAKES THE BEST HOOKLENGTH MATERIAL.
Cushion the fight
Every bite matters in the cold, and it pays to add an additional element to your running rig to prevent hook-pulls. Power gum is a material that stretches slightly and adding 10cm of Daiwa N’Zon link between your mainline and hooklength will provide cushioning. A soft, through-actioned rod will add another layer of shock-absorption.
GIVE THE MAGGOT FEEDER A GO TO TARGET BIG F1'S ON ONE OF THESE VENUES.
Explore the swim
Pole anglers will explore multiple lines during a session, and you should do the same when working with a maggot feeder. Once you’re clipped up at your desired range, work areas to the left and right of your main line. If bites dry up, move just 3ft away to search for the shoal. Regularly rotating spots will keep bites coming all day.
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