Just a bit in relation to that Binka-something I posted on another thread recently- I fed some maggots to a big pond full of Goldfish the other week and they did not want to know. A few were sucked in and spat out again including a few casters and that was it, they just sunk to the bottom. They had never seen them before and did not recognize them as food and even distrusted the taste. Maggots of all things ! The day before I caught 50+ fish on them ! Weird.
Just a question are these snails fished without the shell? I mean, slugs, cockles, mussels all seem to work.
I recall your original thread comment about the goldfish and maggots. I would bet if you tried it again with fresh bait there would be a positive response. The ammonia that taints maggots is strong enough to put off even tiny perch long before we can smell it. Drop some in the margins and observe reactions there. Frequently fish will mouth the bait on the drop but blow it out again. A succession of spat out maggots will quickly lead to falling baits being ignored. Drip feed some fresh ones again and they will switch on.
How many times we struggle to get bites when plenty of fish are in front of us, and how fresh the bait (especially maggot) is are strongly correlated.
They will eat sour maggots but not for long and not with enthusiasm. Even a quick wash can bring dramatic changes.
The french, and many others love to eat snails. Fish love snails. Cockles etc. too of course. I was once given some snail 'education' by an ageing French peasant. She was out collecting them one damp night as I cycled back to where I was staying. She had 5 upturned large flower pots outside her backdoor. Each one contained snails at a different stage of cleansing. No feed in the first to eliminate the bitter weeds it would have consumed. Carefully selected fresh herbs in the next 3, and finally Vermicelli under the last pot, the ones for dinner.
I have had very little success with snails myself but I've not yet tried preparing them in the way I might look to care for other baits.
Maybe Madame Ida's recipe would be the perfect thing.