It's been hard hasn't it ****y? I was just preparing the excuses for a trip on Monday when I saw the forecast! 10cm of snow across the Pennines tonight so the water temperature in the Wharfe and Swale will plummet yet again
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I'm still convinced that the best bait in cool conditions is maggots. I've proved to myself time and time again that if baits such as pellets, meat and boilies are resulting in quick pulls and quivers a switch to maggot (or worm for that matter) will nearly always result in a positve take and a barbel on the bank. If the water is clear I'll fish the maggot feeder with double maggot on a size 16 or three on a size 14. 'Nuisance' fish are welcome in these conditions and I don't think that catching a few chub puts the barbel off.
When the water is coloured, but you can still see up to about a foot down then I think that flavoured dead maggots coupled with crushed pellets and a dryish pellet groundbait is the way to go. I'm trying to lay down a good scent trail in these conditions, but I'm hedging my bets on the hook bait by using maggot.
When the water's like cocoa then I'm happy to use pellets or a big lump of flavoured luncheon meat.