A naturally moving bait will out fish a still bait 9 times out of 10 especially in winter.
Use the braid as a main line but be careful in heavy flows as the fine braid is designed as a main line not a hook link. Recently, I have been using an unstriped coated braid hooklink as its not only kinder to the fish but help prevent tangles too
Lump of plastercine as wieght but you'll be surprised how little you need even on a flooded Hants Avon. I usual start off with a piece about the size of a
10p and see where that takes me.
Bites are.... well you'll see... more often then not you strike out of sheer instinct and I certainly cannot tell you in writing what is a bite and whats just it moving along the bottom.
Once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you fished for barbel any other way.