Maggots are a bait that many barbel anglers reach for in the winter, and Paul Cockfield showed just why on a recent trip to the River Kennet, where he landed fish of 17lb 11oz and 13lb 3oz.
Targeting a stretch near Newbury, the 60-year-old used a bait dropper to introduce a pint of dead maggots and chilli hemp, plus another pint of live maggots, then left the swim to rest for an hour. When he eventually made his first cast, Paul dropped a large maggot feeder and eight-maggot hookbait on a 12-inch coated braid hooklink over the top, and within an hour had a take from the seventeen-pounder.
Despite having some otter damage to its tail, Paul noted that it put up an impressive fight in the flooded conditions.The second fish came four hours later, just as he was packing up.
Well done Paul!