Maggot as hookbait directly on the hook, are the barbel bites wrap rounds as you get when hair rigging a bait or otherwise as i am finding im getting bites where the tip is bouncing around now do i strike or sit on my hands waiting for a wrap round.............

barbel bites are usually wrap rounds and tend not to be plucks, due to there mouths being under-slung , depends on if want to catch fish or just barbel , for me personally I would try and nail every bite no matter what , because the way I look at it the more recasting i do the more bait goes in the more activity in the swim to attract other fish , maybe put some micro pellet in with the maggots and fish a large pellet as change bait ,sometimes the tip will tremble like a minnow bite ,can mean the barbel are in the swim .

It may be a case of getting line bites or debris knocking your line. Could also be small fish.

Are your maggots chewed to shreds? This would be a sign of small fish.

Are you striking at the little knocks?

You could try changing the length of your hook length; both longer and shorter.

Try to pin your main line down with a back weight (an ssg or two might be enough.)

If you can freeline you bait, you will be able to feel what's going on. If you cannot freeline, then still hold the main line once you've tightened up to feel for bites.

As thesaint999 has said, try a pellet or alternative bait (bread may be worth a go, big lump of flake), you could try a big hook with loads (10 or so) of maggots on it.

id say defo chu i get real wrap round from even small 4-6oz chub barbel bites useually your 3 twitch as they suck the bait instead of mouthing it(useually) as in low sunny summer days barbel can and do pluck at it to

I fished the severn a week ago and I was told that if I get bites they will be "a 3 foot twitch" but i caught two barbs and the bites were really subtle knocks! I though it was weed at first but it did it again so i lifted the rod held the line and it happened again and i was into a fish!

Next time it happens put some bread on and watch it happen again if it goes straight away its small fish or chub

They all love bread and the smaller barbel love it too but if they are been picky try bread you will be amazed


ETEC