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  • Maggot:  Lavae of the bluebottle






  • Pinkie: Lavae of the Greenbottle





  • Squatts: Lavae of the House fly





  • Gozzers: Lavae of the Bluebottle

The humble maggot is probably the best loved bait by fisherman up and down the country.  This universal bait has accounted for every species of fish found in fresh water.  Its wriggly attractor has even accounted for pike, caught on bunches of maggots intended for roach or tench.

The life cycle of the maggot illustrated left shows the fly laying eggs, which then after several days depending on the air temperature hatch into small maggots.  These maggots then avidly feed until fully grown. They then stop feeding and concentrate on their next evolution - the pupa / chrysalis known by anglers as casters.  The caster starts off being a light-brown colour which then darkens with age, until they eventually hatch as flies.

Maggots sold in the tackle-shop are commercially breed on farms,  usually well away from houses as they are very smelly places.  Chicken carcasses and other meats are used as a food source for the rearing of these maggots.

Maggots come in a variety of sizes, being the offspring from a variety of different flies.  They also come in various colours, the commonest being  red & bronze,  having been dyed by the maggot farmer.

Dangler Tips 

When hooking maggots it is very important to do so without affecting the wriggle which is so attractive to fish.  This is achieved by using the smallest and finest hook you can get away with, depending on the quarry you're after, and by hooking the maggot through the blunt end between the two dark spots. 

For small fish using a single maggot, pinkie or squatt, use hooks in the range of 18 to 24 fine wire.

For larger fish and using double maggot and over, use hooks in the range of 12 to 18 forged.

 

Squatts 

The smallest of the maggot family, they are ideal as a feed bait, added to ground bait to keep larger specimens such as bream interested without overfeeding them.  They are also used on the hook when targeting small fish on canals.  A great change bait when the going is tough.  The squatt is sold in sand and is kept slightly damp to stop them from floating.

 

Pinkies

These lively little maggots are great for loose feed when fishing still waters.  They are a lot livelier than maggots, thus make a great attractor for roach & skimmers.  Fluorescent pinkies are very good in cold weather.  The pinkie kept chilled in the fridge will last for weeks.

 

Gozzers

This soft white maggot not available from the tackle shops, is  home bread, using a sheep's or pigs heart.  These maggots are very popular for attracting the larger fish.  Bream love them. 

 

Maggots

The humble maggot can be used in many guises, even fished dead in conjunction with feeder tactics. They can be made to float by just submerging them in water for approximately half an hour.  This helps counter the weight of the hook and causes the maggots to fall through the water at the same rate as the loose feed, making them seem natural to the wary fish.  Although they can be added to ground-bait and thrown out to the required distance, another method is to stick large quantities together using sticky-mag.  If you're really struggling; try cutting one in half. 

 

Casters

The chrysalis stage is probably the most versatile of baits having a crisp shell and juicy inner; what fish could resist?  The darker the caster, the slower it falls through the water.  To find those that float, try covering the casters completely in water.  You can then easily pick those that float for the hook.  Alternatively take a hand-full and leave them on a side tray in the sunshine -  these will darken and make great hook baits.  Keeping casters for prolonged periods has always been a nightmare.  There are several methods, from covering in water to wrapping in damp newspaper.  I personally take them out of the plastic bags they come in and put them into a pellet pump container, pump out the air and store in the fridge.  This stops them from turning any further - I have kept them like this for two weeks before using them.  Once taken out of the container they resume their natural evolution and darken.