Maggots

[Norfolkboy]

Maggots are probably the most popular bait used by freshwater anglers.They are best being bought from a tackle shop.

Maggots used in fishing are the larvae of bluebottle flies and are the largest in size. The greenbottle gives a maggot known as a pinkie and the common housefly gives a maggot known as squats. Squats and pinkies are generally used in groundbait or as loosefeed because they are motionless.

Maggots that are not kept properly will soon "pupate" and turn into casters, which is quite a good fishing bait itself. When you get maggots from the tackle shop, keep them in a bait box.

This has breathing holes for them, and should keep them in good nick.

Keep them in the fridge until you need them, kept like that they will remain motionless and stay alive for a couple of days. 2 days before your fishing trip, sieve them to remove all sawdust/maize that is kept with them (there's a purpose built sieve on the market that will do it) Once seperated, turn the maggots out on to fine sand and leave them to work through it for 24 hours. (this will clean them)

Sieve the maggots once more, getting rid of all sand, turn them into bran which will polish them and free them of grease(causes them to float if they are greasy) keep them in that until use.

(All that has been said above is only if you wish to keep them for quite a few days, however if they turn to casters don't bin them, they're a great bait)
Hook the maggot through the "blunt" end where the 2 black dots are, this will keep all juices in them and they will wriggle a lot better.

Maggots will catch most fish, mainly the smaller species like rudd, roach, perch etc.. but they should always be with you on your fishing trip as they are a superb bait.

[pingu]

nice post dan

[eljeffo]

What are "Euroworms" exactaly?

[fishypaul]

probably all those bloody beurocrats in belgium making those stupid regulations for us all and getting paid gazzillions for it

[Omahayank]

Originally Posted by eljeffo

What are "Euroworms" exactaly?

Look like red garden worms to me. : http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...363&hasJS=true

[master_angler11]

Also i think why fish eat the Maggots is because of the maggots calcium.. fish have a lot sense and that stench usually brings them up towards them and also some fish that are wounded swallow them whole, the maggots do sometimes eat the fat and stomach but maggots eat away the infection.. then something idk what eats the maggot and its transfered to the stomach into fat.... just a little fun fact.



Nice post




Tightlines




MA11

[Banana Steve]

one thing I also found with storing maggots in a fridge if you leave your maggots in a bait box make certain it is dry and leave the lid of, I found if you leave the lid on the maggots can generate heat which keeps them active causing them too feed on the feed spot reducing their size. If the lid of the bait box is left of the cold air of the fridge will circulate more around the maggots causing them to slow down which stops them feeding upon their feed spots which stops them trying to turn. You want the maggots to very cold but not frozen. You can keep maggots in this state for quite a while for at least 2 weeks, normally after a fishing trip I always bring my maggot’s home. Clean them off and place them in my bait fridge and they are always fine for the next. However, it is worth mentioning that if the fridge you own is self defrosting water will get into the maggots then you got maggots crawling every where {found that out the hard way 3 pints of red maggots all over the garage} to combat this I bought a cheap small fridge that doesn't self defrost for a 10 in the local paper. That way I don't have to use the fridge in doors. Hope this helps.

[Greenheart]

Top post Dan. When I buy maggots, I usually riddle off the bran that the shop supplies & add a handful of maize meal. I find this keeps them fresher longer.