Barbel baits in clear water?

WHICH baits and feeds are best for clear water river barbel?

Peter Gribble, Dorchester

Some barbel anglers swear by pellets and boilies whatever the conditions, but in clear water barbel will show caution when faced with a bed of feed and a hookbait.

In this instance, small particles should be on your bait list and that means hemp, casters, maggots and small pellets fed as combos or on their own.

A carpet of this feed allows the fish to browse easily without suspecting much is wrong when compared to larger boilies or pellets. On the hook you should ‘match the hatch’ by using what you’re feeding – a bunch of maggots or casters.