CDAA - Angling in some of Kent's finest Waters.

	The larva of the housefly and blowfly [Diptera] commonly found in decaying organic matter. Typically it is white, broad at one end and tapering to the other, larvae are legless Maggots are one of the most popular kinds of bait.as loose feed or hook bait it has been the favourite for anglers for many years. Store maggots in a plastic container (with small holes in the top for air) ideally in the fridge, but failing that, in a cool dark place, with maize meal or sawdust. As the maggot matures, it turns into a pupae or caster. They are dark in appearance (depending on its age) and have a very dry shell. Separating maggots from castors can be done using a grid which is coarse enough to allow the maggot to wriggle through the holes yet fine enough to prevent the caster from dropping through.
	Our largest earthworm, purplish in colour with a very well distinguished saddle. Found in gardens and on lawns everywhere. Either dig in moist warm soil or creep about on a lawn on a damp summer night with a dim torch where they will be laid on the surface just waiting to be collected. A fast hand and lots of practice is required for this method. Do not pull the worm from its burrow or you will break it, simply keep up the pressure and it will eventually let go. One of the most popular of all baits and taken by just about everything that swims. Most commonly used on a leger for the larger fish such as carp, bream, tench, perch etc. Used singly or in bunches on large hooks. work very well on rivers for chub and barbel especially in heavily coloured water or flood waters where lobworms have been naturally washed into the water. A collection of worms can be kept in the shed in a wormery. A large box full of damp newspaper and a generous helping of damp leaves will often keep them happy. Inspect them frequently and discard any dead worms. Protect from frost and do not under any circumstances add grass cuttings. When hooking worms,pierce the hook through the saddle and thread the worm onto the hook as far as possible without damaging the worm. Avoid piercing many times and stapling the worm to the hook which is a mistake many anglers make. This will result in a lifeless lump of worm meat which apart from its smell, hold no interest to the fish - far better to have a wriggler on the end of your hook
	Other worms include Redworm, Brandling, Gilt Tail and Dendrobaena. The redworm is the smallest species, being very deep red in colour, these are found in piles of rotted manure (especially pig manure). They are presented singly on a small hook and are a favourite of the matchmen. The brandling has a red skin with yellow stripes on down the body. Again, found commonly in piles of manure. When hooked, they give off an unpleasant smell but this is unpleasant for the angler only. Smaller than the lobworm they are a very lively worm. The gilt tail is a worm with a very yellowish tinge to its tail. as with the other two, commonly found in manure and leaf litter and an excellent bait as with all worm species. The Dendrobaena. A woodland species, found in leaf litter, it is quite hard to find but most tackle shops will sell them at a reasonable price. A very popular worm with anglers for all species. When finished a session, if you are not taking them home to a wormery,simply tip the box upside down in the undergrowth and the worms will thank you for it.
	Fruit of the maize plant, processed to form soft tasty succulent niblets that are perfect for putting on the hook. It is very cheap and a tin or two is all you need for a fishing session. All work really well and are particularly loved by Roach, Bream, Tench, Carp, Crucian Carp and Barbel. The size and texture of this bait makes it one of the easiest to use and therefore one of the most popular. Best fished hard on the bottom using either a float, feeder or leger. Variations of these methods are also highly productive. Use one singly on a size 16 or 14 hook nicked through the toughest part or a group of 4 - 5 niblets on a size 8 hook for bream and tench. Highly visible, scatter a few niblets around the hook and fish over a bed of groundbait or hemp where the bright yellow bait will really stand out. There are also well known brands of sweetcorn available on the bait shop shelves including strawberry and tutti futti flavours, all which work very well.
	Particles can be dangerous if not prepared correctly. Undercooked particles can kill fish !!! Still a deadly bait for roach Hemp seed has been a favourite for Roach anglers for years. Hemp seed has to be cooked first before it can be used as a hook bait, If you don't have time to cook your hemp, you can save time by putting the seed in a flask and covering it with boiling water (leave some air space at the top for xpansion). Add a little sugar and a teaspoon full of backing powder to turn it a dense black colour. Next morning you will have perfectly cooked hemp seed and a sweet smelling liquid for adding to your groundbait.