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Fishing baits series

Do you know your pinkies from your squatts? This series looks at the different types of angling baits, their history and how to use them successfully.

Maggots

Pinkies
Smaller than the standard large maggot, pinkies are the larva of the common greenbottle fly
Pinkies
Smaller than the standard large maggot, pinkies are the larva of the common greenbottle fly
Casters
Casters are the pupa stage of the common bluebottle fly that produce the large hook maggot
Casters
Casters are the pupa stage of the common bluebottle fly that produce the large hook maggot
Maggots
Three are three types of maggot you can buy from your local tackle shop
Maggots
Three are three types of maggot you can buy from your local tackle shop
Squatts
Squatts are the smallest type of maggot used by anglers
Squatts
Squatts are the smallest type of maggot used by anglers

Live and dead baits

Live and dead baits

Hints and tips on what bait to serve up

Hemp bait

Hemp and tares

Hemp seed has proved itself as probably the best of the particle baits for attracting and holding fish

Worms

Fishing with friends

Find a place to fish

Enter a town or postcode into our fishery search tool to find good local fishing spots

Last Edited: 27 March 2026

photo of a location on the canals

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