A PVA mesh bag of pellets attached to the hook has become an almost universally used method for barbel.

Use whatever pellets you like in the bag. Cheap marine halibut pellets in sizes from 4mm to 10mm work well enough.

Hookbaits can be pellets of the same size as those in the bag or larger, boilies, or anything else. The permutations of pellets in the bag and bait on the hook are almost endless.

A rubber band around the 'stocking' on the filler tube makes life easier.

In winter smaller bags should be used than in summer, and the rigs recast less frequently.

Pellets can be troublesome to attach to hair rigs. Drilling pellets can cause them to split. Pellet bands can be unreliable. Some people are reluctant to use Superglue to stick them to a hair. The answer is to tie them on.

Simply form an open sliding loop at the end of the hooklength that is to form the hair extension by tying a Uni-Knot. Slip a pellet in the open loop and tighten the knot. Then attach the hook using a knotless-knot. You should now be able to open up the loop in the hair to change pellets. Don't cut the tag end of this knot too short or the knot will come loose the more you open the loop.

This method works in braided and mono hooklinks and can be used with pellets as small as 10mm and as large as you like - even with two pellets side by side.