UK Coarse Fishing Reviews

Chub

I thought it is time I gave some basic information on each of the Coarse species that anglers are likely to catch here in the UK.

I am starting with the Chub which is one of the most common species found in our rivers here in the UK. There are also Chub in some of the countries lakes. Infact the record Chub came from a southern stillwater at 9lb 5oz in 2007 . It is believed to have got in from a local river during the winter floods and to have grown extra big on Carpers Pellets and Boilies. It was infact caught by a Carp fisherman after picking up a bait intended for one of the lakes larger inhabitants.

The record chub pictured her with captor Andy Maker is one of many huge chub believed to inhabit the Southern stillwater.


Chub are predominately a river fish and that is where most anglers go to pursue them. Chub in most rivers can grow to 7lb although in some areas a Chub of 5lb would be seen as a very good specimen. Small Chub or Chublets as some anglers call them can be easily mixed up with dace. Many an angler has thought they had just caught a specimen Dace when it was infact a small Chub. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is to look at the fins. The Chub has rounded or 'convex' fins whereas the dace has fins that are indented or 'concave' fins. A simple way of remembering the difference is to think of this rhyme "curved for Chub, dented for dace."

Here are a couple of drawings in which you can see the difference between the fins of the Chub and a Dace.

ChubDace

Chub are renowned as being very greedy fish and they can be caught on a wide variety of baits. There are to many to name but Maggots, Corn, Pellets, Bread are probably the most popular baits used. I have also had some success with Boilies fished on a hair rig. Infact Boilies and large Pellets seem to attract the larger specimens.

Natural baits are always worth a try too. a freelined lobworm or slug can work really well in the summer time as can floating crust.

You will find Chub in all sorts of swims along a river but a good place to start looking is under overhanging trees and bushes. Chub love cover. Weed rafts and undercut banks are also good hotspots. Chub seem to like steadier water so look for steady glides although I have often found good Chub in shallower runs amongst the weeds in the summer and also in weirpools.

Chub are very rarely solitary fish and can be found in small shoals especially the smaller year classes. You can catch Chub on almost any method. They can be very predatory so small spinners can work well in the summer as can free lining natural baits such as Slugs or Crayfish. float fishing can work very well in the summer or winter in conjunction with lots of freebies to attract them. You simply simply tailor your float to the conditions and the swim.

One of my favourite methods for chub is a simple link ledger. I like to fish crease swims such as you may find on a river bend. The crease is where the faster water meets slower water and it is a natural larder as any food is washed into the slack. Chub love crease swims and a link ledger is a great way to fish it. All you need is two swan shot 'SSG" tied to a link of line. You attach this to your main line by a swivel and let it run free. I use a 2 foot hooklink and almost always fish with Bread flake on a size 10 hook. You then simply cast into the flow and let it settle in the slack exactly where any natural food would come to rest.

Here is a picture I found on the excellent TackleBargains.co.uk website. All three of the rigs work well for Chub but I favour the top link ledger rig.

Chub can be caught during the summer months and it can be great fun stalking them along the banks of small rivers but it is during the winter months that most anglers pursue them. The Chub is a very hardy fish and it will feed in the coldest of weathers providing great sport for the nations anglers. One word of advice is forget Chub when the rivers are high and dirty during or after a flood. Chub don't feed much in those conditions. But if the river is clear or has a slight tinge of colour they are well worth seeking out and can provide you with great sport.

If you are really interested in finding more out about Chub take a look at the Chub Study Group they have members all over the UK and know everything there is to know about Chub.

There are many great venues to fish for Chub. One of the best is the Dorset Stour. Anywhere from Blandford to Christchurch can produce specimen Chub but Throop and Longham are very popular. Other rivers that are great are the River Wye which has vast shoals of Chub. The Wensum, The Cherwell, The warickshire Avon and the Hampshire Avon also hold good quality fish.

Throop is one of the Chub meccas in the UK and visited by some of the countries top anglers in pursuit of its specimen Chub. The Throop fishery is run by the Ringwood and District Angling Association but you can get day tickets and information from Ringwood tackle


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