With many rivers are running low and clear, it’s tempting to put these venues to the back of your mind until the rains of autumn arrive. But you’d be missing out on some of the most exciting fishing running water has to offer, as right now is prime time to target chub using surface lures.
These obliging fish will feed in just about all conditions, and in summer they can often be found cruising in the upper layers, ready to pounce on anything that lands in their path. Kevin Sanders has dedicated much of his early season fishing to targeting the species ‘off the top’ and has enjoyed some fantastic results.
“I’ve caught chub on just about all methods but, in terms of sheer excitement, lure fishing is hard to beat,” he told us. “An explosion on the surface, followed by an arm-wrenching thump down on the rod as a chub suddenly smashes a lure, is addictive stuff, and it’s something that I look forward to each season.
“What’s more, as lure fishing is so uncomplicated, it’s the perfect tactic for grabbing a few hours at dawn before work, or in the evening after you’ve finished.”
THE BEST SPINNING REELS ARE IDEAL FOR CATCHING CHUB ON LURES.
Keep it simple
For someone starting out in lure fishing, it’s easy to be blown away by the sheer variety of patterns that are available on the market. But, for my summer chub fishing, I bring just a small box containing a select handful.
The bulk of my fishing revolves around two lures from Rapala, my favourite pattern being the X-Light Crank. It’s a small rattling plug which, although it has a ‘lip’ that causes it to dive beneath the surface when retrieved steadily, is also very buoyant, so it can be ‘popped’ invitingly along the surface to attract feeding fish.
It also lands with an enticing ‘plop’, which is often one of the best times for getting a bite.
My second go-to pattern is the larger BX Skitter Frog, which makes a much louder slapping noise as it hits the water and creates a noticeable wake when retrieved. It may look like nothing on earth, but the chub absolutely love it!
Additionally, I carry a few soft plastic NED-style patterns, which roughly imitate crayfish, to target fish that are sat on the deck. But, for the most part, it’s the upper layers that I focus on.
KEEP YOUR LURES IN ONE OF THE BEST TACKLE BOXES.
Pick your targets
Most of my sessions start at dawn, which is one of the prime times for catching chub. In the heat of the day they’ll tuck away under snags but get out early in the morning and you’ll see them cruising more in open water.
With this approach you need to see the fish. Spend time watching the water through polarised glasses and look closely into any promising areas. If the chub are proving elusive, then fishing blind to features can also be successful. With lures, you can cover the water quickly, so anything that catches your eye in terms of features are worth a cast.
Clear channels in the weed are an obvious target. I’ll flick the lure out and trot it down a run, just like a float, but give it subtle flicks as it goes, to impart a bit of life. Even in the best-looking swims, don’t sit and thrash the water. Make a few casts and move on. It’s better to not spook the chub totally, then return later, when they’ve regained their confidence.”
CHECK OUT OUR PICK OF THE BEST LURE FISHING RODS.
Be mobile and camouflaged
One of the great things about this approach is the small amount of kit you need. Alongside my rod, net, mat and reel, I bring a rucksack filled with a few essentials, and that’s about it.
The last thing you want is to be weighed down by heavy kit, so pack as light as possible. Chub are about as spooky as fish come, so I always wear drab, natural colours, and approach the water quietly, keeping away from the skyline to avoid being spotted.
A water bottle is one of my most important items of kit – you’ll cover lots of ground when fishing lures, and the last thing you want to be is dehydrated. I freeze mine the night before, which keeps it icy cold on the bank.”
THIS BUYERS GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS OUR PICK OF THE BEST CHUB FISHING RODS.
Use subtle but strong kit
You may not need lots of tackle, but using the right stuff makes a world of difference. I keep everything in my approach simple and strong. My rod is an 8ft, 10g-30g model, which is stout enough to steer any angry chub away from snags.
This is coupled with a high-quality braid by Sufix, in 15lb. A braided mainline is vital for lure fishing, because it keeps you in touch with the lure and helps with bite detection. This runs down to around 40cm of 30lb fluorocarbon which, while heavy, offers great abrasion resistance. I like a strong set-up because, if I do cast the lure into a tree, I’ll have a good chance of pulling it free.
Finally, looped on to the end of my fluorocarbon leader, is a short and light wire trace. While some anglers wince at the thought of using wire for anything other than pike, I hate the thought of being bitten off.
Besides, I’ve caught so many perch and chub while using a trace over the years that I’m confident they aren’t bothered by it.
FIND A RIVER TO CATCH CHUB NEAR YOU IN OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
It’s all in the detail
As with all fishing, there are a few tricks you can pull put out of the hat to put an extra fish or two in the net. One of my favourites with surface lures is to mark the top of them with a line of Tipp-Ex.
When I’m fishing in shady areas, or if I decide to retrieve the plug slightly beneath the surface, this helps the lure to stand out and enables me to keep an eye on its progress.
Keeping your hookpoints sharp is crucial, because when you’re casting to features or bumping the lure past structure, it’s easy to dull the points. I carry a sharpener and regularly check the hookpoints.
On the subject of hooks, I also swap one of the trebles on the plug – the one hanging from the lure’s body – for a single. It makes unhooking easier, and I’ve not seen any decline in my catch rate since doing this.
I’ve also found that, if I can see a fish but it’s not reacting to the lure, switching to a bigger pattern can provoke a response. The slap of a heavy frog on the surface can have seemingly disinterested chub charging in to investigate!
THE BEST POLAROID SUNGLASSES WILL HELP YOU SPOT CHUB ON THE RIVER.
