Chub are a fantastic fish to target on rivers at anytime of year, and these greedy fish can be found in so many different types of swim.
They’ll also eat anything put in front of them and are known for being bold in their feeding – but, on the flipside, they can also be incredibly cute when an angler casts their line! Before you can think about baits and tactics, though, you’ll need to track them down. Sometimes the most unlikely-looking spot in a swim can hold fish.
Here are six top areas in which to find river chub, why they like to be there, and how to go about catching them...
CHUB FISHING CAN BE A WAITING GAME, CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST FISHING CHAIRS.
Main flow
Highly-oxygenated water can be very attractive to all species of fish, chub included. The run-off area downstream of a weir is one of the best such spots because, as well as the extra oxygen, it also acts as a motorway of natural food items being brought down the flow, including all manner of invertebrates.
You can fish it in many ways, buttrotting – either with a stick float or, if you’re going more than a third of the way across, a waggler – can be a great way to build a big bag without spooking the rest of the shoal, provided you use a keepnet. ‘Wag and mag’ tactics, fishing quite shallow, can be among the best, especially if you’ve feed the swim for 20-30 minutes beforehand.
OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE HAS SOME GREAT RIVERS TO CATCH CHUB ON THE FLOAT.
Back eddies
Created where the current swirls back on itself, often near a bend in the river, these pools of water have an uneven flow, but are a great larder of natural food. A bonus is that eddies are normally found on the near bank, so a simple cast off the rod-tip will be more than ample to reach the fish.
The uneven flow does require a heavier leger weight if you wish to hold bottom, using bread, worms or a bit of cheesepaste in coloured water, but an alternative, deadly method is to use a light weight and allow the bait to roll around the area, as this will appear natural to a chub.
ONE OF THE BEST FEEDER RODS WILL HELP YOU CONTROL YOUR LEAD AND LAND ANY BIG CHUB YOU HOOK.
Far-bank cover
Chub love to gather under overhangs, using the security to ambush food drifting past. A cast made to the edge of this cover will often bring an instant bite if any fish are present. Choose a leger or float approach, depending on the pace of the river.
A waggler trotted along the length of the cover will allow you to exploit more of the swim and often pick off fish that have drifted downstream following your loosefeed, whereas a link-leger or swimfeeder attack allows you to adopt a sit-and-wait approach with big baits in strong flows.
MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE BEST MAINLINE TO PREVENT CHUB SNAPPING YOU OFF IN SNAGS.
Near-bank slacks
Reeds and outcrops of river bank will create slack pools of water close-in where the main flow can’t penetrate. This slow, almost still area may not look too inviting to the angler, but in times of extra water, it becomes hot property for many coarse species, chub included. Similar to an eddy, food will be washed into these slacks, and the fish don’t have to work too hard for a meal.
It’s a one rod job to fish this type of swim, gearing up with a simple running leger and a big offering like a lobworm or a lump of smelly cheesepaste (extra water means coloured water and so reduced visibility to the chub), but creep up on the slack to avoid spooking the fish – even in murky water, they’ll sense any bankside disturbance.
NEED A NEW REEL? CHECK OUT OUR BUYER'S GUIDE FOR SOME OF THE BEST AVAILABLE.
Backwaters
Off the main rivers you’ll find these often small, shallow, narrow arms. Treat them as a mini version of the main river and look for the usual features, including overhanging trees and slacks, but be aware that the shallower water will make the fish especially wary.
Roving will be your best bet, only having one or two casts into each area and gearing up with light leger tactics and a big hookbait.
KEEP YOUR FEET COMFORTABLE WHEN ROVING WITH A PAIR OF THE BEST FISHING BOOTS.
Bridge stanchions
Immediately behind the supports of a bridge you’ll find slightly slower water out of the main flow and chub will gather here, waiting for food to be washed past them. The water may be a little shallower here, so standing on the bridge and looking down will sometimes tell you if any fish are home, as you’ll be able to see them.
To catch a chub from here, a static bait on the feeder or leger is the only way to present the bait properly. You can prebait by dropping feed in off the bridge (hemp and casters or maggots are good) and then fishing a maggot feeder or a lead with a big bait like breadflake or a lobworm.
