Description : This species is common in steady flowing rivers, usually in shoals in the upper middle reaches. They are also stocked by many commercial stillwater fisheries throughout the UK. Chub feed on plant material, invertebrates, and insects. Larger more solitary fish also eat small fish as part of their normal diet. This fish has a chunky body with a large mouth, rounded fins and dark edges to its scales. During spawning from May to June, the male develops white tubercles over the head and upper body.

Angling information : The current UK record is 8 lb 10 oz 0 drm, and anything over around 5 lb is considered to be a specimen. Chub are easily spooked but give a strong pull at the initial take so a fine balance of tackle is required. Start with a main line around 4 lb but if bites are few and far between you will have to scale down and take your chances. As chub invariably come up in the water to feed the favoured method is float fishing be it stick float or waggler. They have big mouths and will take a large bait, particularly if there is colour in the water. A very greedy fish so keep the loose feed going in, expect to go through several pints of loose feed when the chub are feeding. The best baits include : maggot, caster, bread, worm and hemp for loose feed.

Tip : Look for features such as overhanging trees. Walk out into the river if necessary and fish back towards the bank. Big chub can be caught inches from the bank, don't move around too much in the water though. Keep the loose feed going in it will draw the very greedy chub up from downstream.