Species › Europe, UK & Ireland · Freshwater › Chub

Freshwater

Chub

Squalius cephalus · European chub, Chevin, Loggerhead

Water temp
54–68°F
Peak season
Oct–Feb
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Chub (Squalius cephalus Prague Vltava 1.jpg)

Photo: Karelj · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Chub are thick, round-bodied fish with large scales edged in black, a broad head, a cavernous white mouth and rounded, reddish lower fins. They are native to rivers across Europe from England and France east to the Black and Caspian seas, favoring streamy water with overhanging trees, undercut banks and rafts of debris. They are omnivores that eat insects, minnows, crayfish, berries, bread and slugs, feeding by day in summer and in mild spells all winter. Chub are prized because they are wary yet always catchable, grow past 8 lb (3.6 kg) in a few rivers, and give sport on fly, lure and bait when nothing else is feeding.

Typical size1–4 lb (0.5–2 kg); 14–22 in
Trophy6 lb+ (2.7 kg+); 7 lb+ is exceptional
Table farePoor — bony and bland; catch & release

Where & when

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Chub feed year-round and are a classic winter target in Britain when other species shut down; England's river close season (March 15–June 15) removes spring, and summer fish take surface baits and lures.

River Lea, United KingdomHertfordshire; producer of record-class chubDorset Stour, United KingdomThroop fishery; famous specimen chubRiver Vltava, Czech RepublicFly and lure chub below Prague

How to catch

Link-ledgered breadPinch a thumbnail of bread flake on a size 6–8 hook with a couple of swan shot on a link and swing it under overhanging trees or into a slack beside a raft. Feed small balls of mashed bread upstream, hold the line and strike at the slow pull; winter chub love this.
Surface fishing and flyIn summer, freeline a crust, slug or floating pellet downstream under the trees, or cast a big dry fly or small streamer to fish lying under cover. Approach quietly and from behind, because chub spook at a shadow.

Gear

Rod11–12' 1.25 lb test-curve Avon or quivertip rod
Reel2500–3000 spinning
Line5–6 lb mono

Lures

Small crankbaitSpinnerSoft-plastic crayfish

Baits

Bread flake and crustCheese pasteSlugsMaggotsLuncheon meat

Regulations

England and Wales require an Environment Agency rod licence and permission for the stretch, with a river close season from mid-March to mid-June; across Europe a national licence plus club permit is usual and chub are returned.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

What is the best bait for chub in winter?

Bread is king: a big piece of flake or crust link-ledgered into slacks and under trees, with mashed bread fed upstream, catches chub in cold, clear water when everything else fails. Cheese paste on a mild day with the river carrying color is the other great winter bait. Keep moving and fish each likely spot for 15–20 minutes.

Bite forecast — Chub

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Chub.

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