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Chub fishing: fishing methods, lures, habitats and spawning times
The chub belongs to the order of cyprinids, the genus of dace. A small predatory fish that does not disdain food of plant origin. It has a broad-browed head, an almost cylindrical body and large scales. The peculiarity of the color is the presence of a dark edging of the free edge of each scale, which creates a peculiar pattern. The maximum age of this fish can be 15-18 years. Able to grow up to 80 cm and reach a mass of 8 kg. However, the usual size of the chub is a length of 30-40 cm and a weight of up to 1 kg.
Chub fishing methods
The chub is a ubiquitous and omnivorous fish, which, however, is very difficult to catch. The reason is the caution of the fish, which has excellent eyesight. In some cases, the angler will need masking, otherwise the result may be zero. Today, there are many effective ways to catch chub, but the most popular are spinning, fly fishing, and float rods.
Catching a chub on spinning
The choice of tackle depends on the fishing conditions. In the case of fishing on a small river, we select a light and at the same time reliable rod up to 2,4 m long. It is not very convenient to use a longer one, since in most cases the process will take place among coastal shrubs and trees. The bait should weigh no more than 8 g. A medium action rod can be considered a good option. The recommended reel is up to 2500 according to Shimano classification. The best option in terms of using fishing line are monofilaments with a diameter of up to 0,22 mm. It is possible to use braid of the appropriate diameter, a slight increase in the diameter of the line can help with forced fighting and accidental hooks. The most convenient places for catching chub are where the current changes direction. For example, in the area of a bridge or piles in the water. The favorite places of this fish can be called pitfalls and rifts. It is better to have a whole arsenal of lures: wobblers, spinners, small twisters, spoons, surface poppers.
Catching a chub on a float tackle
The chub is best caught on the line in summer and early autumn. The rod should be of medium hardness, the line should be 0,14-0,18 mm. The “silver robber” will appreciate the bait in the form of a caterpillar, locust, dragonfly or beetle. The color of the float is preferably dark or “keg”. After casting the tackle into the water, it is required to release the fishing line by five meters and allow it to move freely with the flow. To further attract the attention of the prey, you can slightly pull the float. This simulates the sound of insects falling into water. In autumn, the chub is better caught on fry. In the absence of fry and other described baits, you can use maggot. The bait should be big enough to catch big fish. If after a dozen casts there are no bites, it is better to change the place. If fishing takes place from a boat, it is preferable to look for snags and trees hanging over the water.
Fly fishing for chub
The most exciting and, perhaps, the most difficult type of fishing. Success largely depends on the season, but if you are aware of a secret place that does not freeze in winter, then fishing is guaranteed year-round. In the warm season, the chub actively feeds on insects falling into the river, so it often hunts near the coastline.
You should first find places with leaning trees or a steep bank, under which there may be future prey. The process of catching can be called a real hunt, given the cunning and caution of the enemy. For fishing, tackle of light classes and different lengths is used. The choice is connected with the preferences of the fisherman. It should be borne in mind that when catching a chub, quite large imitations of insects are often used. In the case of streamers, depending on the conditions of the river, sinking undergrowth is used.
The chub is quite shy, so when fishing from the surface, it is worth using lines with a long front cone for a “delicate presentation”. With this method of fishing, it is important not to make noise, not to talk, and not even to dress too brightly. A virtuoso art can be called the delivery of the bait by the “from the leaf” method, imitating an insect that has fallen from a tree into the water. If the bait hits the water with a loud sound, large fish will treat it with distrust. The probability of catching small things is much greater.
Bait
The chub has a favorite bait – a grasshopper. Once it was the most common and most catchy bait. Despite the presence of a large number of modern baits, and today it is no less effective,.
Places of fishing and habitat
The chub is common in Europe and Asia Minor. In Russia, it is found in the basins of the White, Baltic, Black, Caspian and Azov seas. Most often, this fish is found in the mouths of rivers. The chub’s favorite place, as already mentioned, is dense snags and areas with hanging trees. Often found in pools. Likes to stick to shallows with rocky or sandy uneven bottom. The habitats of the chub are in many ways similar to the range of the asp. However, asps prefer a rapid, and chubs rarely go there, preferring to stay on a weaker current, as well as near water barriers like piles, bridges, blockages of stones.
Spawning
Spawning takes place in spring, in April-May. Spawning occurs on shallow, fast rifts. Caviar has a diameter of one and a half to two millimeters, the color is orange. In relatively warm water, the larvae appear after four days. At first, they feed on zooplankton. The chub is considered one of the most prolific fish, since the eggs are small and large females can contain up to a million or more eggs. The reason is that there are not as many adult chub individuals as there are other prolific species – bream, roach, etc. – serves the infertility of most of the eggs, which does not have time to stick to stones and other underwater objects. In addition, a certain amount of fertilized caviar is eaten by fish. The chub becomes sexually mature in the third or fourth year of life. At this time, it grows up to 20 cm in length.