The greedy chub, a species I've neglected and found very irritating when my focus has been on catching big barbel. Picture this...
It's a warm summer evening on the Loddon chasing the few big barbel that frequent this beautiful stretch of river. I check my watch which shows the witching hour is approaching. My wariness is overcome by nervous energy, excited by what the night might bring; hoping, praying for any movement on those tiny balls of light. Nothing happens during the hour, and tiredness takes hold as I start to drift...... then out of nowhere, my down stream rod violently arches round and springs back in a blink of an eye! I jump and remain alert ready to intercept, as it could be a big barbel brushing against the line, still there is a chance I convince myself! Nothing happens for 20 minutes or so as I start to relax and drift again. Then I get a jab followed by few more. The jabs don't stop, so I strike and I know instantly I've hooked a swim wrecker. Chub landed, and soon after I pack up and leave for home, a little dejected.
If there was a barbel close by, and that's a big IF, it would have been spooked and I'd still be waiting for it to take my bait by the morning. This doesn't always ring true on other rivers I'm sure, but from my experience where I fish an awful lot, catching a chub is the kiss of death. This swim wrecking was a common occurrence 3/4 years ago, but the river has changed. I very rarely get those tell tale jabs during the night, which would suggest the chub have become very cute, or more likely are just not there in numbers, which is a real shame.
Anyway less of this negativity towards chub. I actually quite like them really if fishing for them by design.
I made a decision a couple of seasons back, that I'd not waste my valuable fishing time chasing barbel during the winter months, when conditions were not favourable and concentrate on chub instead, during my short evening sessions. Knowing numbers were low on my local Loddon stretches, I would fish another Thames tributary I know very well and where I caught my best, but modest chub by accident at 6.2 back in 2006.
There's something quite refreshing about chub fishing. The fact you can travel with very little amount of tackle appeals. Light quiver tip, net, matt with a pocket full of bits and bait, means you can roam the river and not feel bogged down by heavy luggage and start feeling lazy.
Tactics couldn't be simpler, with a two to four swan shot running leger link, stopped by a couple of float stops and a bead so I can adjust the length. Size 8 fine wire hook, tipped with some home made cake (Martin Bowler style) and that great winter bait 'cheese paste' mixed with a top secret ingredient. This tactic saw a few nice chub caught during freezing temperatures the end of last season, with a nice clean new personal best by a whopping 1oz. However the wally holding the chub looks a bit stupid in my eyes and needs to ditch the silly hat!
This season due to mild weather and having my barbel head on, my chub fishing didn't start in earnest until mid November. When I did eventually visit the tributary again, conditions were perfect as we were just seeing the back end of a short cold snap, moving into low pressure and therefore milder temperatures. Bait wise, instead of baking cake I opted for the lazy approach and counter balanced my hook with a small piece of ethafoam, glued to the shank with a cheesepaste wrapper.
A few short roving sessions produced some good sport during the month, including a lovely brace both a couple of ounces over six.
With my personal best again being threatened I was quietly confident a larger chub, that I suspected might still be in residence, could make a mistake one evening as we headed into December. My approach remained the same, travelling light and roving, but over a smaller area so I could revisit already fished swims that has seen a few baits. Something I've learnt through the frustration of many missed bites is that chub do not like resistance, and will mouth the bait and drop it before you can say "Mono have a shave". I'd considered bobbins and touch ledgering, but find it's more pleasurable for me watching the light quiver tip, but fished with a slightly slack line down the inside or a big bow if fishing mid to far bank.
Well December started with a bang, and this lovely chunk of a chub left it to the second visit to the swim and within five minutes of heading home. That's better and probably one of the largest on this little tributary weighing in at 6lb 13oz.
Well unfortunately my chub fishing came to a premature end soon after, as severe flooding affected many areas in the south east and unfortunately still is as we approach March. I feel for all those families affected by the flooding and sincerely hope that they can rebuild and return to their homes soon.
