Fishbook: Chub

‘Fishbook’: Our species-guide series based on “Get Fishing”
the brilliant how to fish book by Allan Sefton

We profile the UK’s most common as well as some lesser-known fish species to help newcomer anglers find out more about fish that can be caught in our lakes, canals, rivers, ponds and sea.

Understanding the kinds of fish you might catch will add interest and could even make your fishing easier! Here you’ll find out more about…

CHUB

Name:
Chub

Scientific name:
Squalius cephalus

Life span:
Between 14-20 years

Typical size:
2lb

British record:
9lb 5oz

Waters:
Slow rivers, canals and some stillwaters throughout much of the UK

Interesting fact:
Chub are able to crunch up small crayfish with strong pharyngeal teeth but are happy to sip down insects from the water’s surface

About Chub

Chub are torpedo-shaped, large-scaled, big-mouthed fish with pink-tinged, convex fins. They enjoy a varied diet and are able to crunch up small crayfish with strong pharyngeal teeth but are happy to sip down insects from the water’s surface.

Chub prefer to live close to the cover of overhanging vegetation, tree roots or deep water.

Chub are greedy feeders and, unlike some other species, continue to pick up bait on the coldest of winter days.

Most dace are caught when float fishing with maggots. Small fish can be a nuisance when other bigger species are the target.

Visit the rest of the How To Fish video gallery here to learn new tricks and discover more about the basics of angling.

Find out more about:

• Grayling
• Brown Trout
• Barbel

Read more about how you can get into game fishing. Alternatively, find a venue near you where you can #getfishing!

Some of the above content is taken from the new book, Get Fishing – the ‘how to’ guide to Coarse, Sea and Fly Fishing by Allan Sefton published by Merlin Unwin Books. This colourful, lively book is aimed at complete beginners of all ages, those who have been out fishing a couple of times and want to take it further and families of all abilities. It’s also packed with top-tips and info that make it useful for more experienced anglers too. Find out more about, and purchase a copy of the book here.

Header image thanks to David Overland and text reproduced with permission and © Merlin Unwin Books.