Where to catch them now
Our pick of the best waters to bag up on river chub this weekend
AUGUST is a great time for chub, as Martin Bowler’s impressive catch of fish from the Avon in this week’s issue testifies.
There’s no finer way of catching them than on the float, and we’ve picked out some of the UK’s most prolific hotspots for the species. So dig out your chubber floats and waders and get out there for some summer rod-bending action.
RIVER SWALE, MORTON BRIDGE, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Excellent chub fishing is on offer on this fast, streamy part of the Swale, where match weights often exceed 50lb. It’s prime floatfishing territory, and the combination of waggler and caster takes some beating. Northallerton AC controls the fishing, and there’s a car park on the west side of Morton Bridge. Contact: 01609 771117
Postcode: DL7 9RJ
RIVER URE, RIPON, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Head for the ‘streams’ section where floatfishing or bomb tactics are king. There’s potential for a really big net of chub by feeding heavily with maggots and casters, and there are some seriously large fish around, too, with a few 7lb specimens taken last winter. Controlled by Ripon Piscatorials, day tickets are £6.
Contact: 07835 394369 Postcode: HG4 1JG
RIVER TRENT, EAST STOKE, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Blockend feeder tactics are best when levels are low, with pegs in the early numbers particularly good. If you get too many small fish by putting hemp and caster through the feeder, switch to pellets for the chub and big roach. Run by Newark Piscatorials, day tickets are available from its website.
Contact: 07960 031910
Postcode: NG23 5QH
RIVER SOAR, BARROW, LEICESTERSHIRE
The fast Osier Beds section is famed for good chub fishing, and a pole is often the way to catch them here. The river is narrow, so you can often reach the far-side cover with heavy pole tackle, using lobworm or caster baits on the hook.
There’s also the chance of barbel and big perch. Controlled by Loughborough Soar AS, with day tickets from local tackle shops such as Soar Tackle.
Contact: 01509 670436
Postcode: LE12 8FE
WARWICKSHIRE AVON, STRATFORD, WARKS
There are countless brilliant chub spots on the Avon, including Barford, Harvington and Twyford, but we’ve gone for the noted Seven Meadows area of Stratford. Below the weir is a great bit of river for chub of all sizes, with float tactics best.
There are lots of quality roach and dace to catch too. This is a Stratford AC day ticket water.
Contact: 01789 267992
Postcode: CV37 6GN
RIVER SEVERN, ARLEY, WORCESTERSHIRE
Most of the Middle Severn between Bridgnorth and Bewdley offers excellent chub fishing but we’ve picked Arley, not least for its stunning scenery. Look for shallow, fast-water swims at this time of year. Get your waders on and trot a chubber-type float with meat or double caster.
This stretch is fishable on a Birmingham AA yearbook at £40. Contact: 01562 882116
Postcode: DY12 1XD
RIVER CAM, CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
If you catch the river right there’s the chance of a net of really big chub on the waggler across this sluggish river. You might want to consider an early or late start, though, to avoid the rowers in summer. This is a Cambridge Fish Preservation AS water with advance day tickets priced at £6.
Contact 01223 234616
Postcode: CB24 6AF
RIVER THAMES, MEDLEY, OXFORDSHIRE
Try ‘The Channel’ section where the mighty Thames splits and narrows up. Float or feeder fishing over to the far-bank boats or tree cover should see some good chub hooked. It’s a long walk, though, so travel light. The fishing is controlled by Oxford DAA.
Contact: 07990 587379 Postcode: 0X2 ONJ
HAMPSHIRE AVON, RINGWOOD, HANTS
These iconic parts of the Avon need no introduction but what you need to know is that they still hold plenty of good chub. Classic trotting tactics are hard to beat, but you’ll probably have to move swims to keep bites coming. Fishable on a Christchurch AC day ticket, available from its website.
Contact: 01202 480009 Postcode: BH24 1EA
RIVER WYE, BREINTON, HEREFORDSHIRE
Head out of Hereford to the rural stretches at Breinton and Eign for some big nets of chub of all sizes, from ounces to 6lb. Feeding plenty of casters and hemp will see bites coming all day long, or try pellets as a change bait for bigger fish. Fish it on a £10 Hereford DAA day ticket and pop into Woodys Tackle beforehand for your bait - Paul will put you on the fish.
Contact: 01432 359701 Postcode: HR4 7PG