Spotlight on 15 top chub rivers
From the Thames to the Wye, from the Trent to the Wensum, big hungry mouths are waiting to grab your running-water bait now!
THE frosts are here and the nights are drawing in, but as the fishing gets harder there is one fish you can rely on for a bite or two – the chub.
The species is often overlooked on rivers, taking a back seat to more illustrious fish like barbel, but as the most reliable feeder under any conditions a big chub will willingly grab a lump of bread or a bed of maggots after even the harshest frost.
As part of our chub special, Angling Times has pulled together 15 of the UK’s top chub venues for you to try now...
RIVER ARROW, ALCESTER, WARKS
Both the club’s stretches at Wixford and Studley Park offer some cracking chub fishing. The river moves fairly slowly and has deep holes where the chub like to lie. Look for features such as overhanging bushes. Some farbank swims are accessible with a pole which will allow pinpoint accuracy and bait placement. Contact: Alcester Sports, 01789 762200 Prices: £4 a day from Alcester Sports, Studley AC
RIVER AVON, RINGWOOD FISHERY, RINGWOOD, DORSET
This stretch of the Middle Avon is prime chub territory. There is a weir at the top limit and some lovely deep glides amid gravel shallows. A huge head of large chub present responds to both static baits and trotted offerings between lush ranunculus beds. Contact: Ringwood Tackle, 01425 475155 Prices: £10 or £5 concessions a day from local tackle shops, Christchurch AC
RIVER EREWASH, STANTON GATE, DERBYS
This free stretch is barely fished but is alive with chub to over 5lb. The river here is small and winding, with the odd deep hole, making it great for roving with cheese paste or bread flake. Contact: Stapleford Angling, 0115 949 1812 Prices: Free fishing
RIVER IVEL, BIGGLESWADE, BEDS
The pegs off Mill Lane can produced chub to over 5lb. Try fishing a link leger or the long pole close to overhanging cover with worm and caster. Contact: 01767 316700 Prices: Free fishing
RIVER LEA, TOWPATH FISHERY, STANSTEAD ABBOTTS, HERTS
A fantastic 6lb 14oz chub was caught last week on boilies on the section between Ware Lock and where the A10 crosses the Navigation, but anglers have been catching plenty on the section known as The Conkers too. Contact: Johnson Ross Tackle, 01992 462044 Prices: £4 on the bank, Hertford AC & Ware AC Joint
RIVER NENE, PETERBOROUGH, CAMBS
The sections at Alwalton and Castor are best known for their barbel fishing but they also contain some mammoth chub, with dozens of fish to over 6lb being caught but going unreported this season alone. Ten miles upstream, there is Bushy Corner at Oundle, a chub hotspot. Contact: F Wade & Son, 01733 565159 Prices: £5 on the bank, Peterborough DAA or Oundle AS
RIVER ROTHER, BEIGHTON, S YORKS
Anglers who have visited this stretch recently have found the chub feeding well, particularly on the section by Rother Valley Park. You can sit in one spot or rove here, feeding constantly until the fish come on the feed.