This fish got its name, most likely, because of its large and large forehead. Surprisingly, it is commonly believed among fishermen that it is not easy to outwit it, and it’s unlikely that you can refuse it in quick wit.
Description
The chub - this large and strong fish of our rivers - can be recognized by its elongated, cylindrical, cylindrical body, adapted for rapid movement in water and to fight against strong currents. The back of this fish is dark, almost black, and the sides are silvery. Chub can not be called a predator in the full sense, such as asp. It belongs to the so-called intermediate species, that is, this fish preys on fry if necessary. And so she, being an omnivorous half-predator, eats both animal and vegetable feed.
Moreover, the chubs are searching for their food in different deep layers: they can feed on benthic larvae or shells, and just as well absorb insects that fall on the surface of the river.
Habitat
This half-predator is found in rivers with fast-flowing water, where there are rapids, rifts. At the same time, it does not tolerate calm, and even more so musty water. Therefore, in reservoirs it can often be caught at the mouths of flowing rivers, often it even rises high upstream. Chub habitats in our country are medium and small water arteries with constantly running water. In rivers, this fish prefers fast streams and a hard sandy or clay-rocky bottom, avoiding muddy soil. It can not be found in bays with dying algae: this underwater inhabitant loves only a fast stream, rich in oxygen.
Where to catch
Some anglers search for promising places by “tapping” the bottom; they study the underwater terrain in the hope of finding edgelines and dumps. But there is an easier way: carefully examining the area, experienced hunters can roughly determine the topography of the reservoir. In their logical conclusions, they are based on the fact that the shape of the bottom of each reservoir is a kind of continuation, rather, a reflection of the type of surrounding area. For example, if there is a steep shore near a lake in some place, then near such a place the bottom relief will most likely have a smooth or stepped dump in depth. And vice versa, the continuation of gentle land is most often a sandbank.
The main part of the day the chub can be found in places where the depth is from two to three meters, often in close proximity to large snags or blockages from sunken branches. Such sites become a shelter not only for small fish, but also for large predators, who are always ready to feast on this trifle. Over time, driftwood is heavily overgrown with algae, which chubs are also very pleased to introduce into their daily diet. In general, this fish is especially fond of underwater green “braids,” so if the fisherman manages to find a place where they are elongated and flow in rhythm with the flow, you can be sure: the prey is somewhere nearby.
Several times a day, chubs can go to smaller sections of the river with a decent course, but such raids are not only irregular, but also short-lived.
Catching a chub
In the spring, this fish becomes extremely active. The summer chub is also not passive: it constantly tries to stay on rifts with trees descending to the surface of the water, river sections at the end of rifts, often found at the junction of two currents or between fast and quiet water.
The spawning of this half-predator takes place in parallel with the laying of roach eggs: most often it falls during the flowering period of bird cherry. At this time, small tributaries and ducts are literally filled with chubs, which go on spawning in small flocks to shallow rifts with a hard bottom. Throwing out all the eggs at one go and having rested for a while, this fish rolls down to its summer habitat, where it begins to intensively fatten.
In autumn, when insects become less and less, this fish moves to a greater depth, where it remains active for some time. The arrival of the first frost causes her to enter the wintering pits, where she will stand in a drowsy state until spring. In warm winters, especially if there is a steady thaw, the chub goes into smaller places with a small current.
Some fishermen believe that the best chub fishing is in spring or summer, but practice shows that this fish always pecks, including in December or January. Each season has its own characteristics, each time is interesting in its own way.
Spring fishing
This period begins in late April and lasts almost until mid-June. Catching a chub in the spring has its own characteristics. They consist not only in the correct choice of place and method of fishing, but also in the selection of nozzles. As soon as the chub feels the water is warming up, he goes to the fat. It can be caught in places with a middle course and a cartilaginous bottom topography. The depth of such sections ranges from one and a half to three meters. As a rule, in the early spring, chub fishing takes place at the exits from the pits. In the early morning, you can fish on the rifts.
Before spawning, chub fishing in spring on small rivers is successful almost throughout the day, although biting is noticeably better in the mornings and evenings. Experienced spinningists know that during this period this half-predator is better to catch at the bottom or at medium depth, so for this it is preferable to use bottom gear. Catching a chub in the early spring on the donka suggests the following equipment: a sliding or blank flat sinker, not too thick fishing line, and also one or two leashes. Hooks need to pick up the seventh or eighth numbers. The main fishing line should be 0.3 mm in diameter, and for a leash it is better to take a size of 0.2.
Nozzles
May bugs still do not fly, catching a chub in the early spring passes to the cervical neck, worm, and shell-pearl barley meat. Small minnows, bread crusts, cheese, spools and dough are also considered catchy. The fish takes the nozzle on the move, swallowing almost instantly. The bite is characterized by a sharp bend of the top of the rod. Experienced anglers know that they need to be hooked immediately and energetically, but at the same time smoothly so as not to accidentally cut the fishing line.
In the rifts, catching a chub in the spring takes place either from the shore or in the middle of the river. Fishing in this way involves the use of fishing rods with a length of up to five meters without a float with flow rings. Some avid hunters believe that the most interesting is catching a chub in the early spring. It goes especially well on chicken liver or on bread spools. The bait must be slowly lowered downstream, then pulled in such a way that it is always at the bottom or halfway.
Spinning
Large specimens of this fish have always been considered an enviable trophy among professional fishers. Many of them are sure that catching a chub on a spinning rod in the spring is one of the most spectacular and exciting ways of fishing for this half-predator.
With the melting of ice, this fish is activated. She is one of the first to fatten in our rivers. Many anglers know firsthand how unpredictable and controversial in the conditions of high unheated water can catch a chub. In early spring, this fish can be successfully caught on spinning only in those places where the water is as clear as possible.
Another, albeit indirect, factor for a good bite this season is the high daily temperature in April. In the afternoon hours, when the upper layers of the reservoir are additionally warmed by a short sun, during warm and quiet twilight the chub rises to the surface or swims to shallow water, while exhibiting amazing activity.
Spinning Fishing Tactics
Build and test this gear must be consistent with the bait. If you use small wobblers that do not have their own game, then the rods need to choose hard and fast. If fishing takes place on spinning baits, then a soft system is more suitable. Catching a chub on a spinning rod in the spring, in April and May, on rivers with a fast current, makes adjustments to the survival rate. If the fisherman did not have time and the fish got into the water stream - into the stream, then the rod has a very powerful load. Even a half-kilogram copy will provide strong resistance. Therefore, the spinning rod will need a margin of safety. According to professionals, light models in this case will be the most reliable. While in shallow water, the fish can be calmly pulled out even with low-power gear.
The chub is shy, so when moving along the coast, the fisherman needs to make his way through the coastal shrubs, trying not to crack the branches and walking as quietly as possible.
Features of spinning fishing
The bait must be cast as accurately as possible, moreover, two or three meters in front of the very place where the fish was found. If the prey does not peck, then you can repeat by making one or two more casts. More attempts to repeat is impractical. If the chub does not bite for the first or second time, then you need to change the place of casting.
The most successful will be catching a chub in the spring, if you fish "randomly" while in the water. This is surprising, but a person standing in the water practically does not alarm this fish. The chub, aggressively attacking the bait on the move, tries to drag it into a secluded place, because cliffs often happen. And even when dragged ashore, he will continue to resist. Catching a chub for spinning in spring or autumn requires not only special skill, but also an impressive margin of patience. The key to success, according to many anglers, may be a periodic change in bait and wiring.
To feeder
This bottom tackle is the best suited for the chub. Catching a chub on a feeder in the spring, in April-May, or at the end of summer is as follows: the fisherman needs to settle down at least ten meters from the place of fishing. After casting, you need to set the rod as high as possible so that the line does not touch the surface of the water. You can understand that the bite has gone by a fairly strong jerk: in this case, the apex assumes an arched shape. It is not possible to detect the chub right away: very often he himself clings to the hook, and then the fisherman will only have to pull the prey out of the water. After fishing on the feeder at one point, you should look for another promising place.
On the wobbler
Given the excellent surface and lateral vision of the chub, an experienced angler, along with a spring spinning “silent hunt”, takes with him a wide variety of types of lures. Not the last place among them is wobblers. Surface mounts with a considerable length, which go well to different levels of immersion, are the best choice.
The angler guessed the size of the wobbler or not, the chub itself will show. If the fish goes to the bait and turns around sharply, as if changing his mind to approach it, then it is worth changing it to another option. It is possible that the chosen wobbler seemed to the chub too large or even dangerous.
An important component for a successful bite is precisely the size of the bait. Catching a chub in spring on wobblers is best done with elongated options. In addition, this fish also pecks well at poppers with an original and very complex shape. Of the models of these lures, the “roll”, “fet” and “minnow” are most successfully used.