Coarse Fish
Chub Fishing: Complete UK Guide
Chub are the ultimate all-rounder of UK river fishing. They eat almost anything, feed in almost any conditions, and are the winter angler’s best friend. Freelining bread flake under a tree is chub fishing at its simplest and best. A 5lb chub makes you grin; a 6lb chub makes you shake.
Quick Facts
Average Weight
2-4lb
UK Record
9lb 5oz, Neil Steven, River Lea, 2012 (source: British Record Fish Committee list)
Best Season
October–March (peak), year-round
Habitat
Rivers of all sizes, some stillwaters
Difficulty
Beginner-Intermediate
Best Bait
Bread, cheese, slugs, lures, worms, maggots
Step-by-Step
How to Catch Chub
A practical guide for weekend anglers: from choosing your method to landing your catch.
- 1
Find your chub
Look under overhanging trees, alongside debris rafts, behind bridge supports. Use polaroid glasses for spotting. Stealth is essential.
- 2
Choose your method
Bread flake freelining is the classic. Cheese paste legering works in winter. Lure fishing and surface fishing with floating crust are also effective.
- 3
Select your bait
Chub eat almost anything: bread, cheese, slugs, berries, luncheon meat, worms, maggots, casters.
- 4
Approach with stealth
Stay low, keep back from the bank, wear drab clothing. Chub are extremely wary, and one false move means they’re gone.
- 5
Play and land quickly
Chub make a powerful first run then tire quickly. Net quickly to avoid snag tangles.
- 6
Roam to find feeding fish
Chub fishing rewards the mobile angler. Drop a bait into several likely spots, give each around ten minutes, and move on. A chub that is going to feed usually does so quickly.
- 7
Match bait to the season
Big baits like cheese paste, meat and bread come into their own in cold, coloured winter water, while in summer floating crust, slugs, lures and maggots all tempt surface-feeding chub.
Where to Fish
Best Spots for Chub
Top UK venues and regions for this species.
When to Fish
Chub Fishing Season
Month-by-month guide showing the best times to target this species.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Where to catch chub in the UK
162 venues in our directory are confirmed to hold chub. Find chub fishing near you: top regions by venue count below, or open any venue page for details and pricing.
South East England
50 venues- Greens FarmNewdigate, Surrey · RH5 5BE
- Alderwood PondsSteyning, West Sussex · BN44 3AB
- Bembridge Angling ClubSt Helens, Isle of Wight · PO33 1YU
- Braybrooke Community Nature and Fishing ClubBracknell, Bracknell Forest · RG42 2LP
- Brick Farm LakesHerstmonceux, East Sussex · BN27 4TZ
South West England
27 venues- Mendip FisherySt Cuthbert Out, Somerset · BA5 3FE
- New Barn Farm Angling CentreTorbay, unparished area, Torbay · TQ4 7QB
- Plymouth and District Coarse Angling ClubUgborough, Devon · PL21 0LE
- Plymouth and District Coarse Angling ClubUgborough, Devon · PL21 0LE
- Plymouth and District Coarse Angling ClubUgborough, Devon · PL21 0LE
Frequently Asked Questions About Chub Fishing
GilledIt's directory lists 162 venues in the UK confirmed to hold chub. Use the venue finder to enter your postcode or share your location and you will get the closest waters ranked by distance, or browse the region lists on this page.
Bread flake, cheese paste, slugs, and luncheon meat are all excellent. In summer, floating bread crust on the surface is deadly.
9lb 5oz, caught by Neil Steven from the River Lea in 2012.
October to March is peak, but chub feed year-round. Winter is the golden window; chub are one of few species that feed aggressively in cold weather.
Yes. Small crankbaits, spinners, and soft plastics all catch chub. Lure fishing for chub is a growing and effective method.
Yes, enthusiastically. Chub are one of the most reliable winter species. Fish after a flood with coloured water for the best results.
Walk quietly along the bank with polaroid glasses. Look for chub under overhanging trees and near cover. One bait, one chance. Drop a piece of bread and wait.
A 1.5-1.75lb test-curve Avon-style rod, a 4000-size reel with 6-8lb mainline and a size 6-12 hook suit most river chubbing. Step down to lighter float gear for trotting maggots.
A 4lb chub is a good fish, 5lb is a proper specimen and a 6lb chub is the fish of a lifetime for most river anglers. The British best is just over 9lb.
Yes, readily. Small crankbaits, spinners, surface lures and soft plastics all catch chub, and lure fishing for them in summer has become a popular, mobile way to fish.
The Thames, Great Ouse, Kennet, Hampshire Avon, Wye and Warwickshire Avon all hold excellent chub, as do most decent-sized rivers across England and Wales.
Log your chub catches in GilledIt
Caught a chub? Log it in GilledIt, the free fishing app built for UK anglers. Track your personal bests, see where other anglers are catching chub, and compete on weekly leaderboards.
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