Dirty Water Chub

Once they reach around four pounds the chub on the local river become very spooky - they've been around the block a few times! You can con them into taking a bait but it's difficult. I make a mental note when I spot a decent chub - then if it rains and the water colours up I go back to see if they're still there with dirty water confidence.

I'd seen a few big chub recently while targeting barbel - and after the heavy rain last night they might want to play. Arriving at the river the water was up and dirty - perfect! Using bread I wasn't surprised my first 2 chub turned out to be barbel - probably beating them to the bait. But I'd spotted a big chub a couple of days ago just downstream.

I crept in and a chub first cast - about 3lb - right species, but not the one I was after. A brief wander about and I was back - I hit a fish, it pulled back and all it wanted to do was get in the snags - that's a big chub! Safely in the net she went 5lb 13oz - result! And just enough time for one more barbel before the rain pushed me off the river.