The Chub
The chub (Cyprinus cephalus) is perhaps the least valuable fresh-water fish for table purposes, though probably the barbell may almost be put on a level with him, albeit Izaak Walton contrived to make a tasty dish of it; but at best the flesh is rather vapid, watery, and abounding in bones.
It is a fair sporting fish, however. In addition to his taking all kinds of baits in bottom fishing, he will take both natural and artificial insects on the surface boldly. And many are taken by dressing a cockchafer, humble bee, or small frog, or by casting imitations of the same, artificially prepared, under the boughs where the chub lies waiting. A big artificial humble bee or cockchafer, or a fly made of a silver tinsel body, coch-y-bondu hackle, and turkey wing, with sprigs of green peacock in it, are about the three best lures for him, though many prefer red and black palmers.
The chub often lies also in deep heavy streams, and will frequently in such cases take a live or a spinning minnow pretty freely. Among bottom baits cheese and greaves are special favourites.
The chub rarely exceeds 6 or 7 lb in weight, though specimens have been known to attain 9 lb. Size of hooks, 3, 4 and sometimes larger.
Read the rest of this article:
Angling - Table of Contents
