Surface lure
The summer season is the best time to target chub, which can be stalked on sight in the river's small undercurrents, using insect or fruit imitations. Floating lures are generally used to take maximum advantage of aggressive attacks and to enhance the sensations of a catch. Chub often hide under foliage during the day and don't hesitate to position themselves on the surface, in the middle of the current when the light is fading, to intercept hatchlings or insects falling onto the water.
Very small poppers, around 5 cm, are very effective, but you can also choose floating soft lures mounted weightless. The aim is to place the lure at the right distance from the fish, from 50 cm to 1 m, which will allow you to perfect your level of precision with light lures.
With swimfish or soft lures
Of course, summer doesn't last forever, and spring and autumn are also good seasons to target chub. Generally speaking, the stronger the river current throughout the year, the more aggressive chub are on lures. Small crankbaits, able to scrape the bottom by lifting substrate, tend to greatly irritate chub.
You can also use small soft lures such as shad or creaturefish, either to pass through a vein of interesting water, or to scrape the bottom and imitate an invertebrate or wounded fish. In streams with relatively weak currents, it's best to use very realistic imitations to fool fish in clear water. Fruit imitations, such as the blackberry, are particularly effective in early autumn when the fruit falls off in a gale or is too old.
A few tips for chub fishing
The chub, although sometimes rather silly, is a very wary fish. They use their keen eyesight to spot predators and fishermen. It is therefore very important to remain discreet at the water's edge, making no sudden movements and, if possible, dressing in colors reminiscent of the sky or foliage. Chub generally live in small groups, and you may only get one chance per shoal, so don't miss it and don't frighten any of them, as this could scare off other chub.
