This winter has been no exception for me and with January looking increasingly wintery at times I firmly set my stall out for a few Chub.
There are no complications when it comes to bait for Chub, Bread, Cheese Paste and Maggot are my top choices at this time of year. I will use the bread if the river is running a little clear and I will do this by walking the stretch first dropping a couple of balls of liquidised bread into each likely looking spot as a little taster to get them interested. With this pre-baiting approach any action shouldn’t be long in coming if there is a feeding fish present so I will only give each spot between 15-30 minutes before a move to the next pre-baited spot if no signs are forthcoming.
I fish Cheese paste very similarly to the bread as with regards to pre-baiting any likely looking spot. Only two or three small pieces of paste is needed but again just giving those fish a little taster so when the hook bait is placed they should home straight on to it thinking it is another freebie. The paste is great to fish in coloured water or if you are fishing into the hours of darkness, it’s also great for fishing tight into any near bank cover where the weight used can be critical. As little as one SSG can be used and is perfect for bouncing that bait right into the Chubs home! For me the choice of quiver tip is also a key factor on seeing and converting more pick ups into hooked bites. As light a tip as I can possibly get away with and it always has to be Glass!!
Since it’s release I’ve been using the Korum Neoteric power Quiver for most of my Chub fishing and have been really impressed with it, a nice soft Glass tip but with plenty left in the butt section to steer those snag loving Chub away from their home.
Onto my final winter baiting application which is the humble maggot and when it comes to Chub very often more is best! However it’s not all piled in at once, a constant stream of bait is best and to let the fish gain confidence at least 30 minutes of regular feed before wetting a line which can take some patience but the effort is very often rewarded when the first run through sails away. I have found that the more patience you can have and the longer a swim is fed before any disturbance the more likely you are to catch a greater number of fish from the shoal as the fish become so preoccupied with competing against each other that they don’t really notice when there mate goes missing!
Maggots for me are an excuse to get the float rod out, the feeder can be a devastating method but there is something a little special about running a float through in anticipation for any dip or for it to shoot under! Tinkering with the rig or presentation until it all comes right and those cautious old fish almost become easy to catch.
The biggest mistake I have been guilty of in the past is using floats to small/light for the job! There is so much more control over a heavier float with a bulk or ollivet around 10” from the hook. It helps keep the bait down if there is a broil to the water and and aids the presentation by keeping the float running along the desired line without a crosswind pulling it off coarse.
Fishing the float is by far my favourite method of Chub fishing, to be stood in a river knee to waist deep with water rushing around me and very often it’s in the middle of nowhere immersed in stunning surroundings such as the Dove, Wye or Severn valley to name a few favourites is my kind of heaven...especially when that float buries with a solid resistance! Until Next Time……..Harry
