Chub enigma
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2022 7:39 pm
Can a fish species change its whole character to suit its circumstances?
We know what the old books (and indeed some modern ones) say about chub. "The fearfullest of fishes" meaning they are super-sensitive to the presence of humans on the bank. But on the other hand they are supposed to be willing to eat a very wide range of baits (which is true, if a bit oversimplified - you still need the right bait for the day!) and are not supposed to be easily put off by heavy tackle.
Today I caught a smallish (2 lb 10 oz) chub and a couple of bream, all on sweetcorn (legered on 4 lb line and a size 10), and all in the same swim. The river was very, very low; and crystal clear.
After a while I began to see three or four larger chub, coming and going across the gravel and in and out of weeds, and right under my rod top. They could, I was pretty sure, see me; and must have been aware of my repeated casting and at intervals, playing and landing fish. They were there to hoover up the free offerings of corn I was introducing, and this went on for about 2 hours.
These biggish chub (one looked over 5 lb) surely knew I was there and fishing for them but on this occasion they stayed close for the free feed. They were however well aware that sweetcorn on a hook should be left well alone (despite various changes of bait size (one grain or three), hook size, trail length and whether the bait was legered, or freelined and slow sinking).
My theory for what it's worth is that these chub have adapted to there being more people on the bank (especially in the hot weather) and with the river so shallow, think it's normal to see people and so are less inclined to flee? But to keep safe, in compensation they have evidently become very tackle shy instead.
All part of the fascination of fishing. Has anyone else encountered this kind of behaviour, I wonder?
We know what the old books (and indeed some modern ones) say about chub. "The fearfullest of fishes" meaning they are super-sensitive to the presence of humans on the bank. But on the other hand they are supposed to be willing to eat a very wide range of baits (which is true, if a bit oversimplified - you still need the right bait for the day!) and are not supposed to be easily put off by heavy tackle.
Today I caught a smallish (2 lb 10 oz) chub and a couple of bream, all on sweetcorn (legered on 4 lb line and a size 10), and all in the same swim. The river was very, very low; and crystal clear.
After a while I began to see three or four larger chub, coming and going across the gravel and in and out of weeds, and right under my rod top. They could, I was pretty sure, see me; and must have been aware of my repeated casting and at intervals, playing and landing fish. They were there to hoover up the free offerings of corn I was introducing, and this went on for about 2 hours.
These biggish chub (one looked over 5 lb) surely knew I was there and fishing for them but on this occasion they stayed close for the free feed. They were however well aware that sweetcorn on a hook should be left well alone (despite various changes of bait size (one grain or three), hook size, trail length and whether the bait was legered, or freelined and slow sinking).
My theory for what it's worth is that these chub have adapted to there being more people on the bank (especially in the hot weather) and with the river so shallow, think it's normal to see people and so are less inclined to flee? But to keep safe, in compensation they have evidently become very tackle shy instead.
All part of the fascination of fishing. Has anyone else encountered this kind of behaviour, I wonder?