Chub

Chub lures at Charlie's Fishing: insect lures, small crankbaits and darting minnows

Chub are curious, fast and shy at the same time. In rivers and streams they hold under overhanging trees, along the bank, near bridges and on the edge of the current, and in summer they take a lot of their food from the surface: beetles and other insects that fall from the branches. Small fish make up the rest of their diet. That is why chub lures are small: insect imitations, mini crankbaits, small topwaters and slim minnows of 3.5 to 10 cm. On this page you find the lures we picked for chub, and below we explain how to fish them.

Insect lures and small crankbaits for chub

The Jackall Chubby Bug 35 is a floating super shallow crankbait of 35 mm and 3.7 g that looks like a beetle struggling on or just under the surface. Silicone legs on two levels keep moving when you stop, and a weight transfer system helps it cast. Cast it under the branches or against the bank, let it sit for a few seconds, then wind it in slowly with long pauses. Chub often take it on the pause, when they feed on insects in calm water, streams and slow rivers.

The Jackall Live Darter is a sinking darting minnow of 52 mm and 4.5 g with a double hook close to the body and a tinsel tail. Short, sharp twitches of the rod tip make it dart from side to side and up and down; when you stop, the tinsel tail keeps moving. Use it in clear and pressured water, where chub follow a lure but turn away at the last moment, and fish it slower in cold water. Both lures are from Jackall, and you find them with other small hardbaits in Crankbaits & Twitchbaits.

More lures that catch chub

These lures are not part of this collection, but their product pages name chub as a target:

• Illex MoMouse: a 7 g floating mini wakebait with a 42 mm body and a 92 mm tail, made for slow surface retrieves along banks, obstacles and stone groynes; see Topwaters and Mouse & Bucktail Lures
• Jackall Driftfry 4": a 4" (10.2 cm) finesse softbait of 5.2 g for mid strolling, drop shot and a light jighead, for bigger chub in clear water; see Zander and Perch Softbaits

Which chub lure for which situation

• Summer, chub under the trees eating insects: Jackall Chubby Bug 35
• Chub that follow but do not take: Jackall Live Darter with short twitches
• Surface fishing along the bank and stone groynes: Illex MoMouse
• Clear, cold water and cautious fish: Jackall Driftfry 4" on a light jighead

Fish these lures on a light lure rod with a thin fluorocarbon leader, and approach the bank quietly, because chub spook easily. The same rivers often hold trout, asp and perch, so also have a look at Trout, Asp and Perch. A small landing net from Fishing Nets makes the landing easier.

Why buy chub lures at Charlie's Fishing

We picked small lures for chub, trout and perch in rivers and streams, with clear advice on how to fish them. Everything ships from our stock in the Netherlands, with fast delivery across Europe. Questions about chub fishing? Send us a message and we will help you choose.

What is the best lure for chub?

In summer, a small insect lure such as the Jackall Chubby Bug 35 is a good first choice, because chub feed on beetles that fall from overhanging trees. When chub feed on small fish or follow without taking, switch to a darting minnow such as the Jackall Live Darter.

What size lure should I use for chub?

Small: roughly 3.5 to 10 cm. The lures on this page run from the 35 mm Chubby Bug and the 52 mm Live Darter to the 4" Driftfry for bigger fish.

Where do I find chub?

In rivers and streams, under overhanging trees, along the bank, near bridges and on the edge of the current. In summer they often swim just under the surface; in winter they hold deeper and calmer, and a slower lure works better.