How to catch Chub
Squalius carolitertii (Doadrio, 1988)
About Chub fishing
The bordallo is a small freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae and is endemic to the rivers of Portugal and Spain. It features a typical fusiform body shape with a forked caudal fin, a rounded snout, and a subterminal mouth, reaching a common length of around thirteen centimetres and a maximum length of twenty five centimetres. Adults typically inhabit clear hill streams and middle stretches of flowing rivers across various plains and high altitude basins. This omnivorous species feeds primarily on aquatic invertebrates, including insect larvae and detritus, shifting its diet as it grows. Potamodromous in its migration pattern, it spawns during the spring months and forms an important component of native Iberian riverine ecology.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
13.6 cm SL
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Habitat
Freshwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Forked Caudal Fin
Deeply forked tail fin aids in steady swimming and identifies the species.
Abdominal Pelvic Fin
Pelvic fins are positioned on the abdomen beneath the dorsal fin origin.
Plain Dorsal Fin
Dorsal fin has no striking attributes or spines.
Chub fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
13.6 cm SL (max 25 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
0.2 kg (max 0.2 kg ) -
Longevity
5 years -
Body shape
Fusiform / Normal -
Vulnerability score
59.8
Best hours
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Active
Dawn
First light
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Peak
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Peak
Afternoon
Late day
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Active
Dusk
Last light
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Low
Night
After dark
When to fish for Chub
How to catch Chub
Tips for catching Chub
Anglers targeting this small river dweller find the best results using light tackle and delicate presentations in clear streams and flowing river sections. Float fishing with fine lines and small hooks baited with natural offerings or fragments of bread works exceptionally well during warmer daylight hours. Alternatively, presenting dry flies or nymphs with a light fly rod matches the natural diet of aquatic invertebrates and surface insects. Early morning and late afternoon provide the most active feeding windows throughout the spring and summer seasons when fish rise confidently to feed in shallow riffles and runs.
Other names for Chub
Local and alternate names anglers use for Chub.
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Chub
Best equipment to catch Chub
Compare fishing methods for Chub — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 0.2 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Float Fishing
Suspending bait beneath a float at a controlled depth.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Float rod
A float rod is the all-round fishing rod for a float in rivers and still water, a step down in length from match.
Sized for a typical fish
light · 3.6 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate
- Grip
- Cork
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
1.3 kg · 0.125 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Hook
J-hook
A J-hook is the classic J-bend fishing hook for bait. You set it with a strike. Sizes are tokens such as 12 or 1/0.
Sized for a typical fish
12
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Float
Waggler
A waggler is a bottom-only attachment float for stillwaters and slow rivers. You shot it down and watch the antenna.
Sized for a typical fish
4 g
- Attachment
- Fixed
- Habitats
- Freshwater
- Methods
- Float Fishing
Fly Fishing
Presenting artificial flies with a fly rod and weighted line.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Fly rod
A fly rod is a fishing rod sized by line weight, with a fly reel seat. The fly line, not a heavy lure, loads the blank.
Sized for a typical fish
2.44 m · 3wt
- Reel seat
- Fly
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-fast
- Grip
- Cork
Reel
Fly reel
A fly reel is a large-arbor drum that stores backing and fly line. Drag is a disc; the reel does not cast the fly.
Sized for a typical fish
2 kg drag · 3wt
- Spool
- Drum
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Disc
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Fly line
Fly line is the weighted shooting line that carries a near-weightless fly. Match it by weight class to the fly rod, not by kilo rating.
Sized for a typical fish
3wt
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Tippet
Tippet is the fine, replaceable end of a fly leader, sized in X so you can match the fly and the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
1.6 kg · 0.13 mm · 75 cm · 6X
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Medium
- Sink rate
- Slow
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
50% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
ultralight · 1.8 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Best lures and baits for Chub
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Worm
- Float Fishing
Rounded anterior end containing the mouth used for anchoring the bait on the hook.
02
Bread
- Float Fishing
Soft inner bread compressed onto the hook for surface feeding.
03
Dry fly
- Fly Fishing
A floating fly fished on the surface during a hatch.
04
Insects
- Fly Fishing
Translucent upright wings create surface disturbance that attracts rising freshwater fish.
06
Inline spinner
- Spinning
An inline spinner with a blade that flashes on a straight retrieve.
How Chub migrates — Potamodromous
Migrates within rivers and lakes only. Fish upstream runs and seasonal lake movements, not saltwater.
1 Eggs
Upstream
Laid on gravel or weed upstream or in flooded shallows.
2 Larvae
→ Main river or lake
Fry drift or swim down to slower water.
3 Adults
Main river or lake
Feed in the main river or lake.
4 Spawners
→ Upstream
Move upstream or into the shallows to spawn.
The whole cycle stays in fresh water.
Hover or tap a number to read each stage.
Diet and behavior of Chub
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Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Morning · Afternoon
Prey and predators of Chub
Prey is what Chub eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Other prey
Where Chub lives
Lives near the bottom but swims in the water just above it. Cover the lower column, not only the mud.
Where this species lives
Chub photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.