Spinning for chub: lures, spots and season
The chub eats just about anything: small fish, insects, crayfish, even fruit that falls into the water. On rivers it lies under willows, behind rocks and at the head of pools.
On spinning gear you catch it with small lures cast accurately under branches. It's very wary, so your approach matters as much as the lure.
Species: Chub
What you need
- Rod: light, 2.1-2.4 m, casting 2-12 g.
- Reel: size 1000-2500.
- Line: 0.16-0.20 mm monofilament or thin braid with a 0.18-0.22 mm fluorocarbon leader.
- Accessories: a small snap, polarised glasses, a landing net.
Baits
- 3-5 cm floating micro crankbaits.
- Small spinners.
- In summer, insect imitations (beetles, crickets) cast onto the surface.
- Small twisters on a light jig head.
When to fish
- From late spring to autumn; in summer at the surface, when insects fall into the water.
- Morning and evening; in autumn, chub drop down into the pools.
Where are you fishing
- Hill and lowland rivers.
- Under willows and overhanging branches, at stream mouths, below weirs and behind rocks.
Step by step
- 1
Approach slowly. Chub spot an angler from a long way off: move slowly, keep low and don't show yourself on a high bank.
- 2
Cast accurately. Cast downstream or across, as close as you can to the branches and the bank.
- 3
Let the current do the work. Let the current carry the floating crankbait under the branches, then start the retrieve.
- 4
Retrieve with pauses. A slow retrieve with short twitches and pauses; on the surface, move the insect imitation only a little.
- 5
Strike and steer it out of the branches. When it hits, strike and keep the fish away from roots and branches, where it would break the line.
Common mistakes
- Noise and shadows on the bank.
- Lures that are too big.
- Line that's too thick and visible in clear water.
- Casting too far from the branches: the chub sits right underneath them.
Rules on natural waters
Chub
Minimum size: 25 cm
Species closed season: none, only the general closed season
General closed season: 9 April - 7 June (the periods differ on border waters and in the Danube Delta)
Daily limit: At most 5 kg of fish per day, or a single fish if it's over 5 kg.
The rules above are for natural waters (rivers, lakes, the Danube), where you also need a permit. On a private lake the lake's rules apply: many are catch & release or have their own limits.
For information only, not guaranteed legal advice. There are many local exceptions (Danube Delta, border waters, catch-and-release sections) not covered here. Always check the official ANADSPA (formerly ANPA) source before fishing.
Frequently asked questions
Do chub take crankbaits?
Yes, very often: 3-5 cm floating micro crankbaits are among the best lures for big chub.
What colours work for chub?
Natural ones in clear water; in summer, on the surface, dark colours, like a beetle.
What is the minimum size for chub, and when is the closed season?
In natural waters, the legal minimum size is 25 cm; smaller fish must be released. The general closed season also applies on natural waters: 9 April - 7 June.
Step-by-step guides
- Fishing knots: Palomar
Fishing for chub by county
Find where to fish in the RoFish app
The map of fishing lakes and public waters across the country, the species filter, the rules of every spot and “Am I allowed to fish?” for the day you pick are in the RoFish app, on your phone.