Features:
The Chubs body has longer and cylindrical shape and is flattened on the sides. It has a big head and a wide mouth. Its back is dark with green or brown reflection. The sides are golden yellow while the belly is dirty white. Its dorsal and caudal are steely grey with blue reflection. While pectoral fins are quite lighter pelvic and anal fins are reddish. It has big scales with dark edges and golden yellow refection. Chub can grow over 50 cm in length and can weigh over 4 kg.

Spawning:
It spawns from April to June in shallow waters with preferably gravely bottom where the female lays their sticky eggs. When that is not possible they lay them on water vegetation.

Habitat:
Chub can be found all over Europe except Ireland, Denmark and Mediterranean island. It can be found in still as well as in running waters in all layers of depths. While offspring live in groups older fish are solitary. It is quite common in Slovenia and also in the waters of Cerknica Fishing Association. Since it prefers clear waters rather than muddy it can be found in the riverbanks and pools of the upper areas of the Lake Cerknica in Cerkniščica Creek and Lake Bloke. Specially big and cautious fish can be found in Rak Creek.

Fishing technique: 
Chub is herbivore as well as carnivore and as such very convenient for sports fishing. It swims in all layers of the water and thus it can be caught with any sort of fishing rod. We can choose flyfishing, trolling, float fishing or bottom fishing. The most popular baits beside the dry fly and spoon bait are sore cherries (and any other similar fruit like plum or grapes during the fruit season), bread, pastry and animal intestines in the winter. You can catch it on the dry fly all year round. When fishing for chub one must be very cautious in movement and fishing gear since the fish is very shy and easy to spoke. If you use the bait without any weight and buoy you have great chances to catch it because they alarm the fish. When the fish bites the bait you feel several short pulls and then sudden unwinding of the line when the fish swims away and that is when we stretch the line. It is recommended to feed the fish with the chosen bait a few days prior to fishing so the fish get use to the smell. When the fish feels that it is caught it starts to resist and looks for shelter. As soon as you get its mouth above the water and it grasps for air it surrenders.
Dr Tomo Korošec beautifully and picturesque described chub as a fish suitable for dry flying and the technique used at Lake Cerknica in his book Flyfishing. The book was issued in two reproductions by the publisher Kmečki glas, Ljubljana.
Dr. Tomo Korošec je izredno lepo in slikovito opisal klena kot muharsko ribo in muharjenje nanj na Cerkniškem jezeru v knjigi Muharjenje, ki jo je v dveh ponatisih izdala ČZD Kemčki glas iz Ljubljane.

Chub is not very popular on the menu. Although his flesh is quite tasty it has a lot of fish bones that divers people from preparing it as a dish. But with the right preparation it can be beautiful to eat. You can find some recipes in our special column Recipes.