Chub living with Pike

[jacques]

The way things are at present. No matter what pike or chub. Setting up in a swim and waiting these days is just a waste of time.
If a fish is present it will take a bait within minutes, even seconds of casting out.
Ok not always but for me in bite within 20 minutes and l am on to the next swim.
Nine times out of ten these days the possibly of another angler being present is slight. In fact river anglers are getting as rare as the fish we chase. Especially mid week.

[kevd]

Having done a bit of piking recently in swims that I've fished for chub I can confirm that both are present.
Slacks, overhanging bushes and undercuts are fish magnets of all species.

[BriC]

Nov 18, 2020 11:10:21 GMT kev g 1953 said:

Hi Chaps
I've recently enjoyed opening up a few inaccessible swims on the Tees. One of theses is a classic Mr Crabtree chub swim.
On the right is a tree that protrudes at least 2 to 3 rod lengths out across the river, creating a fantastic slack area behind, on the left again there is a overhanging tree again protruding out into the river with a hole of about 5 to 7ft deep underneath . So you have an area of approx 20yds or so of slack water, and a really good crease line at the edge of the lefthand tree line between the slower slack water and the fast flowing water out past the treeline.

Now I've fished this swim twice with no success, although the 1st time was a little rushed with only an hour in the swim, using the normal chub baits of Paste, Bread, Meat and Pellets. I kept away from worms as I was trying to keep away from the Perch. I also just used an old spark plug as a weight just incase of snags etc, which thankfully it appears to be free of.

The second time I was more prepared with more time etc. Same baits, arrived at swim about 13.30hrs,fed swim with liquidised bread / pellets /chopped meat etc. As it happened my friend followed me down so we stood away from the swim chatting and he told me he had struggled lately re chub, we also put the world to writes as per usual. Anyway swim rested approx 30minutes I'm now fishing the swim. After 11/2 hours not a touch so I moved to swim number two about 50yds up river that I'd also cleared recently with a little more success this time thankfully.

Now then my point is after stating all of the above the 1st swim is a classic Mr Crabtree swim!! , but it also looks a classic Mr Crabtree Pike swim.

So I'm wondering if there are one two good sized Pike lurking under both trees that are keeping the chub from taking up residency there. If so what about other swims on the river where chaps link ledger etc under these rafts etc. Is it possible that the Pike don't venture that far up river in any numbers, so are there more rafts than Pike for chub to hide under.

Your thoughts welcomed please.

Not only will you find pike and chub in the same types of swim or even in the same swim, you can also expect to catch perch in the same location too, if it looks chubby or pikey then it probably will be, all of the predators like the same types of water and will often lie side by side for long periods

Roach and pike share the same water and the roach only make themselves scarce when the pike displays its aggressive feeding mode, when pike arent actively feeding they're pretty lethargic and will lie motionless for hours and hours on end and the prey fish seem pretty unconcerned by them but they know when the signs change and they make themselves scarce

I do a lot of lure fishing especially with the lighter gear and catch plenty of chub pike and perch on the same lures and even when aiming for chub or when having a perch day I always use a wire trace purely because pike like the same waters and you cant rule out catching one

I can go down the river fishing certain spots and connect with a pike and when walking back up river after a few hours can chuck back in those same holes where previously I've had a decent pike out and connect with either a chub or perch

[jimmy]

Yes, chub and pike are often in the same peg, and I’ve had many an occasion on dead’s where a chub has followed a pike or vice versa. Good luck