The Chub (Leuciscus Cephalus)
Chub have a wide, flat forehead with large silvery or bronze scales. Dorsal and caudal fins often look black in water.
They are often found in small groups and individually and are a particularly shy fish. It is often said that, once one or two have been caught in a swim, it's time to move on and try again elsewhere.
Unlike most other species, chub seem to feed aggressively throughout the year. They will accept food either on riverbeds or up in the water (especially during the summer months). They are happiest in flowing water but often lie in deep pools or in slacks to forage and to intercept floating food such as emerging insects, mayflies and midges. As they seek shade on warm days, these areas can be very productive for the angler.
Like carp, chub are a greedy fish and will readily accept a number of different baits. Maggots and bread flake do especially well winter or summer. Chub can be found almost exclusively in the River Tone. The larger specimens are to be found in and immediately around Taunton itself.
The Dace (Leuciscus Leuciscus)
Dace are often confused with small chub (but have a concave anal fin) and sometimes even with roach. They are very active little river fish that thrive in the faster stretches of rivers.
Generally a shoal fish they tend to feed up in the water.
A specimen is around a 1lb in weight with the general being up to 1/2 lb. What they lack in weight they make up for in quantity. Float fishing up in the water is, without doubt, the best method for consistent results. Try the faster stretches, which have some weed cover and trot down with either a stick float or waggler. Feed every cast and watch the float carefully - these fish are fast and the bites can be lightning quick.
Feeding maggot for dace does particularly well although they can also be caught readily on the fly. Like the chub, dace can be found in the faster stretches of the River Tone.
