(Leuciscus cephalus)
The Genus is the rank between Family and Species
Leuciscus is a Genus of fish in the Cyprinidae Family
Maximum size 600 mm (24 in) long,
Maximum published weight 8 kg (18 lb)
Maximum reported age 22 years
Cyprinid
Kingdom Animalia (animals)
Phylum Chordata (vertebrates and several closely related invertebrates)
Class Actinopterygii, (ray-finned fishes)
Order Cypriniformes, (carps)
Family Cyprinidae, (Minnows or carps)
Genus Leuciscus
Species
Leuciscus cephalus
The Family Cyprinidae, named after the Greek word Kypris, another name for Aphrodite, consists of the carps and some of the fish known as minnows.
Characteristics
The fish in this family originate from North America, Africa and Eurasia. The largest fish in this family is the Giant Barb (Catlocarpio siamensis), which may grow up to 3 m (10 ft). The largest North American species is Ptychocheilus lucius. On the other hand, many species are smaller than 50mm (2 in); the smallest freshwater fish is, in fact, a cypriniform, Danionella translucida, reaching 12 mm at the longest. All fish in this family are egg-layers and the breeding habits of most is one of non-guarding of the eggs, however, there are a few species that build nests and/or guard the eggs.
Economic significance
Cyprinids are highly important food fish; they are fished and farmed across Eurasia. In land-locked countries in particular, cyprinids are often the major species of fish eaten, although the prevalance of inexpensive frozen fish products made this less important now than it was in earlier times. Nonetheless, in certain places they remain popular for food as well as recreational fishing, and have been deliberately stocked in ponds and lakes for centuries for this reason.
Several cyprinids have been quite introduced to waters outside their natural range to provide food, sport, or biological control for some pest species. The carp and the grass carp are the most important of these, for example in Florida. In some cases, these have become invasive species that compete with native fishes or disrupt the environment, carp in particular can stir up the riverbed reducing the clarity of the water making it difficult for plants to grow.
Numerous cyprinids have become important in the aquarium hobby, most famously the goldfish, which was first imported into Europe around 1728 but was cultivated by the Chinese well before then. Other popular cyprinids kept in aquarium include the barbs, danios and rasboras.
The chub, or European chub (Leuciscus cephalus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. It frequents both slow and moderate rivers as well as canals and stillwaters of various kinds.
The name chub also describes numerous other cyprinid fish in several North American genera, including Algansea, Erimystax, Gila, Hybopsis, Macrhybopsis, Nocomis, Notropis, and Semiotilus, as well as the unrelated sea chubs of the family Kyphosidae. It is also a regional name for fish such as shortnose cisco and tautog.
Description
Chub have a large head, a large mouth with almost rubberlike lips, a black/silver to greenish back, silvery sides, white belly, and fins tinged with yellowish red. Size and length varies depending on water. although the chub may look small they can be strong fighters when hooked by an angler. Chub can also be recognized by the dark net-like pattern around the scales.
Fishing for chub
Chub is a popular fish with anglers due to its readiness to feed, and thus be caught, in almost any weather conditions.
Where present and whilst small, the Chub is a free-biting fish which even inexperienced anglers find easy to catch. As they become larger, however, Chub become very wary fish—easily "spooked" by noise or visual disturbance. Consequently large chub (in excess of perhaps 2 kg) are keenly sought by anglers who prefer to target specific fish.
The British record was broken in May 2007 when Steve White caught a 9lb 3oz Chub from a Southern stillwater on a mainline boilie.
Tackle
Small chub can be caught readily on light tackle. A fly-fishing set-up, lure rod or float rod for example. Lines and hooks can be small but bait size is often on the large-side due to the Chub's "greedy" nature.
Larger chub, especially in floodwater conditions, need to be fished for with much tougher tackle. A stiffish rod, strong line, strong hooks and a large piece of bait. These precautions are needed due to the chub's predilection for taking cover in underwater snags. (They freely conceal themselves in, and then return to, deep holes, roots of trees, etc.).
As with most species, Chub will readily take whatever is natural to their habitat. In addition to such "natural" baits, however, Chub are renowned for their voracious appetite and will, in all probability, take forms of cheese, sweetcorn, bread, worms, wasp-grub, and just about any other bait that is offered.
Environment:
benthopelagic;
Living and feeding near the bottom as well as in midwaters or near the surface. Feeding on benthic as well as free swimming organisms. Many freshwater fish are opportunistic feeders that forage on the bottom as well as in midwater and near the surface, also pertaining to forms which hover or swim just over the bottom
potamodromous;
Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers.
Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
Climate: temperate; 4 - 20°C; 64°N - 35°N
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years
Biology: Occurs in creeks and fast flowing rivers, occasionally in lakes. Enters brackish water in the eastern Baltic. Feeds on algae, bits of vegetation and various seeds that have fallen into the water. Also feeds on worms, mollusks, crustaceans, and various insect larvae; large chub eat considerable numbers of small fish, such as chub, eels, dace, roach, gudgeon and minnows; also frogs, crayfish, voles and young water birds.
Pale yellow eggs are found attached to gravel, weed and stones in flowing water
Popular with sport fishermen. Can be caught with various baits and lures.
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