Evening Shoaling of Chub on the River Wye (Monmouth)
River Wye, Monmouth reaches — chub slide into the slacks at dusk
Boys Rocks pool below Monmouth is a classic arrival point. As light drops the chub move out of snaggy holding water into slacks, glides and inside bends to intercept baitfish pushed off the main flow. Seams below riffles and the downstream edge of Boys Rocks often hold shoals that feed hard in the last light.
Anglers watch undercut banks, fallen timber and subtle depth changes on the right-bank stretches above Monmouth; those are the pre‑feed lies. The Monnow beat clues anglers in—mixed coarse species there signal productive twilight feeder lanes on connected water.
Twilight lies and ledger rigs
Keep baits near cover but out of the heaviest current. A link or feeder lead, or a plain simple lead, holds a meat bait in place while chub cruise past. PVA-free, low-spread baiting with a few luncheon meat cubes mimics the scattered fish food chub pick off at dusk.
Rod choice matters: a light-to-medium quiver-tip or feeder rod around 1.5–2.25 lb test curve gives the right feel in tide-free river flow. Use a discreet hooklength—about 0.15–0.22 mm nylon or fluorocarbon—to reduce refusals from wary fish.
At last light the shoal lanes light up. Silver flashes across the inside bend, luncheon meat drifting on the seam, and chub commit in short, brutal bursts as the evening tightens its colours.
Recommended: meat bait cubes