Generally speaking, I think the ‘bullying’ theory is a bit of a misconception. I’ve seen underwater footage of them happily feeding alongside each other, with minnows and silvers in the mix too. There’s been a few occasions when I’ve been lucky enough to see it in person too.
I remember one session on the Dorset Stour when I’d droppered in some hemp, pellet and corn in a gin clear shallow-ish run. The Chub were first on the scene and once they started to feed, did so in a quite an ordered fashion, with the smaller of the shoal being the first, each fish would move quickly on to the bait, grab a morsel or two then drop back. A few barbel were lurking a few yards back in some streamer weed, picking up bits that were washing downstream. After 25 minutes or so, the Barbel moved up and were joined by a few more, once they got their heads down, the Chub did move off but only to take advantage of the feed that was being stirred up by the Barbel grubbing around, disturbing the particles, taking this in low to mid water. They did however, get in amongst the Barbel a fair bit too. It was fascinating to observe.
Once I picked up the courage to flick a bait out, it settled amongst the shoal and the tip pulled round within a matter of seconds - a Rudd of about a pound and a quarter that I swear hadn’t been there the whole time....
I did manage a couple of the better Chub that day, but the Barbel eluded me...
