How to Catch Bream: Expert Angler's Advice

Fishing enthusiasts know that catching bream is no easy task. It«s important to choose the right tackle and bait. Amateur angler Alexey Chernyshov shared the secrets of successfully catching this cautious and selective fish with NGS.

Tackle

According to the expert, for catching bream, it«s important to choose delicate tackle. If you prefer a float rod, it»s better to select a rod 5–7 meters long — light and balanced. The float should be elongated and sensitive, with a load capacity of 2–4 grams.

The main line is used with a thickness of 0.14–0.16 millimeters, and the leader is taken thinner — 0.10–0.12 millimeters and 25–40 centimeters long. Hooks size 10–14 are suitable, thin and with a long shank: it«s convenient to bait worms or maggots in a bunch on them.

«Bream bites cautiously, and a crude float it will simply spit out along with the bait,» the angler explains.

Many anglers choose a feeder — a bottom tackle with a feeder, which allows catching bream at long distances. For this, a rod 3.3–3.9 meters long with a test of up to 80–120 grams and a reel with fine friction adjustment are suitable. As the main line, you can use a braided line of 0.12–0.14 millimeters or monofilament line of 0.20–0.25 millimeters.

Bait

Bait is placed in the feeder, which dissolves on the bottom and attracts fish.

«The classic is red manure worm, baited in a bunch of 3–5 pieces, or a large earthworm,» notes Alexey Chernyshov.

Maggots work well, especially if combined with bloodworms. Among plant baits, anglers use steamed pearl barley, mastyrka, corn, and star-shaped pasta. In summer, bream may bite on green peas and dough with anise oil.

Special attention should be paid to groundbait — without it, catching bream is almost impossible. The fish feeds from the bottom, so the angler«s task is to create a feeding spot on the bottom that will hold the school. The groundbait should be coarse-grained: breadcrumbs, ground sunflower seeds, boiled millet, corn grits, and a bit of oilcake.

The color of the mixture is better chosen dark, so as not to scare the cautious fish. Be sure to add chopped worm, bloodworm, or maggot — the animal component is necessary. For aroma, coriander, fennel, or anise are suitable, but it«s important not to overdo it: bream does not like sharp smells.

Before starting fishing, the spot must be baited: immediately send 5–8 balls of groundbait the size of a fist into the water. If fishing is on a current — more balls will be needed. Then every 20–30 minutes, add a bit more groundbait to the fishing spot to maintain the fish«s interest.

Technique

The fishing technique also has its peculiarities. On a float rod, after casting, you need to wait for a bite: the float first slightly rises, then starts to move sideways or go under water. At this moment, you should strike — sharply, but not too hard. On a feeder, the signal for striking is the trembling and bending of the rod tip.

«Bream resists cunningly: first it goes with a powerful jerk to the side, then tries to lie on its side and brace with its whole body,» says Alexey Chernyshov.

He advises not to force the landing and let the fish tire. The line should be kept taut and the reel worked smoothly. And for the final stage, be sure to use a landing net: without it, you simply can«t pull out a wide bream.

Earlier, the expert told NGS how to catch carp.