Roger's Angling Pages
The Bream Abramis brama		Carp family Cyprinidae

This fish can be found everywhere in Europe with the exception of the southern peninsulas. It is characterised by its body shape, which is deep and laterally compressed. The fish is bronze in colour and it has a relatively small head. Its puckered mouth indicates that it collects its food off the bottom, and the shape of its body suggests that it tends to stay at a great depth. When looking for food it swims at an angle. On average it weighs 1 to 4 lb, but even 15 lb specimens have been caught.

The Bream frequents still and slow-running waters where it travels about in large shoals. It likes dams, where it breeds to such an extent that it has to compete for food with other fish species. When over-breeding occurs growth becomes stunted. The Bream spawns at the end of May and at the beginning of June on to flooded grass or the roots of trees. The females mature sexually 3 or 4 years later than the males and they also live longer. During breeding, the males have a white rash on their heads.

The Bream is relatively highly valued by anglers. Fine equipment is necessary when fishing for it and such tackle should include a line of 5 lb breaking strain, a long fine rod and light but sharp hooks. The Bream looks for food all year round but with special intensity in the autumn. It is usually fished with the float lying flat on the water and with a taut line, and it is hooked straight after it bites. It can also be caught from a boat, when short, so-called boat rods are used. Effective baits include various larvae and maggots, boiled barley, sweet corn, peas, potatoes and various bread pastes.