Guide Joe Dennis said the rig he uses to drift- fish for bream is a real key to success, and that paying attention to details such as line size can be crucial to catching many more big bream.
“A lot of fishermen will try to use 6-, 8- or even 12-pound line, and they don’t understand why they don’t catch as many fish or as big of fish as we do,” he said. “The water in the river is usually fairly clear during June, and the water is not real deep where we’re catching fish. The lighter the line, the more big fish and more fish we hook, and it’s not just about water clarity; the light line sinks quicker, and I think I have better feel for light bites, although many bites are very aggressive.
“I’ve tested with several different line classes, and the 4-pound test is by far the most-productive,” he said. “I’ve even fished with 2-pound test and hooked even more fish than with the 4-pound test, but landing those really big bream can be tough on line that small because there is ample woody cover to snag a rig. So I’ve stuck with the 4-pound as the best all-around size. Even if you’re tempted to try the larger line, give the 4-pound test a chance, and you’ll likely be amazed at how many more fish you catch.”
Dennis said the rig is simple, and if fishermen will just bump the bottom with the sinker occasionally to keep the bait close to the bottom, there won’t be a lot of hang-ups with brush, but there will be a lot of hang-ups with fish.
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