At a glance
2–8 lb.
6–30 ft.
Dusk, night and dawn.
8 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
A deep, very flat-sided fish with a high back, a small mouth that pushes out into a tube, a long anal fin and a forked tail. Small ones are silver ('skimmers'); adults turn bronze to dark brown and are covered in slime.
- Typical size
2–8 lb.
- Maximum size
About 32 in and over 20 lb in rich lakes.
- Diet
Bloodworms, insect larvae, snails and small mussels sucked from the mud.
- Behavior
Moves in big shoals that 'graze' the bottom, stirring up mud and bubbles. Shoals often show by rolling at the surface at dusk.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Northern & Central Europe, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan, Black Sea & Caspian, Greece & the Adriatic and Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean. Lakes, reservoirs, canals and slow, deep rivers across Europe to the Caspian and Aral basins, including brackish Baltic bays.
- Habitat
Lakes, reservoirs, canals and slow, deep rivers across Europe to the Caspian and Aral basins, including brackish Baltic bays.
- Depth
6–30 ft.
- Fishing depth
On the bottom.
- Best season
Late spring to autumn.
- Best time
Dusk, night and dawn.
- Best tides
No tide.
- Best weather / conditions
Warm, overcast, windy days; a warm wind blowing into a bank pushes them there.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Worms, maggots, casters, sweetcorn and bread, over groundbait.
- Best artificial lures
Not used.
- Tackle setup
11–12 ft feeder rod with a 3000–4000 reel.
- Hook size
Size 10–16 hooks.
- Line
5–8 lb mono.
- Leader
3–5 lb hooklength.
BigJoe's setup for Common bream (bronze bream)
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
Also at Bass Pro Shops: RodReelLineFeederHooksFloatNet
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Lakes, reservoirs, canals and slow, deep rivers across Europe to the Caspian and Aral basins, including brackish Baltic bays.
- Rig up: 11–12 ft feeder rod with a 3000–4000 reel. 3–5 lb hooklength.
- Pick your bait: Worms, maggots, casters, sweetcorn and bread, over groundbait. Lures: Not used.
- Fish it: Put in a bed of groundbait with worms and casters, then cast a feeder to the same spot again and again and watch the quiver tip.
- Time it: Dusk, night and dawn. No tide.
- Fishing techniques
Put in a bed of groundbait with worms and casters, then cast a feeder to the same spot again and again and watch the quiver tip.
- BigJoe's tip
Once a shoal moves in, keep feeding steadily so they stay. Big catches come from a steady trickle of bait.
- Catch and release
Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.
Clean & cook
Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.
- Edibility
Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
- Cleaning
Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
- Cooking suggestions
Bony but tasty smoked, dried or baked whole in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Harmless, but very slimy; wet your hands and use a big net.
- Regulations
A license plus a local permit; some countries have spring closed seasons. Freshwater fishing in Europe always needs a permit: a national or regional license where one exists (for example the rod licence in England and Wales or the French carte de pêche) plus a permit or day ticket from the club, lake or river owner.
- Conservation
Usually returned in Britain; in Eastern Europe and Russia it is a common food fish.