Do you think catching giant bluegills and redears is easy? Think again. When a bream reaches the size of a man’s hand, it’s much warier than its smaller counterparts. By the time it’s the size of a jumbo tortilla, it’s one of freshwater’s most cautious creatures. Only the most skillful anglers can hook it.
The difficulty increases during the spawn. Big bedding bream are easily spooked. While you may see clues to their presence — a protruding dorsal fin, swirls over their beds or a flash of scales — by the time you spot a fish, it has usually spotted you as well and quickly scurries away.
However, if you know what to look for and the proper ways to approach spawning beds and present your baits, it’s possible to catch dozens of jumbo panfish. It’s a game of “eye spy,” much like sight-fishing for snook or bonefish on a saltwater flat. The difficulties are many, but the rewards make the challenge worthwhile.
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