Bream are a schooling panfish that can be finicky about bait at certain times. However, as territorial predators they will strike at the colors, movements and flashes associated with jigs. When bream strike a jig, there's no need to make sure they have the hook.
Food Source and the Color of Jigs
Bream feed on tan grubs and light green insect larvae in the backwaters of lakes and calm sections of a stream. They also hunt pink crayfish hatchlings in creeks as well as gray mosquito, moth and dragonfly. Colors vary with the time of year and consulting a guide service or outdoor publication will be helpful in determining the most effective colors for your jigs.
Types of Jigs For Bream
The most productive jigs for bream fishing are feather, solid body and spinner. Feather jigs have a long shank hook with buck tail or a straight feather atop the hook. Solid body jigs have a single or double treble hook attached to a balsa body and accent colors that represent a bait. Spinner jigs have a metal body with a treble hook and a shiny spoon that spins when the jig is retrieved.
Feather Jigs During the Insect Hatch
Feather jigs are effective in backwater areas of a lake and still water sections of streams and creeks when insects are swarming. The technique for working feathers is subtle jerks and stops mixed with a short retrieve. From a boat, the feather jig should be cast close to weeds or shrubs and drawn into deeper water on the retrieve. From the bank, casting at angles to the shoreline is best. A small split shot sinker can be crimped to the line if additional weight is needed to reach a spot. When a bream hits the feather, wind faster to prevent the fish from turning away and retreating into the weeds.
Crayfish and Grub Solid Body Jigs
Solid body jigs are made from balsa or plastic and are weighted to sink slowly through the water column. Using a jig that represents a baby crayfish or grub when bream are feeding will produce more fish in a short time. The method for working solid body jigs is to cast into stream pools or near rocky ledges, lifting and dropping the rod tip in snapping motions with a slow retrieve. When you feel a strike, lift the rod tip immediately and bring the fish in.
Spinner Jigs for Dark Conditions
When lake waters are murky or if you are fishing in the evening hours, a spinner jig can be effective. Flashes from the spoon excite the bream, and they strike to protect their territory. The best method for fishing with a spinner is to start your retrieve the instant the jig hits the water to prevent it from sinking beyond a light source and snagging in weeds or rocks. Use a steady crank and vary the speed until a particular speed produces a strike.
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