The first big brace of spring bream was landed this week when former Drennan Cup winner Lee McManus slipped the net under fish scaling 18lb 1oz and 17lb 8oz.
The two huge slabs cap a great few weeks for the species, during which we’ve seen a flurry of specimens reported as anglers capitalised on the seasonal feed-up ahead of the bream spawning next month.
Lee’s fish were caught from a Midlands pit, where a swim move paid off in style for him. Five bream came to the net in quick succession, capped by the pair totalling 35lb 9oz.
YOU CAN READ LEE'S TOP TIPS IN THIS ARTICLE TO HELP YOU CATCH HUGE BREAM!
“I began my bream campaign in early March and have landed 11 fish so far,” the Leicester angler told us.
“A few ‘stockies’ around the 13lb mark have been added, which seem to be swimming around with the larger fish. They certainly provide a few welcome bites!”
On this session, Lee started fishing in an area where he’d had success previously, but when he woke up after his first night and saw the wind blowing into a corner around 900 yards away, he went to have a look.
“When I got to the spot, it screamed bream, as the wind was blowing into it strongly, so I didn’t hesitate to move,” he revealed.
“Two hours after casting out I had my first take from a fish of around 13lb, which was followed by two others of a similar size."
“At first light the next morning, I had just made a cup of tea and put one foot out of the bivvy when the bobbin on one of my rods dropped to the floor!"
“That turned out to be the bite from the 18lb 1oz fish, which was followed by the 17lb 8oz specimen just as I was packing up.”
Artificial corn hookbaits did the trick for Lee, fished over small volumes of particles on a spot around 100 yards out.
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