Everyone wants to catch large fish, but smaller ones can also provide big action for their size.
Ounce for ounce, few fish fight harder than bluegills and other small fish species collectively called “bream.”
Many people fish for bream by dangling worms, crickets, or other natural baits under floats. Of course, that technique still works very effectively, but many anglers prefer the challenge of fishing lures rather than natural baits. One of the best bream lures on the market, a beetle spinner consists of a harness with a spinning blade attached to it.
This harness attaches to a jighead, a weight that mimics a small fish’s head with a hook attached. When moved through the water, the metal blade spins and gives off flash that imitates the scales on small fish that bream like to eat. On the hook, slip any number of soft-plastic enticements in various colors, shapes, and sizes to mimic small fish or other things bream might devour. Experiment with colors, sizes, and shapes to see what works best that day.
Although many bream stay on the beds throughout the summer, the biggest bluegills frequently head to slightly deeper water, especially as water temperatures rise.
When temperatures warm in the spring, bream hollow out spawning beds on lake and river bottoms. Bluegills and some other bream species spawn several times a year and might stay on the beds throughout the summer until cooler weather hits in the fall. Bluegills and other bream viciously defend their nests against all intruders.
When bream spawn, throw beetle spinners around their shallow spawning beds. Toss the lure beyond the spawning beds if possible. Reel it slowly through the beds just over the bottom. Occasionally, let the lure sink down into the bed. As the lure sinks, the metal blades keep spinning and giving off fish-attracting flash.
Although many bream stay on the beds throughout the summer, the biggest bluegills frequently head to slightly deeper water, especially as water temperatures rise. During hot summer days when fish go deeper, tie on a slightly heavier jighead, so it sinks faster.
Toss the beetle spinner to a good area and slowly retrieve it out toward deeper water. In deeper water, let the lure sink to the bottom. Then, raise it off the bottom a bit and slowly turn the reel handle
just enough to make the blades spin. Run the bait a foot or so above the bottom.
Also work beetle spinners parallel to shorelines, weed beds, and other objects that might hold fish. Retrieval speed determines how deep the lure runs. A fast retrieve makes the lure rise. A slower retrieve allows the lure to sink. Experiment with different depths.
While anglers can catch bluegills and other bream species in any freshwater system throughout the Magnolia State, sometimes big fish come out of small waters. The state manages 18 public fishing lakes across Mississippi. These lakes offer some of the best fishing anywhere and provide anglers with more than 3,300 total surface acres. In addition, many state park lakes also offer good public fishing.
