Spot change results in a dream bream brace - Lee Mcmanus

“Back in October 2019 I targeted big bream on a secluded 25-acre Midlands gravel pit that I’d never fished before. I planned a 48-hour session and, although I’d be fishing, it was more so that I could get a proper feel for the lake and check out its underwater features with my marker float.

A marker float is essential kit for large waters

“After settling into a big open swim with lots of room, I spent a couple of hours casting around, but only managed to find two spots, at the bottom of a gravel bar at 125 yards and 140 yards from my bank. There was some light silt at the base of the bar in both areas which I know bream love to feed over.
“It was extremely windy, and casting to that distance was a proper strain on my 1.75lb test curve bream rods. Despite it being a struggle, I managed to hit the marks after some practice and ended the session feeling ecstatic, with two bream to 15lb 2oz and a common carp banked.
“I’d already decided that I’d return and fish the same gravel bar at a later date but that 140-yard cast was a pain and I was sure there must be an easier way to reach that distance!
“I looked to the far bank and reckoned it was much closer to the gravel bar than the bank I was fishing on, so I decided to investigate.
“After casting my marker float out to the spot, I headed round to the opposite bank with my lead rod. It took me a good hour of trekking in my waders to get there, so I was knackered but, as they say, effort equals reward! I wasted no time in casting the lead to my marker float before clipping up the line to measure the distance. I then trekked back to my original swim and made a note of the new length by wrapping the clipped line around my distance sticks. The difference was incredible, as It was only 90 yards to the gravel bar from that side of the lake, compared to 140 yards from mine!
“Soon I was back on the pit for another 48-hour session, this time fishing from the other bank. I’m never fully confident I’ll catch when I go breaming as I’ve found fish in large, low-stock venues can be very fickle. The weather was far from ideal, with bright clear skies and no wind whatsoever, so I almost questioned what I was doing there! My rods were already clipped up to that mark so, after feeding it with five Spombs of hemp, casters, corn, pellets and groundbait, I cast my lead rig over the top – three hair-rigged rubber casters were the hookbait.
“I watched the water for bream over my spots, but the first day and night passed without a bite. I thought that would be it, but during the final morning It finally came good and I had two bites resulting in bream of 16lb 4oz and 16lb 12oz.

“I’ve caught a lot of bream over 16lb but never two in a session, so to say I was shocked would be an understatement.
“I’m glad I made the effort to mark up that spot from the other side of the lake. It definitely helped me present a bait precisely.”