Location of bigger bream in a small pond.

[Gibbzilla]

Well, a local pond is full o' bream, but it's hard for the little ones not to tear up the bait. I know setting the cork deeper helps, but I got a question. The bream bite best close to the bank and under trees, so would it be worth it to cast near the center of the pond, and would I catch bigger bream? I know the bite would be slower out there. The pond is about 70x20 yards, if that makes a difference.

[crappster]

I have had success in small ponds catching bigger bream wherever the deeper water is. Typically the middle of the pond. The bigger bream have less worry of predators like the little bream do.

[Gibbzilla]

I don't think there are any predators in that pond. I caught a 3-pound largemouth outta there when I was like 6, but other than that I've only ever caught bream and warmouths with worms. I used to use rooster tail spinners in there and that's what I caught the bass on.

[deathb4disco]

If there are no predators, there are probably no big bream. You need something to eat the little bream. Otherwise, you end up with a pond full of "potato chip" gills. The best bluegill ponds I fish have a healthy population of bass and/or catfish.

By fishing deeper, though, you've got a chance at whatever big gills are still in there.

[Baditude]

I fish an 18 acre pond loaded with some nice gills and tons of big redear... before they go on bed i have my best luck tying on a quarter ounce bell sinker with a hook a foot or so above the weight and cast it well out towards the center of the pond/deeper water. The big shellcracker can't resist a red wiggler dangling out there with about an inch of the worm hanging off the end of the hook.

[parrotheadcrb]

You can make those fish bigger by starting to throw a bunch of little ones on the bank and and thinning the population.

[Gibbzilla]

I fish an 18 acre pond loaded with some nice gills and tons of big redear... before they go on bed i have my best luck tying on a quarter ounce bell sinker with a hook a foot or so above the weight and cast it well out towards the center of the pond/deeper water. The big shellcracker can't resist a red wiggler dangling out there with about an inch of the worm hanging off the end of the hook.

What keeps the wiggler suspended?