Thread: Locating bream beds

A good pair of polarized sunglasses will help. I find most of my beds by seeing them.

Some people claim that they can smell when and where blue gills are bedding.
Once you get to know the odor you will never forget it.

1. Sight, as long as you are looking in probable spots.
2. Smell
3. Bubbles

Originally Posted by brimeater

1. Sight, as long as you are looking in probable spots.
2. Smell
3. Bubbles

All of the above.....the new side scanning sonar also works great .

i look for dark spots in the water.the beds look like you took a 5 gallon bucket and smashed the gravel or mud down making holes everywhere this from fanning.good polarized sunglasses will help more than anything.where im from in tn they are usually on the beds late may and june and i would start looking in 2to3ft of water

This is a good post I was just about to ask the same question. In south east Virginia the waters are tannic, dark tea colored, you cannot really see past a foot ever.
What is the norm, the north west side of a lake? a north shore of a shallow cove? How about depth, does it matter? I am guessing less than 4 feet? I catch random bluegills around logs and stumps but they seem to always be small, like 4 inches max.
What is the difference in the males and females? do most folks toss back the females?
I am assuming the larger one are on the beds. I have targeted crappie only for the last 3 years spending 2 trips trying for gills. not being to successful.

Hi,
As usual I have not communicated well. Maybe my wife is right!!! What I was trying to convey is that I know what he beds look like I just don't know the best places to look for them. I am sure I need to be looking in 1 - 2' of water but should I be looking for shallow water that is near deeper water, in larger flats, etc. Thanks for the replies.

I look for hard bottom, out of the wind, and 1 to 4 feet of water. If you have old road beds in lake I would start there. Hope this helps.