Thread: Basics of locating bream beds...(I know it's early)

Hello all!

I'm preparing for late spring and would like to get some insight on bluegill / redear /sunnies fishing. I want to get my 3 sons (5,6,8) on some bed fishing this May. We live in Central Arkansas, so no ice / ice out etc.

I'm not new to fishing, but I am new to fishing from a boat (and brand new to using electronics) so my question is:

How do you decide which spots to check (for beds) on a new lake? What do you look for on google maps? What do you look for when on the water?


Thanks in advance guys!

FWIW, I rarely bed fish. You can catch gills year round. Just move out into deeper water.

I know that doesn't directly answer your question, but it's something to consider.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

FWIW, I rarely bed fish. You can catch gills year round. Just move out into deeper water.

I know that doesn't directly answer your question, but it's something to consider.

I'm certainly interested in fishing panfish year-round, but being new to boat fishing, the idea of finding them in deeper water seems like a much more daunting task.

I'd like to find the best potential locations for beds so that I can hopefully get my sons on some fast action later this Spring. I want to be able to spend more time fishing than finding fish with them.

i cant tell u how angry iv been locating brim atm i guess in missisisppi u cannot catch brim until spring time tbh iv never fished winter for them only catfished n winter i can always throw around good structure fallen large trees n catch messes of them i was on a lake for 3 hours yesterday a 800 acre rez walked all the way around it hitting every single good bankspots and couldnt see a single fish the water was clear as day as well it proves here all brim are in the center of the lake on the bottom lol my last 8 trips in a month iv yet t catch a single brim im not gonna even try till late march now early april

Originally Posted by matt1991

i cant tell u how angry iv been locating brim atm i guess in missisisppi u cannot catch brim until spring time tbh iv never fished winter for them only catfished n winter i can always throw around good structure fallen large trees n catch messes of them i was on a lake for 3 hours yesterday a 800 acre rez walked all the way around it hitting every single good bankspots and couldnt see a single fish the water was clear as day as well it proves here all brim are in the center of the lake on the bottom lol my last 8 trips in a month iv yet t catch a single brim im not gonna even try till late march now early april

I see you are from Mississippi. Are you related to William Faulkner? ;-)

Originally Posted by USMA65

I see you are from Mississippi. Are you related to William Faulkner? ;-)

lol no im from central ms faulkner was form new albany eagle here has a much better chance being related to him

I found this thread with a lot of great info. I apologize for rehashing a reoccurring theme.

I'll post the link for anyone else looking for the same thing: https://www.crappie.com/crappie/panf...ng-bream-beds/

I never catch fish out of their beds....

Once water temps reach the optimum for panfish to migrate to shallows,beds are simple to find.Shallow coves,and flats warm the quickest,look for hubcap sized impressions,if your timing is correct,you can actually smell the beds ( fishy odor )

If you have side image you can find them easily! Lookin the areas stated above. Here is what they look like on Si ( excuse the poor quality of the pictureI took it with the camera on my cell phone ). Not enoght knowledge yet to figure out how to take them and down load them with the unit!