great stuff

[RONAN]

Looks like a shiner to me...LOL

RONAN

[Newt]

Ronan - yup. Big shiner or small shad or something. But the UK guys never talk about catching shad and their minnows aren't that large.

 

Looks like great catfish bait though.

[Johnny]

Its a skimmer Bream. One of my favorite fish behind tench (typical Irish view). Don't even joke about using a beauty like that as bait!!!

[Gray-Catchpole]

yup its a skimmer, once you get them in your swim newt, you have to keep piling in the freebies, then they will stay all day. well almost

[davidP]

To our American Friends

 

Don't try looking up Skimmer Bream in the books - you won't find it. Skimmer is the nickname for small Common Bream (Abramis Brama). What exactly the cut-off between skimmer and bream is has never been clear to me - I've seen fish far bigger than the one in Grays picture called skimmers. I suspect that once they turn the golden-brown colour of a mature fish they cease being called simmer, but I've seen near 10lb bream that were still silver so I'm not sure even that works.

 

Bream have many nicknames - tiny ones can be called razor blades, bigger bream can be called snotties (because they have a lot of slime) and I've heard big bream called dustbin lids (because they fight about the same!). I'd guess that skimmers are so called because when hooked they quickly surface, lay on their sides and skim across the surface as fast as the angler winds in.

[Andrew]

Has your friend got a licence?

Hope he has,

Is a fine of £££££££££ worth a fish without a licence

[Gray-Catchpole]

janger,

good point, yes he has, but he got a 8-day trout, coarse fish and eels for £6.50, his lad is 11 so he doesnt need one, as at the time didnt know if he would like it, but they both want to come on the weekend and they love it.

 

i intend to take them out during the closed season as well, so dont worry he will be covered.

 

and hopefully for many years to come.

[Newt]

Thanks davidP (and all) for the information.

 

I had sorta assumed that little bream looked like their big brown brothers. Go figure.

 

I still think it looks like great bait for big catfish but that is just my up-bringing. And FWIW, catching fish to use as bait is often nearly as much fun as catching the bigguns with the bait. Various sunfish over here (which are generically refered to as bream in much of the US - bluegill and such) is a favorite bait.

 

However, if I ever get to fish the UK, rest assured I won't be using anything for live bait unless the person I'm fishing with gives it to me or says it is OK. It is never good form to annoy the natives by not follwing local customs.

[Gray-Catchpole]

hi Newt

when (not if) you do come over you are going to have loads of people to fish with, and lots of diferent styles, and this got me thinking ouch.

 

once youve got all your site seing done, how about a few fishins, say one in wales one in england/scotland wherever and so on, that way you could meet and fish with most of us, we will organise them you just turn up, a good way to meet us all and fish some very different ways,sound good.

 

dont forget your rod licence though

[John S]

Well done Gary, hope you catch loads more now you're hooked