The bream in Staunton Harold are like a magical magnet for top bream fishermen up and down the country. On it’s day, many believe that this offers some of the best sport in the country.
This is a big water, this is something that is hard to quantify. If you are used to places like Drayton and Boddington, Staunton Harold is even bigger. If you are new to this type of fishing, make sure you plan accordingly. On your prep list, you should have things like: waders, a platform, distance rods/reels, measuring sticks, shock leaders and a selection of heavy or distance feeders. Braid on your reel could help you cast further and offer improved bite detection.
Tactics wise, most people will tend to favour a distance feeder approach – fishing in the range of around 50-80 meters ish. Have a cast around to see what features you can find. If you reel in and your feeder is full of muscles you are in the right area. There is a ledge on the bottom of the res that can make it difficult to land every fish you hook into. The sharp shells on the muscle beds plus any other snags or sharp edges can make for a frustrating day. Expect to lose fish, feeders and hooklengths through your session.
In summer, the fish might be a bit closer in. A short feeder or waggler line is a good consideration. Sticky mags will help you get more distance on loose feed and allow you to fish a bit further out on the float. The pole can work in some areas if you have enough depth. Some areas are surprisingly shallow close in.