Fishing bream doesn’t take any special equipment or bait. A small trout worm on a No. 4 Aberdeen-style hook is preferred. When teamed with a balsa spring oval float and a split shot to balance everything, it can be a deadly combination for hooking finicky red-ear sunfish and bluegills.
Whether drifting the rig in a slow-moving current or finding an opening in the grass, one of the keys to maximizing the float’s sensitivity to fish that barely nibble is keeping it perfectly vertical. If the hook and worm don’t provide enough weight, the float will lie on its side requiring you to add a couple 1/8-ounce split shots until it sets upright.
However, add too much weight and the float will sink below the surface. When fished correctly, the slightest fish-bump will create a Doppler ring tipping you off to activity beneath the surface. By giving the slightest jerk, chances are the fish is going to be hooked.