Common Bream - Abramis brama

A fairly large, deep-bodied, rather diamond shaped fish with dark bronze back, bronze flanks and dark fins. Young can be confused with silver bream (Blicca bjoerkna), also readily hybridises with Roach.

Inhabits slow flowing rivers, canals and lakes with plenty of insects larvae, worms and molluscs.

All year but most often encountered in the warmer months.

The Bream is a bottom feeder. It may live for 20 years.

Widespread in lowland areas of England.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. There are scattered records from the larger rivers (Soar, Wreake, Gwash) and from stillwaters and the Grand Union Canal