Freshwater · Late spring through early fall; best in warm, calm weather
White Amur Bream
Parabramis pekinensis
The white Amur bream is a diamond-sided stillwater fish of northern and central China — a gentle, deliberate feeder that rewards fine float tackle and quiet feeding.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Very deep, diamond-shaped body, strongly compressed side to side
- Small head and small, slightly upturned mouth — no barbels
- A sharp, scaleless keel along the whole belly from the vent to the pectoral fins — a full keel separates it from Megalobrama breams, whose keel is only partial
- Silvery grey-green above with a pale belly and a forked tail
Habits
- Native to the Amur basin south to the Shanghai coast; a classic food fish of Chinese lakes
- Omnivorous: takes aquatic plants, algae, snails and insect larvae
- Feeds in mid-water and over the bottom, often in small schools
- An important farmed and stocked fish across China
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Weedy lake margins and slow river bays in its native range
- Reservoir arms with submerged vegetation
- Calm backwaters of the Yangtze and Amur drainages
Where they live
How to catch them
Float fishing on the drop Lake
Rig: Sensitive float rig with shot spread down the line so the bait sinks slowly
Bait/lure: Small dough balls, worms, tiny corn
Key tip: Bream sip baits as they fall — watch the float for a check or a lift on the drop.
Method feeder over a baited patch Lake
Rig: Small cage feeder, fine hooklength, size 12-14 hook
Bait/lure: Groundbait of rice bran and crumb with hookbaits of dough or worm
Key tip: Build the swim slowly; a bream shoal feeds in turns and spooks as one.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light 12-13 ft float rod
- Line: 3-6 lb mono
- Terminal: Fine floats, small feeders, size 12-16 hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 1-2 lb; large fish to about 9 lb
On the table
Excellent — one of China's prized freshwater table fishes, though fine-boned.
Similar species
Regulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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