Only three hours from Melbourne and a short drive from the centre of Lakes Entrance lies the ever so legendary Tambo River. It is home to some of the best bream fishing in the country and countless people, fishing clubs and competitions are held here year round.

Tambo River can be fished with great success all year round. Targeting flathead in the warmer months is best when the shallow water heats up and the fish become more active, ‘basking’ in the sun waiting for an easy meal to swim by.

Bream fishing is exceptional in the winter months when the fish start to school up pre spawn. Cricket scores of fish can be caught during this time of the year and can make for some top-notch fishing.

Like most estuary fishing a light 2-4kg graphite spin rod with a 2000 size reel is best when chasing bream and flathead.

A reel spooled up with 6lb braid and a long 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader is ideal for casting lures at bream. You might want to bump it up a little if fishing the snags as light leader doesn't last long around barnacle-encrusted snags.

If specifically targeting flathead then 8-12lb leaders are a good starting point with a 1/8oz jighead and your favourite plastic tied on the end.

A couple of go-to softies for bream are the bloodworm Wrigglers in 80 and 100mm, they are almost the first plastic to tie on and cast out. Fishing blades in the open water and along rock walls is very effective and one of the easiest ways to catch bream. Estuary perch like the same sort of lures so don't be surprised if you pull a bream off one snag, and then a perch of the next.

When targeting bream in the cooler months, a quality sounder is essential. Locating schooled up bream in open water or along rock walls and casting small blades to the fish is by far one of the best methods and most enjoyable ways to spend time on the water.

Dusky flathead rules and regulations have recently changed so please remember that the size limit for dusky flathead is now 30-55cm with a total possession limit of 5 fish per angler.

Letting the bigger fish go will ensure stock levels of fish are maintained and the breeders are left to do their thing. Fish for the future!

It's important to adjust the drag on your reel to suit the surrounding and environment that you are fishing. When fishing for bream in snags you want to have it locked up making it easier to pull fish from the timber and not get busted off. Fishing in open water for bream and flathead having the drag backed off is best. You will not pull as many hooks from mouths of fish as you are not required to pull them from timber in a white knuckled affair.