Freshwater Drum

The freshwater drum has the greatest north/south range of any North American freshwater fish.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A FRESHWATER DRUM

Though it is a fairly distinctive fish, its deep body, humped back, blunt snout and subterminal mouth have led some to confuse it with the carp and the buffalos. It can be easily distinguished by its two dorsal fins (only one in the carp and buffalos) and its rounded, rather than forked tail. Also, the first dorsal fin of the freshwater drum is composed of 8-9 spines, whereas the carp has only one spine at the beginning of its single soft rayed dorsal fin and the buffalos have no spines at all.

 

WHERE TO CATCH FRESHWATER DRUM

The freshwater drum is the only North American freshwater representative of the Sciaenidae family which includes the croakers, corbinas, drums, seatrout, etc. It occurs over much of the U.S. between the Rockies andthe Appalachians southward through eastern Mexico to Guatemalas Rio Usumacinta system and northward through Manitoba, Canada, all the way to the Hudson Bay. It also occurs in some areas of Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The following list includes additional details on where to catch this fish:

 

CLIFFS AND STEEP SHORE BANKS       GRADUAL SHORES

INLETS AND OUTLETS                                ISLANDS OR SAND BARS

OVERHANGING TREES AND BUSHES                 POINTS AND BREAK LINES

SHORELINE SHALLOWS                                   SUNKEN OBJECTS

FRESHWATER WEED BEDS                     FRESHWATER LAKES AND PONDS

HOLES                              OPEN WATER

INSIDE TURNS AND COVES            PIERS, DOCKS AND PILINGS

ROCKS                             SPRING HOLES

WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES

 

HOW TO CATCH FRESHWATER DRUM

The freshwater drum is a bottom feeder; its diet consists of mollusks, insects, and fish. Although a strong fighter, it is not generally highly regarded as either a sport or a food fish. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish:

DRIFT FISHING                               STILL FISHING

 

FRESHWATER DRUM LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are lures, tackle or bait that can be used to catch this fish:

CUT BAIT          JIGS            MINNOWS             SPOONS

SOFT PLASTICS      INSECTS        PLUGS