Freshwater Drum Fishing Tips For Rivers and Reservoirs

Freshwater Drum (or Sheepshead as they’re more commonly known in the northern US) makes an excellent target when bass aren’t biting. They fight hard and grow to incredible sizes when fished on light spinning tackle.

Freshwater fish with the broadest latitudinal range include rainbow trout. Their range extends from Lake Winnipeg in Canada, through the Mississippi River basin, and on into Guatemala.

Bait

Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) are often disregarded by bass fishermen as “trash”, yet these deep-bodied fish (known as Aplodinotus) are actually an exhilarating experience to catch and consume.

Drum fish are easily identified with their silvery-gray to dusky-colored bodies and rounded snouts, capable of withstanding some levels of water turbidity while possessing one of the widest latitudinal ranges among freshwater species.

They can be found throughout the Mississippi River system and many larger lakes like Lake Ontario. You might even come across them in your local creek or pond!

Drum fish typically prefer baits that resemble the sound and look of crayfish, such as small jigs like Lindy Little Nipper and Road Runner tied on a 1/0 worm hook – though Clouser minnows or similar patterns fished on a floating rig also work very well. Fly fishing for drum can also be successful; just use heavier-weighted flies.

Tackle

Drum are bottom feeders that spend much of their time searching for baitfish and crustaceans in muddy areas and deep backwater pools, while avoiding streams with rapid current.

Night crawlers are the go-to bait, though anglers also employ other natural and artificial baits such as insects to catch these fish. A simple rig with a single hook, such as setting the bobber and casting to likely spots like dams, drop-offs, rocky banks or mussel beds is usually most successful in targeting drum. They tend to strike quickly and hard, so be prepared for a fast fight!

Though not native to Pennsylvania, PFBC biologists have observed freshwater drum in both the Delaware River tidal section upstream to Upper Back Eddy in Bucks County as well as South Platte and Arkansas River drainages. More information on these fish species can be found at PFBC’s Non-native Aquatic Species web page.

Technique

Drum fish make ideal beginner species to catch, as they feed on sight rather than scent and will hit almost anything you throw their way. Jig and worm, or even artificial lures such as spoons and small swimbaits work just fine as presentations for drum.

Freshwater drum have an extensive geographic distribution. You’ll find them throughout the Mississippi River basin and on several major lakes such as Lake Erie and Winnebago; additionally they inhabit rivers like Green, Ohio and Monongahela.

Freshwater drum are excellent table fish that can grow into trophy size. Their meat resembles bass’, while they offer solid fighting potential on light tackle. My friend Keith Sutton makes his signature Mock Crab dish by heating enough water to cover his drum, seasoning it with shrimp or crab boil, dropping in his fish for 3 to 5 minutes and draining off and chilling before serving with melted butter for maximum effect.

Location

Drum aren’t finicky targets, making them ideal for beginning anglers. Their lower mouths search out crayfish and mussels on the bottom while using their downturned beaks to root around for food in deep channels or on rocky flats. Look out for drum year-round but particularly during warm months from spring through fall; during cooler times they may move deeper but remain catchable.

Fish of this size reach impressive sizes; the current IGFA all-tackle record stands at 54 pounds. Their deep bodies range from silvery gray to dark bronze hues, featuring rounded snouts and long dorsal fins that extend almost to their tails.

Midwest species of carp fishes can often be seen swimming through large rivers and lakes, and are highly sought-after due to their delicious meaty taste. While not as sought-after as their saltwater counterparts, carp can still provide an effective challenge to anglers; once hooked they offer up an intense fight. Once hooked you should expect a head shake of sorts!