Freshwater Drum Fishing Guide

The freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) is the only member of the drum family (Sciaenidae) that lives exclusively in freshwater — all other drum species are marine. It has one of the widest geographic ranges of any North American freshwater fish, found from Hudson Bay in Canada south to Guatemala. The distinctive drumming sound produced by special muscles vibrating against the swim bladder is audible both to other drum and, remarkably, to anglers standing in shallow water. Drum use powerful molariform (flat, crushing) teeth to process hard-shelled invertebrates — the fish have the most strongly developed pharyngeal jaw apparatus of any freshwater fish in North America. Despite being abundant and delicious, freshwater drum are rarely targeted intentionally and are most often caught incidentally by catfish and bass anglers.

Freshwater Drum is a freshwater species.

Habitat

Large rivers, impoundments, and lakes throughout the central US from the Hudson Bay drainage south to Central America; particularly abundant in the Mississippi drainage and Great Lakes. Prefers moderate current over hard bottom — rocky river channels, gravel bars, and dam tailwaters. Uncommon in small streams and ponds.

Diet

Mussels, clams, crayfish, snails, and aquatic insects crushed by powerful pharyngeal teeth; also small fish. The ability to process hard-shelled mollusks gives drum access to food sources unavailable to most other fish, making them important consumers in freshwater mussel communities.

Fishing Techniques

• Live crayfish on bottom rig
• Cut shad near river current breaks
• Nightcrawlers on slip sinker
• Small jigs bounced along bottom

Best Seasons

Spring, Summer, Fall

Size & Records

Average weight: 5 lbs. World record: 54.5 lbs (Nickajack Lake, Tennessee, USA (1972)).