Freshwater

Freshwater drum (sheepshead, gaspergou)

Corvina de agua dulce

Aplodinotus grunniens

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–8 lb.

Depth

5–40 ft.

Best time

Daytime and evening.

Found in

10 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Silvery-gray, high-backed fish with a long two-part dorsal fin, a rounded tail, a blunt snout with the mouth underneath, and a lateral line that runs all the way to the tip of the tail. Makes a grunting sound.
Typical size: 2–8 lb.
Maximum size: Over 50 lb.
Diet: Mussels, snails, crayfish, insects and small fish; its throat teeth crush shells.
Behavior: Bottom feeder in big rivers and lakes; a strong, dogged fighter.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Midwest & Ohio Valley Lakes, Ozarks & Mid-South, Upper Midwest Lakes, U.S. Great Lakes, Texas & Oklahoma Lakes, Louisiana & Mississippi Delta, Southeast Lakes, Canadian Prairies, Ontario Great Lakes and Quebec. Big rivers and lakes from the Great Lakes and Manitoba to the Gulf of Mexico, and south into Mexico and Guatemala.
Habitat: Big rivers and lakes from the Great Lakes and Manitoba to the Gulf of Mexico, and south into Mexico and Guatemala.
Depth: 5–40 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom, 5–25 ft.
Best season: Late spring through fall.
Best time: Daytime and evening.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Warm weather.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Big rivers and lakes from the Great Lakes and Manitoba to the Gulf of Mexico, and south into Mexico and Guatemala.
Rig up: Medium spinning or casting rod. Not needed.
Pick your bait: Nightcrawlers, crayfish and cut bait. Lures: Jigs, blade baits and crankbaits on the bottom.
Fish it: Fish crawlers or crayfish on the bottom in current breaks and along rocky banks.
Time it: Daytime and evening. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Fish crawlers or crayfish on the bottom in current breaks and along rocky banks.
BigJoe's tip: Many walleye anglers on Lake Erie catch big drum on the same jigs.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Edible but not prized — strong or bony; many anglers release it.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Fair eating if bled and kept cold; Cajun cooks fry 'gaspergou' and use it in courtbouillon.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Spiny fins.
Regulations: Usually no limits; check local rules. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.
Conservation: Abundant.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits