New to me species.

3495 Views 28 Replies 23 Participants Last post by Fishscalz, Sep 7, 2014

Neilslure

Discussion Starter · Aug 24, 2014

Friday I was on Kerr Lake practicing for the BFL super tournament. I was in a cut that was loaded with shad and I had fished all the way to the back of it without a bite. I picked up a Spro Little John and made a few casts in the back of the cut as I saw some stumps. About the 3rd cast my 7 ft MH crankbait rod bent in 1/2, drag screamed and the fight was on. It first I thought I snagged a carp until I saw it. This freshwater drum inhaled it. I knew there were some in Kerr but this is the first I have caught. Looks very similar to a redfish but a little broader side.

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Fish Whisperer

· #2 · Aug 24, 2014

Did you keep it? Wonder if the freshwater version is as tasty as it's salt brethren.

Reactions: 1

slickrocktom

· #3 · Aug 25, 2014

I know old timers up here that can't get enough freshwater drum.

Reactions: 3

Fish_Fiend

· #4 · Aug 25, 2014

Man ive heard thise things can smoke a reel! Good work man!

Gene - Red》X《 - Asheboro

fishjunky

· #5 · Aug 25, 2014

I've eaten a few. Not as good as red drum but not bad. I've caught most of them on downlines Striper fishing.

Reactions: 1

sundrop

· #6 · Aug 25, 2014

Nice catch!!

mikeski

· #7 · Aug 25, 2014

New to me too. Thanks for sharing.....

mikeski

SurfRider

· #8 · Aug 25, 2014

Never even knew there was such a thing. Thanks for the report!

Jay

· #9 · Aug 25, 2014

There's more color in that one than I ever seen! You catch them along with smallmouth up in Erie. They call them sheepshead up there, and they consider them nuisance fish.... So you can imagine the confusion when I first starting hearing about the prized sheepshead at the coast (completely different fish). They do fight very hard! Congrats on the first one!

Reactions: 2

Bleedingblue

· #10 · Aug 25, 2014

We used to catch these things all the time back home in the Ohio River. You would catch them while fishing for bass and think you had hooked a monster bass. Also caught them in the tail water below dams while fishing for white bass and sauger. Not a dynamic fighter but they pull hard.

Reactions: 2

RouseD

· #11 · Aug 25, 2014

Nice catch. Did you guess the weight?

gambusia

· #12 · Aug 25, 2014

Who in their right mind released freshwater drum into Kerr?

trigger22

· #13 · Aug 25, 2014

Bleedingblue said:
We used to catch these things all the time back home in the Ohio River. You would catch them while fishing for bass and think you had hooked a monster bass. Also caught them in the tail water below dams while fishing for white bass and sauger. Not a dynamic fighter but they pull hard.

And they would wreak havoc on you when long lining or spider rigging for crappie on KY Lake

Reactions: 3

meenyt

· #14 · Aug 25, 2014

First one I have seen. I have heard of them being caught by bass fisherman in other areas, but not arond here. How did you do in tourney there anyway?

jerry condrey

· #15 · Aug 25, 2014

Jay said:
There's more color in that one than I ever seen! You catch them along with smallmouth up in Erie. They call them sheepshead up there, and they consider them nuisance fish.... So you can imagine the confusion when I first starting hearing about the prized sheepshead at the coast (completely different fish). They do fight very hard! Congrats on the first one!

Yeah, when I went to Buffalo, my wife's hometown, we caught a few smallmouth fishing. Erie has a ton of them.

Reactions: 1

turtlestew

· #16 · Aug 25, 2014

gambusia said:
Who in their right mind released freshwater drum into Kerr?

I imagine they are native to the Staunton and Dan rivers which feed Kerr.

Reactions: 1

Neilslure

Discussion Starter · #17 · Aug 25, 2014

I would guess it around 5-6 lbs. I agree with turtlestew, they are probably native to the river system.

In the tournament I only managed 1 keeper, caught a boat load of shorts though. The guy I split a room with and share information with ended up 3rd fishing the same pattern I fished... last time I give him info

.

Reactions: 4

OptiMystic

· #18 · Aug 27, 2014

turtlestew said:
I imagine they are native to the Staunton and Dan rivers which feed Kerr.

A Wiki page on drum says the eastern Appalachians is a native region and no there seems to be no management plan for them anywhere. Other info I found says the Kerr population is small but fairly stable and has produced record fish for both VA and NC, with weights in the low 20s. Not as sexy as a LMB or striper, but I would be happy to catch one.

Reactions: 2

fishdoctor

· #19 · Sep 6, 2014

I've caught 3 in a day fishin Buggs for crappie. they really fight on 4 lb test! and several of my clients say they taste great, especially on the grill. I love catchin them! They make me think I've hooked a 3 pound crappie every time!

Reactions: 1

Fish Whisperer

· #20 · Sep 6, 2014

Friend if mine fishes tournaments on Kerr often and he says they catch them routinely in the Staunton and feeder creeks.

-Jeff

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