[Neilslure]

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.

 

[Fish Whisperer]

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

 

[slickrocktom]

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

 

[Fish_Fiend]

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

Gene - Red》X《 - Asheboro

 

[fishjunky]

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

 

[sundrop]

Nice catch!!

 

[mikeski]

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

mikeski

 

[SurfRider]

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

 

[Jay]

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!

 

[Bleedingblue]

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.

 

[RouseD]

Nice catch. Did you guess the weight?

 

[gambusia]

Who in their right mind released freshwater drum into Kerr?

 

[trigger22]

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

 

[meenyt]

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]

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.

 

[turtlestew]

Who in their right mind released freshwater drum into Kerr?

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

 

[Neilslure]

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 .

 

[OptiMystic]

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.

 

[fishdoctor]

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!

 

[Fish Whisperer]

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


-Jeff