Skip to main content

Freshwater Drum

Freshwater Drum

Freshwater Drum are the only exclusively freshwater member of the drum family. They're excellent sport fish that hit hard and fight like bass, making them reliable targets during tough conditions when other species become inactive.

Scientific Name: Aplodinotus grunniens

Also known as Gaspergou, Goo, Sheepshead, Grunt, Croaker

Physical Characteristics:
  • Silvery fish with a distinctive humped back, down-turned mouth, and a tail that comes to a single point.
  • Typically weigh less than 10 pounds in Mississippi waters, though they can reach up to 50 pounds.
  • Have relatively small mouths.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found throughout Mississippi in rivers, reservoirs, and oxbow lakes.

Key Locations

  • Tennessee River impoundments like Pickwick, major reservoirs, Mississippi River system.
  • Mississippi's state record is 29.85 pounds, caught by Bryan Alan Christian at Sardis Lake Spillway in 2011.

Specific Spots

  • Prefer silty bottoms, deep river channels, steep ledges, areas with sand or mud bottoms, around structure, and areas with baitfish concentrations.

Freshwater Drum FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Freshwater Drum in Mississippi?

Night crawlers (extremely effective - impale multiple worms), minnows, shad, crayfish, crickets, spinnerbaits, swimming grubs, crankbaits, hard jerkbaits, shaky head jigs, Carolina-rigged lizards, bass jigs, gold and silver spoons, small-hook jigs (1-ounce models).

What flies work for Freshwater Drum in Mississippi?

Beadhead nymphs in sizes #10-#6 in natural colors like brown, black, and olive. Woolly Buggers in sizes #6-#2 with pearlescent or fluorescent red flash, especially in natural colors.

When is the best time to fish for Freshwater Drum in Mississippi?

Bite year-round in Mississippi, but winter through early summer provides the best action, with June and July typically offering peak fishing. During hot summer weather, drum continue biting when other species become inactive.

How do you catch Freshwater Drum in Mississippi?

Bottom fishing techniques. Fish baits on or near the bottom. Small-hook jigs need only a few upward flips to entice strikes.

What do Freshwater Drum eat?

Adults feed on fish, mussels, clams, snails, crayfish, and aquatic insects. Show distinct seasonal feeding patterns - in April and May, dipterans make up about 50% of their diet, while from August through November, they focus heavily on fish (52-94% of diet), particularly young gizzard shad.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Freshwater Drum.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Freshwater Drum water

    Pick Freshwater Drum and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Freshwater Drum

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Freshwater Drum are.

Open the map, filter by Freshwater Drum, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Mississippi licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Explore Mississippi waters

Top fishing waters

Popular Cities

Loading popular cities...

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.