How to recognise it
- Deep-bodied and silvery, with a long dorsal fin split into two sections.
- No spot on the tail, unlike its saltwater relative, the red drum.
- Grunts: a sound you can hear or feel when you hold one.
- Other names: gaspergou, gou, drum fish.
Habitat: where it lives
- Found throughout Texas except the Panhandle, in a wide range of waters. Spends most of its time on or near the bottom.
- Often in deeper water with current: current breaks, eddies, drop-offs, below dams and around structure.
Habits: behavior, spawning and growth
- Spawns in open water in April or May in Texas; the eggs float until they hatch.
- Travels in schools: after one, keep fishing that area.
- Usually 1–4 lb; the Texas rod-and-reel record is over 30 lb.
Where and when
- Rocky rivers and large reservoirs, especially below dams. Good for bank anglers.
Bait and lures
Live and natural bait
- Worms and nightcrawlers
- Crawdad tails
- Pieces of cooked shrimp
- Minnows
Lures
- Small grubs and jigs fished near the bottom
- Spoons
- Small swimbaits
Why these baits work
- It feeds on the bottom on crayfish, insects and small fish, and isn't picky, so natural baits on the bottom work best; drum "aggressively inhale bait."
- It has a small mouth, so use a small hook.
Rod and reel setups
Grouped by lure fishing (artificial baits) and bait fishing (live or natural bait).
Bait fishing
- Rod
- Any rod; a basic spincasting outfit handles most drum
- Reel
- Spincasting, spinning or baitcasting reel
- Line
- 15–20 lb monofilament, or better, 20–30 lb braid (its thin diameter drags less in current)
- Hook & rig
- A ½ oz or heavier egg sinker sliding on the main line above a barrel swivel, then about 12 in of mono leader and a size 2 or 4 bait-holder hook, or a light wire size 1 circle hook (just tighten the line, don't jerk).
Source: Arkansas Game & Fish: Drumming up spring fishing excitement
On the table: cleaning and cooking
- Good eating when caught from cool water. Ice it as soon as possible, fillet it like a bass or crappie (it has no small bones in the fillet), and trim the dark red meat just under the skin.
- Fried in a seasoned cornmeal coating at 350°F for about six minutes, or cubed and boiled 5–7 minutes in crab-boil seasoning ("poor man's lobster").
Step-by-step cleaning, keeping fish fresh and eating safely are in the handbook.
Size and bag limits vary by state, species and lake. Current limits: Texas (TPWD); elsewhere, your state's fish and wildlife agency. Check before you keep a fish.
