Freshwater Drum?

Share info on fishing Champlain.
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nhangler
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:30 am
Species: salmon

Freshwater Drum?

Post by nhangler »

Heading up later this week to fish the inland sea. Will be targeting salmon but hopeful to play with other fishes including freshwater drum. I have caught them incidentally but never targeted them. For this time of year any suggested type of location, food sources, movements, etc?

In the past while diving, I do recall seeing them stacked at the edge of a ledge but that was in July
TUnamas
Posts: 854
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 1:16 pm

Re: Freshwater Drum?

Post by TUnamas »

It doesn't get better than this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zza2NPoPDvc
nhangler
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:30 am
Species: salmon

Re: Freshwater Drum?

Post by nhangler »

Thanks, and yes, I had seen that video. About 20 years ago, when I was a bass fisherman, I remember catching one on a small tube. At the time, I had no clue what it was but then saw more in the water swimming around. Did a dive later that week and saw them all. Had to look them up when I got home. Never really targeted them again after that. I'll be bringing some jig heads and different baits. Basically my tog gear I used in saltwater.
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Reelax
Site Admin
Posts: 5730
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:27 pm
Species: Salmon, steelhead, brown trout
Location: Fletcher, Vt

Re: Freshwater Drum?

Post by Reelax »

Or this one caught in the broad lake in summer...

https://youtu.be/J7Fe7rnm2Cg
Matt B
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Dilly Worm
Posts: 276
Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2019 9:22 pm
Species: target salmon & catch togue

Re: Freshwater Drum?

Post by Dilly Worm »

NHangler, check out the April 23 VT Fishing Report, it had some tips on freshwater drum at this time of year:

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/vt-fishin ... il-23-2021

In springtime they recommend looking for them around rocks/ledges where there's current and use a lipless crankbait or jig with a blade bait. The report talks about south of the Crown Point bridge, not sure if the IS is a good place to find them in spring or not.

Personally I have never targeted them but have caught them trolling with crankbaits later in the year. Apparently their diet changes from mostly mussels/invertebrates in spring, to mostly fish sometime around August so they become easier to catch trolling later on in the year.

Good luck, would love to hear a report of your drum fishing !
I do not exaggerate when I talk about fishing - I underestimate, like I say "just one more cast honey, then I'll come home" !
Keep Calm and... Fish On !
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