Hey I'm originally from Iowa and I have never really came across freahwater drum in my fishing there, but in Kansas where I live now they seem to be a very prevalent species. I've heard that some people like to eat them. So I was wondering if they are any good eating and if so what is the best way to clean and cook them?

I have found drum is not very good in lakes. Red drum and black drum taste like the bottom of the lake. Now when you catch them out of the ocean, thats a different story. I keep reds from the gulf, but for the freshwater ones that have been released into the lakes where power plants are, I have found they are not good. I have tried black drum from both the ocean and lakes. I dont care much for them out of either body of water. Black drum from the ocean is better than the lake, but id rather eat something else.

Id for sure agree on that. I have only ever eatin black freshwater drums myself. Id rther eat another type fish-

wihin a short drive theres mostly rainbow trout to catch- i dont like them to much- would much rather eat a nice fresh perch, pike, wall eye, catfish etc.

Some local folks i met asked me if i had gotten any fish

A few sheepheads say - huh---they sounded & looked pzzled- but my memory finely worked/ the time laps was not very long really- drums . a few/dble of those as a kid did feel like pulling in a drum.

Hooked a pretty big one recently saw him &was getting him in when he snaped the line

Here in NW Ohio I fish Lake Erie and catch fresh water drum or as we call them sheep head ,all the time .
We are out fishing for yellow perch or walleye and consider them a trash fish.

Yes some guys eat them ( I have tryed them , so so)

I guess We are spoiled eating walleye and perch
Let the commercal fishermen have them.

Johnch

Yeah I have seen a lot of people around here stringing them up and taking them so that is what made me wonder. It sounds like they are not really worth keeping though. Thanks for the input.

I'm from Michigan, and having Lake St. Clair in my back yard, we catch quite a few sheepheads (freshwater drum). They do put up one hell of a fight. But as far as eating them, well, I'll stick to the perch and walleyes. But I have a friend that smokes the sheephead and they aren't really all that bad smoked. Almost like smoked suckers. Also there's and old fishermen tale that says, "If you take out the pearls out of the heads of the sheephead and keep them in your wallet or pocket, that they will bring you luck when fishing."

I have never eaten one, mainly because I have never caughten one or even seen one for that matter.

I know officially there are some in Iowa, but it's a rarity at best the catch a sheepshead. Know they have some weird trach fish down here in Kansas. In addition to having a lot of freshwater drum the have an over run of gar around this area from what I hear. I've actually seen quit a few up around the top of the water. I think I almost caught one the first night I went fishing.