The only member of the drum family found entirely in freshwater in North America. Makes a distinctive drumming or grunting sound using its swim bladder -- easily heard by anglers near the surface on calm evenings. Hard-fighting, especially on light tackle. Often caught incidentally by walleye and catfish anglers. Underrated table fish when prepared correctly.
| Lake | County | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Burt Lake
17,120 acres
|
Cheboygan | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Charlevoix Lake
17,260 acres
|
Charlevoix | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Cheboygan Lake
640 acres
|
Cheboygan | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Hamlin Lake
5,000 acres
|
Mason | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Indian Lake
8,689 acres
|
Schoolcraft | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Lake Gogebic
13,380 acres
|
Gogebic | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Lake St. Clair
260,000 acres
|
Macomb | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Manistee Lake
930 acres
|
Manistee | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Mullett Lake
16,630 acres
|
Cheboygan | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Muskallonge Lake
768 acres
|
Luce | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Muskegon Lake
4,150 acres
|
Muskegon | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan | |
|
Muskegon Lake
4,150 acres
|
Muskegon | Called "sheepshead" in Michigan |
No stocking records are on file for Freshwater Drum.
This is common for several reasons: this species may reproduce naturally and not require stocking (e.g. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike), it may be managed under a different program not tracked here, or records may predate our database. For the most current data, check the Michigan DNR Stocking Database directly.