Drum

Other Species

Characteristics - deep bodied, silvery fish; head and body slope steeply up from the snout and
dorsal fin; long dorsal fin divided into two lobes; commonly weigh up to 5 lbs. 
Distribution - rivers, and Manitoba's larger lakes. 
Foods - fish, crayfish, immature insects 
Expert's Tip - Drum are bottom feeders that can be caught easily from the bank on nightcrawlers.

Other names-- sheepshead, silver bass 

The freshwater drum is a common fish species in the Red and Assiniboine rivers and a large number of streams/rivers that flow into Lake Manitoba. Drum are very tolerant of turbidity and prefer quiet
waters without swift currents.  They are however very tolerant to current and have adapted to rivers with good current.

This fish is best described as a deep bodied, silvery fish whose head and body slope steeply up from
the snout to the dorsal fin, resulting in a hump-backed appearance. It has a long dorsal fin that is
divided into two lobes. The first has 8 to 9 spines, and the second has a single spine with 24 to 32
soft rays. The anal fin has 2 spines with the second spine larger than the first. The pelvic fin has
one spine with 5 rays. Ctenoid scales cover the body and upper head. The lateral line is complete
and extends through the caudal fin. The back is gray, with the sides silvery and belly and lower
region of the head white. Adults commonly weigh up to 5 pounds, but many monsters prowl Manitoba's great southern lakes.  Lake Manitoba is widely known as the Drum fishing hang-out of many. The whitemud river and Lake Manitoba Narrows yield fish (on a regular basis) in the 10-15lb range. Spring, early summer is best for theses bruits. 

The drum spends most of its time on or near the bottom feeding mainly on fish, crayfish, and
immature insects. Moving slowly along the bottom, it moves small rocks and other bottom materials
with its snout, capturing displaced aquatic life. In the rivers of Southern Manitoba,  drum spawn during June when the whater temperatures range from 66 to 72 degrees F. Unique to the freshwater fish species in North America and characteristic of many saltwater fish, the eggs and larvae are bouyant and float on the water surface during development. 

Growth studies made of the Drum indicate freshwater drum average 5 inches in total length
by the end of the first year of life and 8.0, 12.0, 13.5, 15.0, 17.0, 18.5, and 19.5 inches in succeeding
years. 

The drumming sound made when the fish is handled is produced by a special apparatus that is
located in the body cavity, which is connected with the swim bladder. Two enlongated muscles
move a tendon over the swim bladder and produce the sound. Only sexually mature males possess
this structure. Another unique feature of the drum is the large-sized otolith located in the 
sacculus. It has white, enameled surfaces and alternating light and dark bands that can be used to
age the fish. Otoliths are often kept by fishermen for lucky pieces and sometimes made into
jewellery. 

The freshwater drum is not yet an important commercial fish in Manitoba. Commercial harvest is limited.  As a sport fish the freshwater drum is not sought after by a large number of anglers.  When hooked a larger drum will test an anglers skills and equipment quite well. Drum are an important part of the forage base of many other Manitoba sport fish pike, walleye and sauger all prey upon young of the year drum.