Freshwater drum have been reported to get up to 31 to 35 lbs. However most of those caught in Lake Erie are one to 5 pounds. They tend to swim in lose schools.

Real small drum feed on small crustaceans and zooplankton. As drum grow (1"-2"), insect larvae are important in the diet. Larger fish eat lots of midge & bottom living larvae, leeches, crayfish, snails, small mollusks, and a few small fish that are captured on or near the bottom. Troutman says larger fish feed by moving rocks with their snouts, capturing crayfish, aquatic insect larvae, & small fish. Zebra mussels have been found in stomachs of Lake Erie drum. I wonder about the percentage of z.mussels in the typical drum diet.

Ave growth of drum in the Miss. Rv is 1yr=5", 2yr=9.5", 3yr=12.5", 4yr= 15", 5yr=16.5", 6yr=17.5", 7yr=19.2". Some can live 10-17 yrs depending on region.

Spawning occurs in open water and eggs have a large oil droplet which allows it to float mostly in or on the surface film or real high in the water column until hatching in 24 - 48 hrs. When able to swim at about 10mm long, larvae leave the surface film. And spend most of their life close to the bottom.

Realatively good fried or smoked the fillet of large flakes tends to dry out when cooked too long. Compared to beef or chicken the protein content is about the same but the fat content is lower. Smaller fish are more palatable than large fish.

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