Wow Big Fish

[fishinwrench]

I read a report that MDC put out, they think Drum may be the savior in the Zebra mussel issue. Personally I can't fathom how the Drum could digest them fast enough to make a difference....but what do I know, I'm not a "biologist".

[taxidermist]

Drum are excellent eating. Large boneless fillets.

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, find a recipe for blackened redfish. Drum are in the same family and lots of people think they are better blackened than redfish.

[joeD]

"MMMmmm...processed fish." - Homer Simpson.

Don't forget to open your windows when blackening...

[Kayser]

Try blackening outside, smoke detectors are annoying if you do it inside. And they do eat mussels at a pretty good rate. That's what they're eating when you see them cruising the flats in LOZ.

[Bman]

Yeah, find a recipe for blackened redfish. Drum are in the same family and lots of people think they are better blackened than redfish.

Thanks for the information. They really seem to have a taste for Crawfish, every time I catch on it's on a jig & trailer.

[fishinwrench]

Try blackening outside, smoke detectors are annoying if you do it inside. And they do eat mussels at a pretty good rate. That's what they're eating when you see them cruising the flats in LOZ.

I'm curious about this, have you actually knifed one and seen mussels in his belly ?

The reason I ask is because I clean them off boats and engines all the time...and they attach REALLY WELL. Given that, and their shape (small and tent-like) it seems that fish lips would be a very inefficient tool for plucking Zebras. I usually can't get them with just my fingers unless I can get a fingernail under one edge of him, and pry him loose.

[hoglaw]

There used to be an annual drum rodeo in Smackover on the Ouachita River. Everyone fished exclusively with large eating size live crawfish. Don't think any of those folks kept their fish though. It was more of a slaughter.

[fozzie.]

I'm curious about this, have you actually knifed one and seen mussels in his belly ?

The reason I ask is because I clean them off boats and engines all the time...and they attach REALLY WELL. Given that, and their shape (small and tent-like) it seems that fish lips would be a very inefficient tool for plucking Zebras. I usually can't get them with just my fingers unless I can get a fingernail under one edge of him, and pry him loose.

Not sure how they physically get the mussel off wherever it's attached, but drum have big crushing teeth in their throat and strong mussels to crush the shells.

[Gatorjet]

Thanks for the information. They really seem to have a taste for Crawfish, every time I catch on it's on a jig & trailer.

That's why I quit using crawfish pattern crankbaits at LoO. Got tired of finding out that the big LM I just hooked up on was actually a 5 lb drum! And they aren't any good to eat out of LoO. We used to catch a lot of them on both rod & reel and trot lines in the lower maramec. They were good eating. When we first started fishing LoO we put in trot lines for catfish, and caught several nice drum. When we brought them in the people who operated the camp ground we stayed at told us they were no good. We thought they just didn't like the bones. When mom fried them, the flesh was rubbery. She cooked and cooked, but still like eating a piece of rubber. To this day I still don't know why, the still water, maybe.