Something a little different

[Vito]

Had the chance to case smallies last weekend and caught a few suprise fish. Freshwater drum (aka sheephead). First time for me on a fly and they put up a great fight.

http://files.triton.net/mgraj/lsc09_drum_headshot.jpg

A couple of doubles.

http://files.triton.net/mgraj/lsc09_double_eric_mark.jpg

http://files.triton.net/mgraj/lsc09_double_matt_mark.jpg

And my biggest smallie, 22" 5+ lbs.

http://files.triton.net/mgraj/lsc09_matt_5__closeup.jpg

[sageflyfisher]

I think catching a sheepie on a fly would be the ONLY time i would be happy to hook one of those things! You hit the nail on the head with the smallie tho! Nice fish once again guy!

Im just curious... How long before you're hooking a downrigger ball up to that 8 wt and trolling for salmon with a big lake fly??

[Vito]

Im just curious... How long before you're hooking a downrigger ball up to that 8 wt and trolling for salmon with a big lake fly??
No need for a downrigger, just a heavy sinking line and some time to sink should do it.;) I did try a couple times in the surf last September for kings. Had a couple follows but no hookups. Plan on giving it another try in the early fall again. It's become sort of a goal of mine.

[TCSTEELHEAD]

Fished the Spey last year with a snap weight out of frankfort last year, managed to hook one, but lost it at the boat. Bad communication between the 15 foot rod me and the net guy:rolleyes: I will be fishing my flygear on the riggers this year when they start comming to the pier.

[sageflyfisher]

I've always wanted to run the fly rod off the riggers.... I ran my 11 ft spin rod with 8 lb off the riggers down in st joe earlier this year and managed a couple cohos on it that was pretty sweet!

Just tossin streamers in the surf then vito??

No need for a downrigger, just a heavy sinking line and some time to sink should do it. Heck man... Take the boat out in the channel in august, september and october when the fish are starting to stage to go up river.... should work there, and would be LOTS of fun! Fresh king on a streamer with plenty of playroom would be a ball! Only problem is thats cuttin into my goose and deer season.........:rolleyes:

[blulaker]

sinking line, weighted flash fly, jigging in the channel mouths around labor day, I would have tried last year, but did not have my sinking line with me. Cannot believe I left down south. Will not happen again. I really do not see why it would not work! Some gummy minnow(alewife) imitations would also be productive, I would guess!

[estaz]

I lived down state and fished the Huron and the River Rasin My buddies dad worked at the power plant there in Monroe, we used to go down there after dark and there was some pretty big flood lights out over the inlet. We used to catch some hog white bass on clousers!! They aren't much for table fair but they are a hell of a fight. Like a gill on roids!!! Hooked a few sheepshead too. Great pics and damn nice bronze back!!

Tight Lines,

Dan

[blulaker]

You know I was thinking about how much sheephead look like whiting/redfish from saltwater, and after a bit of googling, I found out that their closest cousin is the red drum (redfish) in salt water. They eat, bugs, crawfish, zebra mussels, etc. so not a big bioaccumulator of toxins. Cannot believe they would not be good to eat. Yes, probably not a perch or walleye, but blackened redfish ranks right up there as top table fare. Check out the link I found.

www.flyfishohio.com/Freshwater%20Drum.htm

[Vito]

They remind me, looks wise, of a black drum. Funny a redfish and black drum are a sought after sport fish, but a freshwater drum is considered a trash fish. Guess it's all where you're from. Look at how highly praised carp are in Europe.

I grew up on Lake St. Clair and I knew people that ate sheephead. They used to cut it in chunks and boil it. Called it poor man's lobster.

[tightlined]

I grew up on Lake St. Clair and I knew people that ate sheephead. They used to cut it in chunks and boil it. Called it poor man's lobster.

Boiled and dipped in butter like lobster it isn't too bad.