Freshwater Drum in Michigan
Where freshwater drum swim in Michigan, with the rules.
- No possession limitlimit
- 28.61 lbrecord
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Michigan freshwater drum, briefly
In great lakes and inland, anglers meet Freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), which the MDNR classes as other species. On statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered the 2026 digest lists No possession limit and a season of open all year.
In 2015, the hook and line record of 28.61 lb came out of Muskegon Lake.
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| Where | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered) | No possession limit | Open all year |
2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations (Michigan DNR; rules run April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027). Retrieved October 22, 2026.
freshwater drum on the state record table
| Category | Weight | Length | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hook and line | 28.61 lb | 34.02 in | Muskegon Lake | Muskegon | 2015 |
MDNR State Record Fish table, retrieved October 22, 2026; the table prints the year only and no angler names.
Lakes and rivers that hold freshwater drum
freshwater drum lakes with pages
- Muskegon Lake4,234 acres
MDNR Fish Atlas and Family Friendly Fishing lists, fishing site lists, trout stream layer, stocking and records; largest waters first.
Species listed alongside freshwater drum
- Black Bullheadother species
- Brown Bullheadother species
- Yellow Bullheadother species
- Common Carpother species
- Bowfinother species
- Longnose Garother species
- White Perchother species
- Bigmouth Buffaloother species
- Black Buffaloother species
- American Eelother species
- Quillbackother species
- White Suckerother species
Lakes and streams near Freshwater Drum, pictured
Photo: Notorious4life ( Uploads ), CC0 1.0
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Photo: Phoenix-Five, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: WildChild300, CC BY-SA 4.0
What anglers ask about freshwater drum here
Can Michigan anglers keep freshwater drum?
No possession limit on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered; season open all year. Other waters carry their own rows.
When was the Michigan freshwater drum record set?
28.61 lb from Muskegon Lake, Muskegon County, in 2015 (hook and line).
Which Michigan water is a good bet for freshwater drum?
1 water page on this site name it, starting with Muskegon Lake.
How many freshwater drum did the MDNR plant?
None recorded from 2024 to October 2026.
What Latin name goes with freshwater drum?
Aplodinotus grunniens; other species in great lakes and inland.
When is freshwater drum season open in Michigan?
Open all year on statewide (species not listed, not trout or salmon, not threatened or endangered.
Is a trout stamp needed for freshwater drum in Michigan?
Anglers 17 and older carry a Michigan all-species fishing license: $26 a year for residents, $76 for nonresidents, $11 for seniors or $10 for one day.
Who guides for freshwater drum in Michigan?
No listing names it; the guides page has every captain.
Chase freshwater drum this season
Every lake listed above has its own page with launches and the limits.