Why cant I get the Sheep Head to bite?

[Kylersk]

Kind of a serious question, but I'm glad they dont bite.

Anyways, while pan fishing I've seen quite a few Sheephead on the camera but they dont have any interest in the lure. They dont even look at it. I find it odd.. The bass and even a muskie at least look at it.

[zamboni]

Is it true that sheephead have some kind of rock or something in their cheeks that you can sell? Don't mean to sound stupid or anything, but I have never had any interest in catching them so wasn't sure

[evinrude19]

i catch those [PoorWordUsage] things all the time fishing for walleyes in the summer and i use light tackle for walleyes and they give a good fight and i get exicted cause i think its a huge eye but it is a sheep but it is true that they have rocks in their heads ive seen it lol

[FatBassman]

yep....there's rocks in their heads. ive got two in my tackle box for good luck. don't ask how i got em.

[bimbo]

those sheep head sure can fight with ya. i heard they just dont bite in the winter more of a summer bite

[uwleagle]

yeah they have rocks in their head but i have never heard of anyone selling them. that would be nice though, i'd start making some money, haha

[TwinkeeDink]

hey fatbassman, how'd ya get 'em?

[BlueLiner]

These rocks are calcium deposits called otoliths or ear stones. Most fish have them... they are part of the inner ear of the fish and much like the human inner ear helps with balance or in the fishes case pitch and yaw.

[Flaco651]

Last weekend we caught a few here and there while after gills and crappies. It was actually a lot of fun on the light ice gear.

[TimBuck2]

They'll start getting more interested as we gain light. I usually don't tangle with the sheepies until late March early April. Some of the lakes down south here have more than their share of these roughies.

TB2

[fishtrap3]

Hey Flaco651 you didnt happen to work for Anchor Glass in the past did ya???

[FatBassman]

alright...alright....

I ate a sheephead. There...I said it.

[Kylersk]

 Originally Posted By: FatBassman

alright...alright....

I ate a sheephead. There...I said it.

Really? how'd you eat it? How'd it taste? What color was their flesh?

[Scott M]

I onced talked my roommate into eating a drum from Red. I was pulling in walleyes casting crankbaits on the bottom and he was Lindy Rigging nightcrawlers and pulling in only sheephead. Fun day, he said it wasn't too bad eating.

Here's a great picture of those otoliths. Freshwater drum have some of the largest otoliths for a fish their size. Easily the largest otoliths in Minnesota fish.

Drum also have these great pharyngeal teeth. Great for grinding up shells. They are about the only native fish that eat zebra mussels with any consistency.

Check out the swim bladder on this male. When males reach sexual maturity they develop a set of muscles around the swim bladder that produce the "drumming" noises. It is also thought that this is what makes the grunting noises when they are pulled out of the water.

One very cool fish that doesn't get enough respect!

[Borch]

When you are fishing the shallow bays on the Gulf of Mexico you can actually hear/feel the schools of Black Drum coming. You start to understand why they are called drum.

[Flaco651]

 Quote:

Hey Flaco651 you didnt happen to work for Anchor Glass in the past did ya???

Nope. Must have been a look-a-like.

[zamboni]

DaChise= Great info on the Drum. Have you ever heard of anyone selling those rocks?

[Scott M]

Can't say I have. Otoliths were used as currency by native americans, so its possible they might be found in some museums or private collections.

You could catch some drum and string up a necklace, otherwise good luck. Just remember the Lacey Act prohibits the selling of plant or animal parts.

Another note on the pharyngeal teeth...they are not located in the mouth, they are below the throat...don't want to confuse anyone looking for those...they are like big pads below the gullet.

[shirts]

DaChise I love the pictures very informative. I learned something new again on this forum.

Thanks Shirts

[Will]

kylersk, i need to know exactly what lures you are using to NOT catch sheephead. i am tired of being known as the "shepherd". i even caught a 5+ pounder on red lake, through the ice, i thought i had the new world record crappie.

[DeanoB]

 Originally Posted By: Will

kylersk, i need to know exactly what lures you are using to NOT catch sheephead. i am tired of being known as the "shepherd". i even caught a 5+ pounder on red lake, through the ice, i thought i had the new world record crappie.

Ah ha that's funny...good one Will

I never knew Drum had otholiths right here in MN! cool know I WANT to catch one.

[lotsofish]

Try fishing for walleyes, you will have a much better chance at catching a sheephead!

[Kylersk]

 Originally Posted By: Will

kylersk, i need to know exactly what lures you are using to NOT catch sheephead. i am tired of being known as the "shepherd". i even caught a 5+ pounder on red lake, through the ice, i thought i had the new world record crappie.

In the summer while trolling for Walleyes, that's about all I catch. But in the winter, they appear to be not active?

[fishinJohn]

My wife's grandpa has a big jar full of those little stones from sheephead pulled from the Mississippi. Though he also collects soap end, tp roll ends, and other junk.