Paddlefish Snagging – Help Needed

New to the Forum. First Post!
My favorite type of fishing is bank fishing for catfish, and my goal in 2019 is to catch a few paddlefish.
Can you give me some advice, so my fishing time is productive?

A month ago, I got a 1950’s aluminum boat with a 1960’s Evinrude. I was hoping to put 3-4 poles on the back and use the boat to troll for paddlefish. I haven’t bought the poles, reels, weights, or setup the pole holders yet.
The boat came with a fish finder, but I have never used a fish finder (or a boat bigger than a canoe) before.

Feel free to share any advice, or give me an answer to any of these particular questions:
Is there a way to save money on reels? I have been looking at vintage Penn reels or buying the Bass Pro snagging special reel.
Is it possible to use a spinning reel like I would bank fishing? I have been assuming that a baitcast style reel would be better.
I am located in KC. Where do you suggest a novice boater and snagger go for paddlefish? I hope to fish for two days. Is it possible to snag on one of the rivers near KC?
What do I need to know about fish finders? Should I drive through an area before fishing? Should I use it to study the water depth before trolling?
Is there a way to save money on weights? They seem to be $5 each.

Thank you!

I never thought about trolling for them? I accidently caught one in the Chippewa river though and it’s paddle was missing and it was bleeding. Not sure what done that but it looked like teeth marks on the fish. The paddle fish was quite large so the only thing I thought of was a musky. If you YouTube snagging paddlefish you will get some videos. Not legal here in WI.

I would second the Youtube videos.

We have a good number snagged while walleye jigging on the Mississippi below the dams. It’s not legal here in MN either so there’s not much experience in this area. Although there have been a few people that have posted about it in SD and MO.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Thanks. It’s interesting that you accidentally get a paddlefish when fishing. I haven’t seen anyone say that they accidentally got a catfish when snagging for paddlefish. I wonder if the reaction time of the paddlefish is really slow.

Well they are filter feeders and swim around with their mouths open collecting plankton.

Pretty much all the cats up here are snagged flatheads in their wintering holes. When vertical jigging moving downstream, it’s pretty easy to see how they would be snagged.

I snagged two one night apart a number of years ago while fishing for cats with a sinker/swivel/hook set up anchored. I’m sure they swam into the line and when I set the hook it ended up snagging them in the back.
The first one was weighed at 35 pounds with clients. The second one was while I was by myself. I couldn’t get it out of the water alone so it was a boat side release. I’m guessing it was around the 50 pound mark.

Like the larger sturgeon and flatheads, I wouldn’t say they were a fast fish but the weight alone made them a hoot to get to the boat.

I know it sounds strange but that’s what happened. I was using a 1/2 of a sheep head for bait for large cats or whatever. It was fun but being on shore and in the current a struggle to get it landed. My first sight of it was off the foundation of a railroad bridge and as it swam by I tried talking my fishing buddy into grabbing it an he said no fr—– way. I ended up having to reel it in again and handing him the rod while I grabbed it. We didn’t know what it was at first as it was missing the paddle but released after a photo and hook removal. I will look for the pic and post if I find it.

While there may be other states, I know paddlefish can be legally snagged in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Montana has a spring season while the other states I mentioned have fall seasons.

I have seen some people trolling for paddlefish in the tailwaters of Gavins Point Dam, but generally they are caught by casting and jerking the hook/weight back to you.

I don’t know the closet place to KC where you can snag paddlefish.

Buffalo Fishhead

I am a avid paddlefish snagger,here in ND snagging from boats is illegal,so its all done casting from the banks.
The same types of structure you fish cats,is also good for paddles,eddies and holes for resting,straightaways for cruising and feeding,etc.
We are allowed to use up to 10/0 treble,I use 65# suffix 832 in hi vis yellow to increase casting distance,visibility,and instant hooksets.Berkley 30# big game solar is a good mono alternative when the area is really snaggy,strong but easier to break than 832.Line visibility is a must here as you will be bringing them into shore quite a way down from you.
I recommend everyone have thier own rod and reel,because paddles seem to move in groups,and you dont wanna be sharing a rod when thier moving through.Right before sunrise and sunset always seem to be the best times to be snagging.
Lastly,quality equipment is a must as the cheap stuff wont make it a weekend,I have an Okuma Azul 90 that has seen about 20 seasons on it,also prefer 10″ spinning rod