A different but good time

Well the walleye fishing was slow, I caught 3 short and one slaughter in 2 hours. We figured we would try paddlefishing we had pretty good success with this. With 3 people in the boat we ended up landing 6 fish, this is the limit. We took home 3 between 30-32 1/2″ from the fork in the tale to the front of the eye. We also released one 45lb fish and 2 30lb fish. All in all it was a great time, give it a try next time the water is high and muddy and the greenies have lock jaw.

What do you do with Paddlefish? I asume you eat them, but how are they made. To my knowledge, We can’t even fish for them in Minnesota…can we?

God made them….

I believe they are protected on our waters Chappy but when you get downstream out of MN they are not protected.

I am curious as well how do you prepare a paddle fish and how does it taste?

Since Paddlefish are plankton feeders…how do you “catch” them?

I think i heard u can only eat their eggs

They are caught down south with a snagging treble. The weighted treble hooks. SD has a season on them also.

Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s texture is like a pork chop but much better tasting. Never had it so I’m not talking from personal experience.

Some states allow “hooking” one and then your done, others allow multiple catches and “catch and release”.

Cool fish for sure!

Smoke them same as sturgeon.

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They are caught down south with a snagging treble. The weighted treble hooks. SD has a season on them also.

Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s texture is like a pork chop but much better tasting. Never had it so I’m not talking from personal experience.

Some states allow “hooking” one and then your done, others allow multiple catches and “catch and release”.

Cool fish for sure!

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BK is correct. Here in Nebraska on the waters of the Missouri River below Gavin’s Point Dam (Lewis and Clark Reservoir) the month of Oct. is the paddlefish snagging season. South Dakota and Nebraska residents get to participate and their are a limited number of tags that are handed out each year. It’s been 5 or 6 years since I have done it but it is a hoot. They are one of the tastiest fish you can ever eat.
Cleaning one is an interesting process. Since they have no bones, only cartiledge, you simply remove the head and guts and then lighty score the bottom of the meaty tail area. Give a twist and pull their spinal cord out. Cut it into steaks and trim the outside layer of fat and skin off. Bake the steaks in the oven and dip in drawn butter. Yummy!!!! Just talking about it makes me want to get my application in for a tag this year.

Fished in a BASS tourney down at Truman Res. Missouri we were down a week early to pre fished We checked out lake of the Ozarks and the Paddlefish snagging season was on, we gave it a shot with the resort owner for a hour and got 69 pounder. he cut it like a salmon. one chord going down the middle , red meat grilled with garlic butter was the best plus he put a keg on for the camp.

Went out again on Sat. these two were perfect two 31.5″ fish. I finally have enough to start up the smoker. These fish are wonderful smoked. Good fishing guys.

Do you snag them in Dubuque? How in the world do you know where to go and if what you are snagging is a paddlefish? Just curious I guess.

I snag them on pool #13 & #14 I find them in deep water laying in current seams, they kind of act like walleye as far as laying in the breaks, only much deeper water. Although I think they are about done, it has really slowed down it took 4 hrs to get these two.

Interesting. I bet they put up a heck of a fight.