paddle fish

[fishkid]

i was watching a tv show and they were catching paddle fish. but they were catching them in the mouth with a hook it looked like there was a nuse or something that they would drag on the bottom and nuse their tail and reel them in like that. It look really weird and was wondering if anybody could explain how they do that.

[marine_man]

I've never done it.. at least not yet... but what I understand is that a weighted treble hook is used with some really big sinkers, and when the paddle fish hits the line / sinker / hook it starts to spin and the fish gets wrapped up in the fishing line or leader.

That's what I understand anyway...

marine_man

[slabberknocker]

We do it in SD every fall. You have the weighted hook right, but actully you snag them. You use 4-5 oz of weight and a big treble hook. Cast it out and you jerk and reel, jerk and reel. It pretty much is all luck and no skill involved. A lot of fish caught last year. We do it below the dam in Yankton adn would not advise taking a boat out there. If you do and you get to close to shore, everyone will be gunning for you. We hit three boats last year. When you throw 5 oz of lead, you can get launch it out there pretty good with a lot of velocity.

Slab

[marine_man]

That's right.. you snag them... hence the term "Paddlefish Snagging" in the ND Game and Fish book...

Thanks for the clarification...

marine_man

[DEADhead]

not to be a party [PoorWordUsage]er here, but just a reminder that snagging fish in Minnesota is unlawful.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Slabber, got any pictures? Let's see them. I love those things.

[rundrave]

snagging fish in SD is unlawful too, except for paddlefish, although you must have the license to fish for them. I think there is a spring archery season and a fall snagging season.

Some pretty big fish down at Gavins Point Dam, always wanted to try it myself.

[marine_man]

Quote:

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not to be a party [PoorWordUsage]er here, but just a reminder that snagging fish in Minnesota is unlawful.

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Same thing in ND... you have to have the license to do it, but it is legal during the open season. In ND they only allow so many paddlefish be harvested and then the season is closed.

marine_man

[DEADhead]

Yeah, there's no open season on paddlefish here in MN. I'm not sure if they're legal on the Red with a ND license?

[Melon]

I was born in Yankton and Grandma lived there up until a couple years ago. Although I've never participated in this sangging for Spoonbill Cats, it was always fun to go to the dam and watch everyone wing those heavy waits over the wall. Lot's of lines hanging from the power lines overhead to. If I remember right, there were usually a couple of people bow fishing for huge buffalo at the dam too. I think that wall is pretty high, 30+ feet? It was fun to watch those guys pull those fish up the wall with grapples or whatevery they had to use.

[cdnfisherman]

Come on out to Williston in May for a great time.

Clarkie

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[slabberknocker]

Yeah I got some pictures, but no way to get them on here. I dont have a scanner to scan the pictures and then post them. I also ran the camcorder last year whenever we got a hook in one. Its awesome to do, but very tiring. Your shoulder and arms will be sore for days after doing it. The biggest we snagged was 36". You measure them from the eye socket to the fork in the tail. Probably weighed around 35 lbs. The biggest I saw caught on opening day was 41". We also had a few snap the line. We were using 80-100 pound power pro. I would suggest everyone to try it once. A great fight on a truly beautiful fish.

Slab

[iffwalleyes]

Quote:

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not to be a party [PoorWordUsage]er here, but just a reminder that snagging fish in Minnesota is unlawful.

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Good think that paddle fishing is not done in MN then . It is a ND think and as I see also SD. Williston where the Missouri River and Yellowstone rivers converge is where you want to go in ND for you best shot. You need tags for the fish. I haven't done it yet but one of the next couple years I will be.

[LEECH21]

In the MN River forum someone just caught a paddlefish down by the St. Peter landing. Very cool looking fish. I would love to catch one some day!

[igotem]

You need a tag for paddlefish and as mentioned you catch them by snagging which is about the only way to hook into one. They are filter feeders and eat zooplankton which are hard to put on a hook.

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[LEECH21]

slabberknocker...you said you catch them in Yankton right? My friends girlfriend lives there and he brought up paddlefishing there. What time of year is the best? I'd love to give this a try! Any other tips would be great. Thanks ahead of time, Leech.

[slabberknocker]

LEECH

The season is usually from Oct. 1-Oct. 31st. Or else it is the first Sat of Oct. until the end. But anyway the season is in Oct. It really thins out out down there after that opening weekend. The way to get a tag is by lottery. You put your app. in and hope you get drawn. I think you can fish either side with your lisence (Neb or SD).

[Fishin Beast]

What do you do with the Paddlefish after you catch or snag them?

[LEECH21]

Thanks on the quick response. I was going to ask the catch and release question as well! Can you release them? I'm assuming you can. I've been reading up on the internet now about this (I'm kinda pumped on giving this a serious shot). It sounds like there is a protected slot between 35-45 inches. Is this correct?

Two more quick questions for yea. One, how do I enter into this "lottery" being I'm in out-of-stater? And two, you having experience there, what are my chances of hooking into a fish? Fairly good?

Thanks again.

[rundrave]

you will find all the information you need at:

http://www.sdgfp.info/licenses.htm

there is a section on limited issued license, for paddlefishing etc..

the deadline for paddlefish drawing is May 19th

[LEECH21]

rundrave, thanks for the info!

[RonZych]

The show it was on was midwest outdoors magazine. They were in a boat. They moved along slowly watching their sonar. When they seen one they would start jerking/snagging as they went.It was a guide service in Oklahoma.

Ron

[Fishin Beast]

Do they ever snag other fish besides paddlefish? I am sure they dont show it on the tv show.