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Paddlefish Heaven in Snag City
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photo: Chad Love
Spring is the time for love and fishing, and every year the warm spring rains that swell the banks of Oklahoma's Neosho River stir the romantic desires of an obscure, odd-looking fish most folks have never heard of. But for those who have, the annual paddlefish spawning run is an event unlike any other. It's a chance to rub elbows, swap stories and tangle lines with fellow paddlefish junkies from across the country.
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Comment on This Article

At 4:28 PM, 2008-10-02, anonymous said:
OKlahoma actually has the best population left in the world (over 88,000 estimated in Grand Lake). So where as in many states it may be detrimental to the population, our paddlefishing season is actually just taking the harvestable surplus. Snagging the fish with barbless hooks does not hurt the fish AS BAD as using hooks with barbs. I am all for a program that helps to protect these prehistoric fish by making money for research that could eventually help other states with their paddlefish populations. Mark comment offensive

At 7:34 AM, 2008-10-02, asd said:
asdf asdf asdf asdf Mark comment offensive

At 7:34 AM, 2008-10-02, dark said:
asldkfj;lksdjf;lsdkjf;lsdkjf;lkdjsaf;l d;alksdj;flkasdf;aldskjf sdf;saldkfjksdf;kl as;dlkfj;l Mark comment offensive

At 3:25 PM, 2008-07-14, ted said:
i'd like to know how these fish would taste smothered in mapple syrup, eh? Mark comment offensive

At 8:25 PM, 2008-07-11, Jim Gibbs said:
I snagged one these beautiful fish on the West Virgina side of the Ohio River. When I pulled it from the river four other fisherman rushed over to see it. I had no idea what I had caught and how rare it was for the area. I sure hope these fish dont became as rare as they are in the Ohio River. Mark comment offensive

At 1:11 PM, 2008-06-11, anonymous said:
I am baffled how a paddlefish could be caught on a trotline when they feed on plankton. Mark comment offensive

At 4:55 PM, 2008-06-10, Amanda said:
Check out this new website that educates you on the Redfish Riviera from Brownsville, Texas to Surf City, North Carolina. It is a new website that you can blog on and has a online fishing apparel store starting July 2008. Great website at www.redfishriviera.com Mark comment offensive

At 10:24 AM, 2008-06-09, David said:
From Oklahoma I feel our paddlefishing needs some protection. 1) it is actually quite hard to snag these "lazy" fish, 2) we can only keep one 3) can only use barbless hooks which people have no problem with when fishing for rainbows who are less resilient than a paddlefish, and 4) its a neat experience catching a prehistoric monster... and then setting it free! Mark comment offensive

At 3:24 PM, 2008-06-06, bigjim said:
I am 71 yrs. old. Used to fish Metroplis lk. across the tenn/ohio river from Metroplis, Ill. My dad and 3 of us boys caught the spoonbill on trotlines. A lot of them were 5-7 foot long.Went there in late 70's and caught only one. Probably had the bait concoction mixed up wrong,[ secret recipe ].I now live in Oregon. Mark comment offensive

At 6:14 PM, 2008-06-04, CORN-Z said:
Where is the challenge in snagging a big lazy fish laying on the bottom of the river with a big treble hook and a big weight. Learn to bass fish man. That's a real sport. Because of you regulations are set in place for america's game fish. Mark comment offensive

At 10:09 PM, 2008-05-28, McDunn of the allegheny river said:
To me this seems like an unethical and ridiculous event, snagging fish? wheres the challenge here, if its a big fish adrenaline rush go after musky, steelhead or big cats just put some bait on the hook this time. . . Mark comment offensive

At 12:07 AM, 2008-05-18, kevin said:
ive seen them so thick here at eufaula dam that you could not throw your sand bass rigs without hanging one. there not wherth skinning to much red meat. Mark comment offensive

At 11:00 AM, 2008-05-17, Dan the Man said:
I'm not big on snagging and it's illegal in my state, Indiana. My Dad caught plenty on paddlefish trotlining for catfish, which is a lot easier on the fish. Mark comment offensive

At 12:57 AM, 2008-05-16, William said:
I'm not big on snagging [it's not for me] but who am I to say what other people can and can't do. What I think is ingenious is that they harvest the eggs into caviar for future research and preservation of paddlefish. Mark comment offensive

At 11:01 PM, 2008-05-15, Sam said:
Intentionally snagging and killing a rare and slow reproducing fish. Sounds like a great idea. Mark comment offensive

At 2:01 PM, 2008-05-13, Anonymous1 said:
So incredibly lame to snag fish like that. Snagging is bogus. Mark comment offensive

At 8:37 PM, 2008-05-09, dude Zeb said:
hey mate i live in wisconsin too its freaking sweet here especially this time of year when you can get out for all the spawn's walleye. and soon to come panfish its really quite fun i fish year round but mostly in summer time. Mark comment offensive

At 8:35 PM, 2008-05-09, thatll teach you said:
people that leaving freaking garbage all over garbagetown are just nothing but garbage Mark comment offensive

At 12:29 PM, 2008-05-08, Larry said:
Chad, I think I ran into you down at the ramp. I was filming a paddlefish video. Nice job on the article and glad that you got the opportunity to tangle with one of the fish. Mark comment offensive

At 11:38 AM, 2008-05-08, anonymous said:
All the people leaving their GARBAGE (roughly 27 treble hooks, 14 pounds of lead weights, 900 yards of broken line) in the water should be required to participate in some sort of clean up organized by the DNR after fun is over. Mark comment offensive

At 3:03 PM, 2008-05-07, p said:
Come to Montana in two days last week there was over 495 paddle fish caught, largest of which was 95 pounds so far Mark comment offensive

At 1:17 PM, 2008-05-07, Howard Gulick said:
I grew up in Missouri where there was a spoonbill snagging season. I moved to Wisconsin for a few years and was surprised to learn that spoonbills were considered and endangered species and were illegal to take by any method. Mark comment offensive

At 12:33 AM, 2008-05-05, anonymous said:
Of the rivers left with paddlefish, I think that's the only place where they can be leagally caught. Mark comment offensive

At 11:50 PM, 2008-05-05, RC said:
seems fun Mark comment offensive

At 11:29 PM, 2008-05-05, anonymous said:
27 Hooks, 14 lbs of lead, and 900 yrds of line.... 1) thats why beyond me for one fish 2) im glad i dont live in that area: that is a huge/ dangerous waste. Mark comment offensive

At 4:00 PM, 2008-05-05, anonymous said:
Gaffs are prohibited because they're a lot bigger, a lot thicker and they cause a lot more tissue damage than a relatively small 8/0 or 10/0 barbless treble hook... Mark comment offensive

At 3:47 PM, 2008-05-05, anonymous said:
gaff's are prohibited? what? If you're snagging a fish what does it matter if you gaff it? seems pretty stupid... Mark comment offensive

At 1:28 PM, 2008-05-05, anonymous said:
From the preservationist material I've read about how low paddle fish numbers have gotten I'm suprised they are still open to catch. Maybe the numbers aren't as low as the neysayers claim. Mark comment offensive


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Oklahoma's paddlefish season begins in March and continues through the middle of May, although mid-March through mid-April is the peak of the season. Although paddlefish are found in a number of Oklahoma rivers, the most popular areas include the Grand-Neosho River system, the tailwaters below Kaw and Hudson lakes, Fort Gibson Lake and Oologah Lake. The limit is one paddlefish per person per day and no more than four in possession. A free paddlefish permit is required and any paddlefish kept must immediately be tagged. For a complete list of regulations, click here.

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