Catching Paddlefish
Because they are filter feeders, the most popular and dependable way to catch paddlefish is by snagging. Anglers harvest paddlefish by snagging during a 45-day snagging season that runs March 15 through April 30.
Unless exempt, you must possess a valid fishing permit if you are snagging or driving the boat used for snagging.
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Paddlefishing Equipment
Rod and reel: Typical snagging gear includes a stiff, 6- to 7-foot rod equipped with a level-wind saltwater reel spooled with 100-pound test (or heavier) braided line. Some snaggers choose 7- to 9-foot, medium-heavy action surf rods and large-frame, large-capacity spinning reels. This combination allows more play than the standard snagging rig, which typically is as stiff as a broomstick.
Weights: Attach a large, teardrop-shaped, 8- to 16-ounce sinker to the end of the line. Use these heavier weights in deep water or in current. Use lighter weights in slack water or when the fish seem suspended rather than near the bottom. Bank anglers also tend to use lighter weights.
Treble hooks: Attach No. 8 to No. 14 treble hooks to the line. Anglers usually use two hooks, one about 18–24 inches above the weight and the other 2 feet farther up. Rigging so that the hook or hooks ride upright helps you hook more fish.
Have plenty of extra hooks and weights in the boat because you will lose a few. Many snaggers pour their own weights. It’s cheaper than buying them.
Heavy line doesn’t break easily. You will probably have to wrap your line around the handle on a paddle or gaff and use the boat’s power to free stuck hooks. Be careful with this because when the line breaks, you might be thrown off balance.
Gloves: Bring leather gloves. They give you a better grip and protect your hands from the line.
Landing gaffs: Landing gaffs are useful. You can land small fish by hand, but the large hooks require extra caution. Paddlefish tend to roll, often at the side or on the floor of the boat.
Pliers: Heavy needle-nose pliers are a must. You will need them to remove hooks from the fish’s tough skin and to reshape bent hooks.
Files: Small metal files are important, too. Out of the box, some large hooks aren’t sharp enough for snagging. Sharpen hooks before snagging, and resharpen them throughout the day.
Measuring instrument: You also need some way to measure the fish. Length limits vary across the state. Paddlefish length is measured from the eye to the fork of the tail. Read information on measuring paddlefish.
Rope: Bring along short pieces of heavy nylon or cotton rope, cut into 4- to 5-foot lengths, to tie fish that are too big for livewells alongside the boat.
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Getting Hooked Up
Set up your tackle to catch a paddlefish:
Create a loop in the heavy line using an overhand knot. Thread the loop through the sinker and pull it tight.
Double the line about 2 feet above the sinker, then run it through the hook eye and pull it tight.
Loop the line below the hook, bring the loop over the treble points, and tighten it on the shank.
Repeat the last step, but finish with a loop around only one of the hook points. This rigging keeps hooks from dangling.
Snagging Success Depends on the Weather
Snagging success is strongly influenced by environmental conditions — particularly water temperature, flow, and exposure to daily light. As daylight increases in spring, paddlefish begin congregating in deep holes. When water temperatures reach about 50 to 55 degrees F and flows rise, they migrate upstream to spawn. This increase in flow is the key trigger for the spawning run. As temperatures and flows continue to climb, fish move farther upstream in reservoirs and rivers.
Spring weather plays an important role. In dry springs with little rainfall, flows remain low, fish stay lower in the system, and snagging is often less productive. In wet springs, higher flows push fish farther upstream, though flooding can make snagging difficult or hazardous. During heavy flows, paddlefish often move out of the strongest current until conditions improve. Rising water levels also bring logs and other debris downstream, so snaggers and boaters should use caution.
Snagging is typically good on opening day but often slows afterward. Early in the season, cool water keeps fish scattered and lower in lakes and rivers, and the harvest is mostly smaller males and immature females. Males make spawning migrations first, with more and larger females appearing once water temperatures exceed roughly 55 degrees F. Overall, snagging improves as both water temperature and flow increase — think warm spring rains.
How to Snag for Paddlefish
A boat with a depth finder is probably the most useful tool for a paddlefish snagger. Usually, paddlefish stay near the bottom, often congregating in deep holes near drop-offs. Paddlefish display as large images on most modern depth finders. Good electronics also help you stay in the main channel and avoid most underwater obstacles.
It’s sometimes possible to “troll” for paddlefish. Let out enough line so the hooks are a good distance from the boat and you can feel the sinker hitting the bottom. Troll just fast enough to keep the slack out of your line.
When snagging for paddlefish, use a sweeping motion, swinging the rod toward the boat and then releasing it back in the other direction, preventing excessive slack in the line. Use your legs and back to lessen arm fatigue.
Some anglers prefer to snag from set locations on the bank. For the most part, the equipment is the same as that used in boat snagging. It is important to use a rod that allows you to cast your hooks a long way from the bank. A sweeping motion jerks the hook through the water, followed by reeling to take up slack from the jerk. Several of the areas mentioned here are traditional haunts for bank snaggers and allow good open access to the water.
Whether you cast or troll, set the drag so you can barely pull line off the spool with your hand. It should be tight enough that it won’t slip when you jerk or come into contact with a fish, but loose enough that it will disengage if you get hung up or when a large fish makes a run.
You must possess a valid fishing permit if you are snagging or driving the boat being used. Once you have taken two legal paddlefish into your possession, you cannot continue snagging for any other species of fish that day.
Preparing Your Catch
To clean a paddlefish, hang the fish by its rostrum (nose) at a convenient height and cut in a circle through the meat above the tail down to the tough lining of the notochord. This cartilage is the backbone of a paddlefish and has the texture of dry silicone. Rotate the tail back and forth to break the outer lining of the notochord, then pull downward to remove its outer end. This will let blood drain from the fish.
Next, start behind the gill cover and cut in toward the casing of the notochord. You will now be able to slice fillets off the fish by moving the knife toward the tail along the notochord lining on both sides of the fish.
With the fillets skin-side down on a sturdy board, slice the flesh free from the skin. Also remove the V-shaped piece of red or dark meat that runs down the center of the fillet.
Rinse and soak your catch in saltwater until you are ready to cook it. You can batter and deep-fry paddlefish pieces or cut the fillets into 1-inch-thick “steaks” and cook them on the grill. Paddlefish flesh is very firm and contains enough fat that it will not dry out on the grill as quickly as most fish. Try soaking the steaks in your favorite marinade or covering them with lemon pepper before grilling.
Do not clean paddlefish while you are on the water.
The head, tail, and skin must remain attached to all fish that have length limits while those fish are on the water.
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Table Rock Lake
On Table Rock Lake, most snagging occurs in the upper reaches of the James River Arm, within 3 miles of Flat Creek near Point 15. During high-water years, fish and snaggers can go further up the James River.
Public Ramps
- Cape Fair Access: go upstream towards Bridgeport.
- Bridgeport Access: go downstream towards Cape Fair or upstream towards Walnut Spring.
- Walnut Spring Access: go downstream towards Bridgeport or upstream towards McCord Bend.
- Blunks Access: go downstream toward McCord Bend or upstream toward Cox.
- Caution: a jet boat, canoe, or kayak is needed when launching at Blunks.
- Cox Access: go downstream towards McCord Bend or upstream towards Kerr.
- Caution: a jet boat, canoe, or kayak is needed when launching at Cox.
- Kerr Access: go downstream towards Cox or upstream towards Hootentown.
- Caution: a jet boat, canoe, or kayak is needed when launching at Kerr.
- Hootentown Access: go downstream towards Kerr or fish the deep hole in front of the access.
- Caution: a jet boat, canoe, or kayak is needed when launching at Hootentown and it is difficult to boat more than a few miles above Hootentown, except during high water.
- Shelvin Rock Access: bank snagging is more common at this access.
- Caution: a jet boat, canoe, or kayak is needed when launching at Shelvin Rock. A limited area is available to navigate to by jet boat, a large bedrock shelf upstream prevents boating further upstream during low water.
- Delaware Town Access: bank snagging is more common at this access.
- Caution: a jet boat, canoe, or kayak is needed when launching at Delaware Town.
- Tailwaters Access (Springfield City Utilities): bank snagging below Lake Springfield Dam is most common here.
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Truman Lake
On Truman Lake, paddlefish make spawning runs up the Osage River Arm into the Marais des Cygnes River.
Early in the season, snagging is good above the Talley Bend Access and near Osceola. As water temperatures and flow increase, paddlefish move upstream toward the Roscoe and Taberville accesses. You can also find paddlefish in the lower Sac River.
During years of high water, snagging can also be good in the Marais des Cygnes River up to the Kansas border. Snagging is primarily done from boat, but some anglers snag from the banks at public access areas and bridge right-of-ways.
Public Ramps
- Talley Bend Access: go upstream towards Horseshoe Bend and up towards the Walker Hole/ Weaubleau Creek and above towards Osceola OR downstream towards Fox Run.
- Brush Creek Access: Closed until further notice.
- Crowes Crossing: to downstream towards Walker Hole/ Weaubleau Creek and below OR upstream towards Roscoe and/or go up the Sac River a couple of miles.
- City of Osceola: go upstream towards Roscoe and/or go up the Sac River a couple of miles OR go downstream towards Brush Creek Access and down to Walker Hole/ Weaubleau Creek. This has become a popular bank snagging area, please be courteous of the bank snaggers.
- Sac River Access/Highway 82: go down stream towards the Osage, snagging the last couple of miles of the Sac, then continue on toward Osceola and below OR go up towards the Roscoe Access and above.
- Roscoe Access: go downstream to where the Sac and Osage meet, then go up the Sac River a couple of miles or continue downstream towards Osceola OR go upstream towards Taberville and above.
- Taberville: go downstream towards Roscoe and below OR go upstream towards the cut and above.
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Lake of the Ozarks
Most of the snagging and harvest occurs in deep pools on the upper 40 miles of the Osage River Arm.
Early in the season, snagging is good in the Ivy Bend/Coffman Bend area near the 50 mile marker and above. As water temperatures and flows increase, paddlefish move upstream toward Truman Dam. However, snagging is not permitted from Truman Dam downstream to the Highway 65 Bridge. Snagging is popular in the Niangua Arm between the mouth of the Little Niangua Arm and the Highway 54 Bridge.
Public Ramps
Boaters can also launch for a fee at one of the numerous private ramps on the lake.
- Browns Bend (around MM61.5): I've been told when the water is low, it can be difficult to get from the ramp to the lake since the cove is somewhat shallow and this isn't a very large ramp, so not a lot of parking spaces. Go upstream between MM61 and MM65 and above OR downstream towards MM50.
- Caution: With the low lake levels some people, especially the snaggers with deeper, V-bottom boats and pontoons, find it difficult to get out of the cove. Be sure to always use caution.
- Wigwam School Access (MM66.2): go downstream towards MM62 and below OR upstream towards MM72 – Big Buffalo Creek.
- Warsaw (Drake) Harbor Access: you must go below the Highway 65 Bridge before you start snagging. Go downstream and start snagging below the Highway 65 Bridge (about MM89.5) and below.
- Bledsoe Ferry Access: you must go below the Highway 65 Bridge before you start snagging. Go downstream and start snagging below the Highway 65 Bridge (about MM89.5) and below.
- Larry Gale Access — Niangua Arm: go downstream to where the Little Niangua joins the big Niangua or upstream toward Highway 54.
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Osage River
Snagging occurs for a few miles below the Highway 54 Bridge, about 1.3 miles downstream from Bagnell Dam. The area between Highway 54 and Bagnell Dam is closed to snagging. Paddlefish are also taken in the lower 25 miles of the Osage River.
Public Ramps
- Bagnell Dam Access: you must go below the Highway 54 Bridge before you can start snagging.
- Bonnots Mill Access: go up or downstream. Occasionally we see snaggers out in the Missouri River.
- Mari-Osa Access: go downstream below the Highway 63 bridge towards Bonnots Mill and below, OR upstream towards the lock and dam.
- Pikes Camp Access: go upstream a couple of miles, OR downstream towards the lock and dam.
Paddlefish, one of America’s largest freshwater fish, are popular among many Missouri anglers. These fish can weigh more than 100 pounds, and their strength and speed gives anglers a thrilling experience.
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Biological Information
Paddlefish, also known as spoonbill, have a long, paddle-shaped rostrum that accounts for about one-third of their body length. Paddlefish are cartilaginous, which means that they have no bones. They have small eyes and no scales. They are filter feeders and spend most of their lives in open water eating microscopic animals called zooplankton. During warm weather, they can often be seen jumping from the water.
Paddlefish require specific flows, temperatures, and substrate to reproduce. Spawning is triggered by a combination of daylight, water temperature, and water flow. When water temperatures climb to 50–55 degrees F and spring rains cause the rivers to rise, paddlefish migrate upstream to spawn. Male paddlefish reach sexual maturity at 4–5 years and make spawning runs annually. Females reach sexual maturity at 8–10 years and make spawning runs every 2–3 years.
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Population Management
In the past, paddlefish were abundant in Missouri, but their numbers declined because of dams, increased contaminant levels, and the illegal harvest of adult paddlefish for caviar.
Paddlefish are native to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Osage river basins in Missouri. In 1972, the Missouri Department of Conservation established a paddlefish population in Table Rock Lake by stocking hatchery-produced fingerlings. Paddlefish fisheries in Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake, and Lake of the Ozarks are maintained by annually stocking hatchery-produced fingerlings that are 10–12 inches long.
To accomplish this, MDC collects paddlefish brood stock in the spring at Table Rock Lake. Paddlefish are spawned at Blind Pony Hatchery in Sweet Springs, and the young are raised until September, when they are large enough to release. Paddlefish stocking and management are directed by a statewide paddlefish management plan developed by MDC. The goal of this plan is to manage paddlefish statewide as a trophy sport fishery.
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Dispose of Fish Waste Responsibly
Please dispose of waste responsibly when cleaning paddlefish. In addition to using trash receptacles, fish-cleaning waste may be disposed of back into the water. However, we receive several nuisance complaints of fish-cleaning waste on the banks around the accesses. Fish-cleaning waste should be deposited in deep water where it cannot wash onto the bank or become concentrated in one area or in the flowing part of the stream.
As a reminder, the head, tail, and skin must remain attached to all fish that have length limits while those fish are on the water or until the fish have been checked by an MDC agent.
Remember that the Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits the transportation of extricated paddlefish eggs, so extracted paddlefish eggs cannot be transported out into deeper water for disposal.
Please be considerate and dispose of fish-cleaning waste responsibly and help keep access areas clean for everyone to enjoy.
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Advisories
Check the paddlefish regulations
- Please remember — on Lake of the Ozarks and its tributaries, the Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, on Truman Lake and its tributaries, and on Table Rock Lake — no person shall continue to snag, snare, or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of two (2) paddlefish.
- Once two legal paddlefish are caught, they are to be retained by the angler and included in their daily limit.
- Once you’ve taken your second fish, you are done snagging for the day.
- Unless exempt, you must possess a valid fishing permit if you are snagging or driving the boat used for snagging.
- Extracted paddlefish eggs may not be possessed while on the water or adjacent banks and may not be transported. Paddlefish eggs may not be bought, sold, or offered for sale.
- Do not clean paddlefish while you are on the water. The head, tail, and skin must remain attached to all fish that have length limits while those fish are on the water.
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Release Sublegal Fish Unharmed — Immediately
MDC maintains the paddlefish populations in Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and Table Rock Lake with annual stockings of fingerlings from MDC’s Blind Pony Hatchery. It takes paddlefish seven to eight years to grow to legal size. In 2016, more than 314,000 foot-long fingerlings were stocked — MDC’s largest stocking of paddlefish. These fish were large enough to harvest beginning in 2023, with a few becoming legal in 2022. As these fish grow, snaggers will catch a lot of these sublegal fish. It is extremely important to release all sublegal fish unharmed immediately and gently because they are the fish that you will be harvesting over the next several years!
The Code states that sublegal paddlefish must be returned unharmed immediately after being caught!
To be sure the fish are unharmed:
- Take care when removing hooks and get the fish back into the water as quickly as possible.
- Be sure that your hands are wet before handling and avoid excessive handling.
- Do not pass fish around for photos.
- Hold fish firmly to avoid dropping them, and never put your fingers in the gills or eyes.
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Tagged Paddlefish
Thank you to all the snaggers who have reported tagged paddlefish. Please continue to report all tagged paddlefish that you catch.
- You can keep the silver jaw tags on legal-sized fish — we will just need a picture of the tag to verify the number.
- Report sublegal paddlefish, but please do not remove the tags.
Continuing to report tagged paddlefish will help us monitor and better manage paddlefish. Together we can keep paddlefish snagging great for many years to come.
Call the number on the tag to report fish caught with jaw tags or contact paddlefish@mdc.mo.gov.
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"Catch-and-Release" Snagging Prohibited
Unlike other species of fish in Missouri, the catch and release of legal paddlefish, any fish of legal length, is not permitted. In other words, once a legal paddlefish is caught, that fish is to be retained or kept by the angler and included in their daily limit; these fish cannot be released. However, all sublegal (fish less than the legal length limit) paddlefish must be released unharmed immediately. Once two legal paddlefish are caught, they are to be retained by the angler and included in their daily limit.
Please remember that on Lake of the Ozarks and its tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, Truman Lake and its tributaries, and Table Rock Lake no person shall continue to snag, snare, or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of two (2) paddlefish. Be sure to check the Wildlife Code of Missouri for paddlefish regulations.
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Paddlefishing Courtesy
We are continuing to see more bank snaggers, especially on Truman Lake. When operating a boat near bank snaggers, please be considerate of them. Please slow down and give them space; running into their line risks pulling them into the water. Everyone needs to stay safe. When snagging on private property, be sure to obtain permission from the landowner.
If you have any questions, call 660-885-8179 x 4953 or email Chris Brooke.