Freshwater

Paddlefish (spoonbill)

Pez espátula

Polyodon spathula

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

20–60 lb.

Depth

5–40 ft.

Best time

Daytime.

Found in

5 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Unmistakable: a long, flat, paddle-shaped snout (up to a third of its body), smooth gray skin with no scales, a huge mouth and a shark-like tail.
Typical size: 20–60 lb.
Maximum size: About 7 ft and over 140 lb.
Diet: Plankton filtered from the water — so it almost never takes bait or lures.
Behavior: Swims with its mouth open to filter plankton; runs up rivers to spawn in spring when water rises.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Ozarks & Mid-South, Midwest & Ohio Valley Lakes, Texas & Oklahoma Lakes, Louisiana & Mississippi Delta and Upper Midwest Lakes. Big rivers and reservoirs of the Mississippi basin: the Missouri, Osage (Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock), Grand Lake in Oklahoma, the Ohio and the lower Mississippi.
Habitat: Big rivers and reservoirs of the Mississippi basin: the Missouri, Osage (Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock), Grand Lake in Oklahoma, the Ohio and the lower Mississippi.
Depth: 5–40 ft.
Fishing depth: Below dams and in river channels during the spring run.
Best season: Spring snagging seasons (often March to May) in states that allow it.
Best time: Daytime.
Best tides: No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.
Best weather / conditions: Rising water after spring rains.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: None — paddlefish don't bite bait.
Best artificial lures: Legal snagging with large treble hooks where allowed.
Tackle setup: Long, heavy snagging rod (10–12 ft) and a big reel.
Hook size: Large 8/0–12/0 treble hooks where allowed.
Line: 80–100 lb braid or mono.
Leader: Not needed.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Gloves Gaff Cooler

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Big rivers and reservoirs of the Mississippi basin: the Missouri, Osage (Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock), Grand Lake in Oklahoma, the Ohio and the lower Mississippi.
Rig up: Long, heavy snagging rod (10–12 ft) and a big reel. Not needed.
Pick your bait: None — paddlefish don't bite bait. Lures: Legal snagging with large treble hooks where allowed.
Fish it: Where legal, anglers sweep big treble hooks through deep runs below dams during the spring season.
Time it: Daytime. No tide — in rivers, falling water after the rainy season is best.

Fishing techniques: Where legal, anglers sweep big treble hooks through deep runs below dams during the spring season.
BigJoe's tip: Check your state's paddlefish season dates and tag rules before you go.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Boneless, firm white meat (cut out the red meat); good fried, grilled or smoked.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Heavy fish and heavy treble hooks; strong currents below dams.
Regulations: Strict rules: special permits, tags, short seasons and daily limits in states that allow snagging; many states ban it. Selling the roe (caviar) is tightly controlled. Licenses, limits and seasons are set by each province, territory or state, and many lakes and rivers have special size limits, slot limits or closed spawning seasons — check the current regulations for the water you fish.
Conservation: Dams and poaching for caviar hurt many populations; stocking programs help.

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Sources & photo credits