Members Troutfishn Posted April 11, 2008 Members Posted April 11, 2008 Well I heard a few fisherman talk about paddle fish below springfield lake and I have always been curious about reeling in a big paddle fish. So I went to wal mart today and picked up some 20lb line for my old bass pole, some 1/O treble hooks, and some 1/2 ounce sinkers. I know I needed a bigger pole but I was just playing around hoping to snag anything maybe even a carp just for the fun of it. About 10 minutes into it I felt a hard snag followed by a slow steady swim away. It felt like I had hooked onto a geo metro. It took about 10 minutes for me to drag it on shore. I am still at this moment amazed that this happened. It measured 43'' from eye to the the caudal peduncle and my scale only went to 30lbs. Any guesses to what it may have weighed? I let it go unharmed after the pictures because it was just such an amazing fish.
RSBreth Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 I don't know, probably mid 40s'. To bad you didn't measure girth, it's easier to calculate if you know that and length. I've never seen a formula for paddlefish, but here's one I like this for other fish. http://www.myoan.net/fishing/weight_calc.html I went down there early yesterday fishing for cats (yeah, believe it or not, I catfish sometimes) and saw some paddle fish surfacing. Also found two stumps full of snapped off snagging rigs. Picked up 4 pounds of lead for bullet casting in 3- and 4-ounce increments. Thanks snaggers!
gonefishin Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Looks like 25 to 30 lbs to me. You gotta be careful grabbing 'bills by the jaw like that as it is really easy to do serious if not fatal damage. I would rather be fishin'. "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin, 1759
jcoberley Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Yep and at 40 pounds its easy to do real damage. Looks to be more like 25 but thats a photo for you. Fish slow and easy! Borrowed this one from..........Well you know who! A proud memer of P.E.T.A (People Eating Tasty Animals)
Members Troutfishn Posted April 12, 2008 Author Members Posted April 12, 2008 Thanks for the advice, I knew nothing about them when I went out 5 minutes from my house. Keep in mind I am 6'2''.
Seth Posted April 13, 2008 Posted April 13, 2008 that's a 35 lber I'd guess. Nice fish. I went down there last Monday and tried snagging spoonbill, but only got a bunch of common carp. Maybe this high water will have them spoonbill all over there at the dam and we can still go snagging next weekend.
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