Paddlefish Taste Test Comparison

[Seth]

I finally made a trip up to LoZ yesterday for some snagging. We brought back a couple 50 pound sows and a smaller male. This morning I finished cleaning up the paddlefish and fried a few pieces to do a taste test. The LoZ fish are delicious!

We usually snag on Tablerock and the fish down there have always have always tasted fishy to us. I figured it was due to the fish being bigger than the paddlefish on the lower Osage below Bagnell Dam. The fish off the lower osage were always delicious, but Tablerocks were nasty.

I don't know if I'll be able to snag Tablerock any longer after eating LoZ fish. They are just as big, but taste a whole lot better!

Just wanted to share this observation because I've asked several people before about this and they all said the same thing. I think I'm going to write the Missouri Conservation and tell them about it and see what kind of answer I get back from them.

[Dutch]

Write away but consider these 2 things: 1. They won't give a rat's butt, 2. If they did, there is nothing they could do about it anyway.

[Seth]

I'm not saying I want them to fix it, I was just curious what they think causes it. I don't expect them to make it a priority to fix or anything because it's been this way forever. They are the experts on this type of stuff so I figured they could give me the best possible answer.

[Growler]

I had my first taste ever of paddlefish on friday night. Was at a local LOZ watering hole, and a guy brought in a plate of cajun fried paddlefish for the owner of the establishment. After talking about it for a bit, he gave me a taste and...WOW! I am now a convert and will have to look into snagging my own. Absolutely one of the best pieces of fish I have ever had.

While I can't say anything about Tablerock, I CAN now vouch for the great flavor of LOZ paddlefish.

Why has everyone been keeping this a seceret from me all this time?

[Seth]

No idea man. It's not hard to fill the freezer full of paddlefish though. You get a couple fish and that's a lot of meat!

[brittsnbirds]

We butchered up 5 last night from the LOZ. My buddy and his girl caught 3 on Saturday. I met them yesterday and I nailed a 50 female on the 6th pull. Buddy's friend hit a short male around 12. Didn't get the 2nd keeper till 2.

It was nasty yesterday. Cold and rainy.

Think I may have to fry a couple chunks up tonight.

[Stuartwp]

I ws out on LOZ snaggin this past saterday for the first time in my life. I didn't catch anthing except the bottom of the Lake. It was the pits seeing all those boats with spoonbill hanging on the sides , and our boat naked. We had four guy snagging down to mile marker 85 and back up to 65 bridge. We saw other guys catch fish in front of us, behind us, beside us. I had a blast and I want to go back. I am glad I have a job buy not so much in April. Or October, and probaly November. My weekends ar full, so I am done until next year, but next year I will be ready to taste some for myself.