Snagging These Giants Next Week

[laker67]

That was a good fight, but I'd have to say the best and most exciting was the 20 pound, 36 inch rainbow up in Alaska last year on a 6 wt fly rod.

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Missouri's midget rainbow must be quite a let down compared to the ak bows. And while I am thinking of it, isn't that 20 pound fish a record or at least close to it?

And for those of you who have not had the pleasure of fishing with Duane, he is truly one of the great fly rodders of our time. We are fortunate to have him on this forum.

[drew03cmc]

20, a record? No. World record rainbow is 43 and change I believe. Alaska record is 42-3.

[Seth]

Duckydoty, that is awesome! I may have to try that technique out this year when they get stacked up thick. I can only imagine how much fun that would be on a fly rod.

[laker67]

20, a record? No. World record rainbow is 43 and change I believe. Alaska record is 42-3.

Thanks drew. I had forgot about the bristol bay fish. I suppose they lump sea run into the same category as the river run. And the 43 pound fish was recently replaced by a 48 pound fish. Caught in the same lake by the previous record holder's brother.

[duckydoty]

Missouri's midget rainbow must be quite a let down compared to the ak bows. And while I am thinking of it, isn't that 20 pound fish a record or at least close to it?

And for those of you who have not had the pleasure of fishing with Duane, he is truly one of the great fly rodders of our time. We are fortunate to have him on this forum.

They are all records for me Rick, but that's about it. Now your makin me blush.

I believe ths stats show that you are the one we are lucky to have on this forum.

[drew03cmc]

They are all records for me Rick, but that's about it. Now your makin me blush.

I believe ths stats show that you are the one we are lucky to have on this forum.

I have to agree. I haven't the first idea about catching trophy trout with regularity, and I learn from all of your posts on the subject.

[Trout Commander]

Here is a great article put out by the MDC on Paddle Fish.

Missouri Paddle Fish

I also read somewhere that the current Missouri State Record Paddle Fish, which was caught on Table Rock in the James River Arm was thought to have been a fish that had survived from the original stocking of Table Rock Lake, which would have made that fish right around 25 years old at the time it was caught.

I have caught several spoonbills that have had thier bills chopped off by boat motors, giant scars across thier backs and even missing most of thier tails from run-ins with boats.

Good luck to all you fellas going out next week. I'm gonna wait till the water is right around 50 degrees and the first swell that comes down the James, I'll be over at Blunk Hole or Taylor shoals waiting for them with the fly rod!

I was able to locate Blunk, on one of the 37 TRL maps, but am not seeing Taylor Shoals?

Also, are you able to wade/bank fish at either of these locations? I don't have a boat and your picture has got me optimistically hopeful...

Size 2-4 clousers with a sinking line. Sorry to say, the spoonbill are not taking the fly, they are getting snagged. Happened upon this technique in Tulsa, fishing tha Arkansas River for stripers and hybreds. Ended up snagging a few paddle fish????

I bet it was quite a surprise the first time. I bet your poor drag was screaming uncle!

I was throwing a 10wt with the Lamson Litespeed 4 reel. That is the largest reel Lamson makes. It is the size of a mini-cooper tire. I would not use less than and 8 wt. and you better have plenty of backing.

What leader material do you use? 30lb braid???? (only half kidding here...)

Sounds good to me Don. That is usually one of my last hurahs before heading back up to Alaska for the season.

What time of year does this usually happen?

Missouri's midget rainbow must be quite a let down compared to the ak bows. And while I am thinking of it, isn't that 20 pound fish a record or at least close to it?

And for those of you who have not had the pleasure of fishing with Duane, he is truly one of the great fly rodders of our time. We are fortunate to have him on this forum.

They are all records for me Rick, but that's about it. Now your makin me blush.

I believe ths stats show that you are the one we are lucky to have on this forum.

I am very thankful that both of you take the time and offer up your reports and advice here. Laker I know from meeting you briefly that day at Taney that you are just as nice in person. Ducky, I have the same inclination with you.

Sorry for the question overload I have just GOT to give this a try

[duckydoty]

I was able to locate Blunk, on one of the 37 TRL maps, but am not seeing Taylor Shoals?

Taylor Shoals is just up stream from Blunk. You can park at Blunk and walk up. It's about a half mile or so. There is another access to it you can park at. Still a half mile or so walk. The last road that splits off to the left on Blunk rd. Take it to the end and follow the trail. Respect the private property there so the owner keeps the access open to us. Would hate to loose that privilage.

Also, are you able to wade/bank fish at either of these locations? I don't have a boat and your picture has got me optimistically hopeful...

You can fish from shore or wade at both these locations. A canoe is great for getting to the other side of Blunk hole and fishing the gravel bar just down stream but not needed.

I bet it was quite a surprise the first time. I bet your poor drag was screaming uncle!

I had heard of others doing this, so it is one thing I was hoping for.

What leader material do you use? 30lb braid???? (only half kidding here...)

12 pound leader. About 4 feet of it after our linking line. I think that I was using a 12 foot sinking leader with the 4 feet of tippet.

What time of year does this usually happen?

Taylor Shoals will be around the last week of March or the 1st week of April. The first big rain we get that causes the James to rise 6 inches or more will get them running.

I am very thankful that both of you take the time and offer up your reports and advice here. Laker I know from meeting you briefly that day at Taney that you are just as nice in person. Ducky, I have the same inclination with you.

Sorry for the question overload I have just GOT to give this a try

[jak1717]

here's the explination. snagging is not sport fishing, I don't agree with it or taking fish by hand, neither are ethical and being as paddlefish are borderline endangered throughout their range because of man's mindless and greedy policies, in which the native reproducing populations are brushed aside in the name of $$$, I think it's of very poor sportsmanship to snag them or any fish. not to mention the irony of stocking a species because man has destroyed it's ability to naturally reproduce... either you are part of it or you aren't.

my opinion.

If snagging is not sporting, is sight fishing for bass on beds sporting? Fishing for crappie when they are shallow and spawning sporting? What kind of fishing do you do?

[Sam]

snagging is not sport fishing, I don't agree with it or taking fish by hand, neither are ethical

I don't go after paddlefish, but I sure disagree with you there.

Paddlefish won't bite on a hook, so if it weren't for snagging no one would get any good out of them. I DO like to grab suckers in the spring, and I don't think there's anything unethical about that. There are plenty of suckers, MDC has established a limit which we observe, and I don't see the problem. Anyway, I've spent thousands of hours of my life waiting for a fish to bite - and with sucker grabbing I don't have to, legally. I kinda like that once in awhile!

Anyway, why do you think only hook-and-line fishing is "ethical"? I think any legal method is ethical, and I'm sure the vast majority of fish caught worldwide are commercially harvested with nets. Is that unethical, too?

You've got me imagining a bunch of Norwegians out on the stormy North Sea, baiting little-bitty hooks for sardines!