Paddlefish

[Ron Burgundy]

105lbs

[Dan the fisherman]

Holly smokes! That's really cool. thanks for sharing..... I snagged one for the first time in December. Had it to the boat and came unbuttoned... It wasn't near that size though.

[PigSooner]

And what an awesome backdrop for the picture!

[Ron Burgundy]

And what an awesome backdrop for the picture!

that's what I thought.

[J-Doc]

I am hurting on this one........

See my report below and look at my sonar images. Tell me that fish doesn't look familiar to me. LOL!!

Based on my sonar images, I guessed the fish was about 100lbs and 4-5ft long. I used the "measure" tool on my sonar.

There are more fish of that size in the lake.

[Quillback]

Son!

[Feathers and Fins]

Something the article did not say I believe needs to be said is.

AGFC Regulations.

Snagging

Snagging is defined as fishing with conventional rods and reels where the fish is impaled by the forceful retrieval of one or more hooks.

• Snagging sport fish from a bank may be done only within 100 yards below a dam (prohibited below Upper White Oak Lake dam).
• Snagging from a boat may only be done at the following locations:
  • From 100 yards below all locks and dams on the Arkansas River to the downstream entrance point of the lock structure.
  • From 100 yards below Dam No. 2 (Norrell Lock and Dam) to the boat-launching ramps immediately below the dam.
• Any sport fish snagged must be kept, applied to the daily limit and may not be sold.
• The snagging limit is half the hook-and-line daily limit for the water being fished (or the lesser whole number nearest one-half when the limit is an odd number).
• A full limit of catfish and paddlefish may be taken.
• Snagging must cease whenever a limit of any species is attained.
• Suckers may be snagged between sunrise and sunset, April 1-Feb. 15. The daily limit for snagging suckers is 20, the possession limit is 40.

Beaver Lake Regulations

Area Specific Regulations

• Largemouth and smallmouth bass must be 15 inches or longer to keep.
• Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass combined daily limit is six. Smallmouth bass daily limit is six.
• Crappie shorter than 10 inches must be released immediately to the water.
• Crappie (black and white) combined daily limit is 15.
• Striped and hybrid striped bass combined daily limit is three
• Striped bass must be at least 20 inches long to keep.
• Walleye daily limit for Beaver Lake and its tributaries is four
• Walleye must be at least 18 inches long to keep.
• No limit on white bass for Beaver Lake and its tributaries including Lake Sequoyah.
• Legal to take game fish (except largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass) with spear guns during season.
• Handicapped-accessible fishing piers are available at Hickory Creek and Prairie Creek.
• Game fish may be snagged from the bank below Beaver Dam, from the Corps of Engineers “No fishing beyond this point” sign, downstream to the first Corps of Engineers boat ramp on the left descending bank from April 15-June 15.

The reason he was able to keep it legally is he stated he was fishing for "walleye" and it was an incidental by-catch.

[crkoester]

I would guess that the term "snagging" here refers to fish intentionally foul hooked, and/or fishing with a rig designed for the purpose of snagging. Incidental foul hooking is probably considered differently.

[Feathers and Fins]

I would guess that the term "snagging" here refers to fish intentionally foul hooked, and/or fishing with a rig designed for the purpose of snagging. Incidental foul hooking is probably considered differently.

Yes sir and why it was not an illegal catch.

[Tanderson15]

It was in the paper today.