MO state record paddlefish caught in Table Rock

[Bird Watcher]

I really wish the MDC would put tougher restrictions on the paddlefish, but not like OK. The question I have is why do guides get to make money off fish my tax dollars paid for? Do I get to walk in to public land and cut firewood? I watched these guides this last weekend hauling around six clients and dragging around limits of spoonbill, just makes me sick!

How do you feel about lakes full of hatchery reared, stocked invasive species and resorts and guides that cater to customers that come to catch them? Think about your answer before replying.

[WettinLine]

I've used a Taney fly guide, and his suggestion was to release all the trout.

[WettinLine]

How do you feel about lakes full of hatchery reared, stocked invasive species and resorts and guides that cater to customers that come to catch them? Think about your answer before replying.[/quote

I think if you have a tax sponsored stocking program and your assisted by a guide in the capture of this species on public water it should be catch and release only!

[Bird Watcher]

You should run for Office! A vote for Wettinline is a vote for C&R by guides! Lets take back our fisheries! Something must be done about the unregulated use of guides by anglers to harvest their legal daily limit!

[WettinLine]

You should run for Office! A vote for Wettinline is a vote for C&R by guides! Lets take back our fisheries! Something must be done about the unregulated use of guides by anglers to harvest their legal daily limit!

I like the way you think! You know summers around the corner when you have The Wrench, Birdeffer, and Wetline discussing pressing fish topics! It like I can smell the SPF 40 now

[fishinwrench]

I don't bitch about that many things, I just never shut up about the few things I do bitch about.

[Flysmallie]

I don't bitch about that many things, I just never shut up about the few things I do bitch about.

I'll vouch for you on that!!

[WettinLine]

Well congrat to the state record holder! No guide, a few buddies, and a dream fish, that's what fishing is all about!

[luckycraft]

Both Paddlefish and Suckers can only be harvested by snagging. It is for the Suckers population control as much as just as fun as catching a 5 pound Rainbow. If they did not somewhat control the population on Taney and its tributaries we would be just loaded with them and we really are to the extent that right now, the restricted zone has huge schools of 50 plus fish just swimming in pods.

Paddle fish are somewhat of a novelty and are snagged all over the United States even in the so called pristine western states such as Montana.

When I was a kid our guides out of the resort guided the Browns Bend area of Lake of the Ozarks for them. It was the first guide trip I ever took. To this day I hate the darn things. It is hot hard work jerking a set of triple hooks up and down the lake and getting hung up every 5 minutes.

Sometimes they pull when hooked, most often regardless of size they pretty much come in wiggling a bit like a log rolling in circles.

As far as table fare, the Sucker is prepared correctly is just flat the best fish sandwich you will ever eat. The paddle fish can be OK at best. Some call them fresh water halibut, but a better name would be fresh water mackerel, as they are extremely oily.

They are hard to clean and you pretty much waste about 2/3 of the fish with guts and red meat.

Still to each his own and I'm very glad we have these two alternative fish for people to enjoy.

Good Luck

This is true....its a million dollar market in Montana for Caviar. They will clean your paddle fish for free on the Yellowstone River if you relinquish the eggs. Looks quite a lot like Bennet Springs on opening day of trout season. Picket fence up the whole river all trying to hook in to the big one. Not my cup of tea, but I don't frown upon it