100 lb paddlefish in Grand Lake

[Johnsfolly]

2 minutes ago, Devan S. said:

If I cared and had my choice from the bank at the tailwaters is far more fun.

Used to see a fair number of guys below Truman trying to snag a few.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, Johnsfolly said:

Photos or it didn't happen 😉!

I had a couple...... tornado ate them.   Sadly that was before we all carried smart phones with us everywhere we go.   There were several over 100# weighed that weekend at the Oar house.

They seemed to run bigger on average back in the 80's-90's.    The thing that always bugged me about snagging is that after the season there are literal dump truck loads of dead short fish all along the bank. Coon food.   Why not just let people keep them ?    

[Johnsfolly]

31 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I had a couple...... tornado ate them. 

Sorry to hear that.

[nomolites]

Seth has that gig dialed, the lazy man’s way.

Mike

[MrGiggles]

I went last year once for the first time. I had always wanted to but didn't have any of the stuff or knowledge to do it.

I think it's fun but it definitely has it's nuances. If you aren't doing the right technique in the right area you'll just be losing a lot of expensive tackle and wearing yourself out. But I supposed that applies to a lot of species.

I went with a buddy, on that particular night they were suspended pretty high in the water column so we used Livescope. Run them down, drop it right on their back, and hope you connect. 

I thought the meat was okay. Not the worst but nothing to really write home about. I cooked up some steaks with a little lemon pepper season in a frying pan. I thought that was decent. I also sliced some thin and fried it. Some pieces were really good, some had a pretty strong fishy taste. We trimmed all the red meat, took out the spinal chord, etc. I'd like to try it smoked or grilled.

Unless we get a lot of rain this week, the conditions will be a lot better this year. 

[Seth]

18 hours ago, nomolites said:

Seth has that gig dialed, the lazy man’s way.

Mike

It's pretty easy once you figure out the system. I'd rather go chase crappie than paddlefish these days, but everybody else loves to catch them so I still end up taking several trips to keep everybody else happy. I don't care to eat them but always have a list of people begging for the stuff. I'm pretty much a guide that doesn't get paid at this point lol.

Those that really like it seem to prefer it grilled or smoked.

[fishinwrench]

I was at seminar once when a dude from MDC spouted off a figure of what the MDC spends on Spoonbill.....and it set me off like a bottle rocket.    

Why????!!!!  Spoonbill snaggers bring very little to the table, and half of what they produce ends up feeding coons along the bank.   They do nothing to curb the shad population......which is what they tout as being their most beneficial purpose.   

Personally, I could do without the invasive bastards, and I'd love to see that money spent on Smallmouth or something else native.   But whatever 🙄 The MDC operates like my daughter's at a clothing store.  

 

 

[nomolites]

6 hours ago, Seth said:

It's pretty easy once you figure out the system. I'd rather go chase crappie than paddlefish these days, but everybody else loves to catch them so I still end up taking several trips to keep everybody else happy. I don't care to eat them but always have a list of people begging for the stuff. I'm pretty much a guide that doesn't get paid at this point lol.

Those that really like it seem to prefer it grilled or smoked.

I’ve caught many up to 40# below the old Alton lock/dam when I was younger and I certainly have all the tackle except I only have a couple suitable heavy rods…I mainly walleye, striper, and crappie fish.  Have the dipsies, heavy duty driftmasters LH/RH, etc. and I know how to put and keep things at a specific depth.  Like you, I would rather pursue fish that are more palate friendly.  I admire the technique though, and may do it someday just cuz.

Mike

[Johnsfolly]

47 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

I was at seminar once when a dude from MDC spouted off a figure of what the MDC spends on Spoonbill.....and it set me off like a bottle rocket.    

Why????!!!!  Spoonbill snaggers bring very little to the table, and half of what they produce ends up feeding coons along the bank.   They do nothing to curb the shad population......which is what they tout as being their most beneficial purpose.   

Personally, I could do without the invasive bastards, and I'd love to see that money spent on Smallmouth or something else native.   But whatever 🙄 The MDC operates like my daughter's at a clothing store.  

 

 

Not sure that I follow 🤫. Seems like you began talking about spoonbill then switched to hybrid stripers.

[fishinwrench]

12 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Not sure that I follow 🤫. Seems like you began talking about spoonbill then switched to hybrid stripers.

My position is the same for both, so it should be easy to follow. 👍