14-03-2025
The thrill of Paddlefishing in the Ozarks
SPRINGFIELD — One of the most unique fish you'll find in Ozarks waterways sees its season open this weekend in Missouri.
From March 15th to April 30th, anglers in Show-Me state can catch Paddlefish, also known as American Spoonbill.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says it is a special species of fish that can be traced back to prehistoric times.
'It dates back to a period when a lot of the fish hadn't developed a bone structure yet,' says Francis Skalicky with MDC. 'Paddlefish have survived in its prehistoric state to its current day.'
Saturday, anglers across the state will have the chance to reel one in. Last year's season was a record-setter.
'Last year, state record and world record fish, same fish. It was a 164-pound fish caught at Lake of the Ozarks. So you may get lucky and reel in a very big fish,' Skalicky says.
Josh Himmelberg is just one of the many who plan on hitting the water this weekend. He says this time of year takes priority because of the thrill of this style of fishing.
'It's the fight. Besides the big catfish, that's going to be one of your biggest fish that you can catch around here and have such a big fight,' Himmelberg says. 'It lasts for anywhere from 5 minutes, depending on the size, up to 20 minutes. It's fun. It's an adrenaline rush.'
Paddlefish are filter feeders, and Skalicky explains one of the most common ways to bring them in: snagging.
'This isn't just done with any rod, it's with a snagging rod,' says Skalicky.
'You drop that hook, and pull up repeatedly. What you're hoping to do is you will snag that paddlefish, catch it with that hook and pull it up. It's a lot of work, but the benefit is a very special fish, very large fish, very good tasting fish.'
Paddlefish can be found in Truman, Lake of the Ozarks, and Table Rock, and in some rivers in Missouri. Be sure to purchase a fishing license, as you could face a fine if you are fishing without one.
They can be purchased at a Missouri Conservation Department office, Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, or online.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
