I'm looking to try fishing for paddle fish this coming season. Never have been. Should I fish from a boat or the shore. Any info would be appreciated. Also is there a guide service that targets paddle fish.
Paddle fish
- Thread starter yesmarwh
- Start date
vanleerbuckbuster
Well-Known Member
I'm not that experienced with them. I think there is a certain season that you are allowed to keep them and you have to snag them as far as I know unless you get lucky and accidentally hook one in the mouth. Have a buddy that targets them every year and he claims they are fantastic to eat. Apparently no bones and you just steak them out
Setterman
Well-Known Member
I'm getting ready to get offensive so be prepared lol. There is no single group of fisherman trashier than the ingrates standing on the bank trying to snag paddlefish. It's an atrocity what happens every spring and until you've seen it you won't understand how awful that scene is. Good luck with it though
yeah if you ever saw Ruger's pic of his buddy in the er with a great big ass treble stuck in his eye, youd probably rethink snagging.
anyhoo have caught them on trotlines incidentally and they taste ok. have a long grissel that needs cutting out but they taste like a drier, courser white cat.
anyhoo have caught them on trotlines incidentally and they taste ok. have a long grissel that needs cutting out but they taste like a drier, courser white cat.
turk870
Well-Known Member
Bear Grease had a few podcasts about the black market caviar associated with them. Was very interesting.
Brought back a memory when I was a little kid in the late 70s or early 80s, my dad took me fishing with him next to boat ramp and in the middle of the night a boat pulled up filled with them (I thought they were swordfish) when I listened to that podcast I realized they were poachers
Brought back a memory when I was a little kid in the late 70s or early 80s, my dad took me fishing with him next to boat ramp and in the middle of the night a boat pulled up filled with them (I thought they were swordfish) when I listened to that podcast I realized they were poachers
killingtime 41
Well-Known Member
Record paddle fish came out of Cherokee lake 149 pounds. Not sure what year. I just remember hearing about it.
Forvols
Well-Known Member
Some marinas on Cherokee have pictures up of big paddle fish people have caught. Ive never fished for them.
My son and I were checking out duck blinds one year on Old Hickory during the summer. As I motored along at pretty good speed, a 3' paddlefish jumped out of the water and hit my son in the ribs knocking him to the floor of the boat. The fish flopped around and eventually flopped back in the water. The next day, my son's ribs were black and blue.
I use to accidentally catch several of them on the duck river while crappie fishing probably 15 or so years ago. I've only caught one lately and it was very very small last year
Biggun4214
Well-Known Member
It's been within the last 3-4 years.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
They're there right now, along with half of El Salvador and the remainder from the darkest hollers in East tn. It's an abhorrent scene that I can't believe is allowed.
between them and live scoping, they are going to rid these lakes of them, sadly
Setterman
Well-Known Member
I agree. It's infuriating the lack of give a shlt by TWRA on this species
Wooden Arrow
Well-Known Member
i've been of that frame of mind after i found several thrown into the Nolichucky to rot (after their roe had been harvested for sale). no better than folks hunting bear for their paws and gall bladders to sell. money (or the hope of) brings out the very worst in human beings.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
The worst. Go take a walk down the rocks below fort loudoun dam right now. It's truly indescribable the volume of trash, fish carcasses and class of people there. I'm from the mountains and I've never encountered people like this anywhere around here except during paddlefish seasoni've been of that frame of mind after i found several thrown into the Nolichucky to rot (after their roe had been harvested for sale). no better than folks hunting bear for their paws and gall bladders to sell. money (or the hope of) brings out the very worst in human beings.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Not judging by the species at all, judging by the actions of those that pursue the species and the disregard they have for said species, the places they fish, and the overall level of literal trash they leave behind. It's a disgusting display every spring. I don't give a rats arse where they're from. The total disregard this group has for seemingly every thing is pathetic. That's the issue. I challenge you or anyone else to defend what is happening on a daily basis. My guess is you can't
Just find it disrespectful that a member post about wonting to try something different and has his post trashed a couple post in. What you think about wma hunters? They fall in the same group because you have some that trash the place up. Ribbons left after they hunt.
I have to agree with you about the trash being left behind. But it's not just the snagger's, it all walks of life. I occasionally go down the the Chickamauga Dam to fish from the bank. And it is piled deep with water and coke bottles, worm containers and other trash. It's awful. Makes me think of that old commercial with the Indian paddling a canoe with a tear running down his cheek.
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