PADDLEFISH ARE HERE !!!

[bwana]

I live in Osceola, and paddlefish season opened today. I wasn't too excited...not really any current to speak of, water temperature is still too low. Sooo, I was fiddle fartin' around today, taking care of some "honey-do's". Seeing all the parade of boats running around, I just had to go check things out this afternoon. Many, many boats..counted at least 73 boats from the overlook where the Sac and Osage rivers meet. And quite a few had paddlefish tied on. I was impressed at the number of boats that had more than one tied on.
Drove over to one of the ramps, and I knew it was on when I saw all the gulls...they love all the paddlefish scraps. Opened the door to the truck and I could literally smell the paddlefish. A lot of snaggers, but a lot of paddlefish also.
Talked to one couple (had three fish), said the surface temp. was 48 degrees, and the fish were on the bottom. (I knew they wouldn't be suspended, with all the boat traffic).
All the fish I saw looked like small males, averaging about 40- 50 lbs. Did not see any sows, so the best is yet to come.
Last year was a bust with the heavy flooding, so I'm getting my boat out on the water tomorrow morning.
Just thought that some of you would want to know. If you need any more details, give me a shout

Bwana

[mocatmancb]

thats great! thanks for sharing that info, Bwana. a buddy of mine down here, goes up there every year and snags a couple of big uns. i have a standing invitation to go with him. i might just take him up on it this year. with the low harvest last year, i assume this should be a year with good numbers of paddlefish.

[foxpro14]

i aint been snaggin in about 7 years! i think that i forgot what they taste like. also no boat anymore so i am SOL!
josh