Hi my name is Rusty Pritchard and I guide up in Grand Lake in NE Oklahoma. Right now we are killing the big paddlefish or some people call them spoonbill. I've been guiding for them for 16 years and I came up with a new technique for fishing for them in the deep water with heavy weight trolling. Last year I put 965 of them in the boat from dec-'may! An average male will weight 30-35 pounds and females will average 45-50 pounds. We have caught a ton over 60 pounds and one weighing in at 81 lbs already this month! If your looking to catch some huge fish check out my site www.rustypritchardoutdoors.com or give me a call at 918-964-0174. I've done a lot of tv shows with the G3 Sportsman and Skull Bound on the the Sportsman Channel. Ill be in Mesquite, TX Jan 11-13 for the Texas Tackle and Hunting Show. Here are just a few pics of some recent fish.

Hey Rusty, I thought spoonbill/shovelbills were a protected or endangered species in Texas? Is it legal to transport the meat to Texas?

Hi Rusty, How do you hook those fish? My Dad used to fish for them in the Ohio River in KY back in the 60's. He said the only to catch them was to foul hook (snag) them?

Can you get them to take a bait/lure?

I used to snag them fishing on the Red River behind Texoma Damn, this was many years ago.

Yes they are illegal to posses in Texas, I don't really know the answer about bringing them into Texas.

I would get the answer if you plan on bringing them back here

I always heard they were vegeterian

Welcome to the TFF, Rusty!
Those 40-80# paddlefish are pretty old, do y'all
practice C/P/R up there?

Many years ago we used to snag them below the dam on Caddo lake.

They were legal(at that time)to take in La.

The meat when fried was good but had a distinct flavor.

They tasted like you had sprinkled sugar in the corn meal when preparing them.

Very Unique Fish.

Just got off the phone with Texas Parks and Wildlife and they said it was leagal to bring the meat back to Texas as long as you have it tagged. Here in Oklahoma they have a paddlefish permit that you get at any place that sells Oklahoma Lic. The permit is free and they said as long as you had your permit you were fine. The meat is a very good meat! They are excellent on the grill or in a smoker! They are a filter feeder and only eat zoo plankton. We snag these fish with the help of top of the line locators. Im pulling my fish out right now in 60' of water. They are one of the oldest fish known. They are all cartilage like a shark. Not a bone in them. Their meat it a firm steaky meat not flaky like a catfish or crappie.

Very cool!

This is one of my bucket list of things to do.

Well lets go fish killer! Grand Lake has the largest population of spoonbill in the US. The state even has a 1.2 million dollar paddlefish reaserch center here. They have their own division that only deals with tagging and researching them! Awesome stuff. Where else can you average 30 pounds per fish every fish in freshwater?

Lite-Liner- These fish are slow growers. I try to get my clients to release the big feamles and keep a good solid male.

Here are some paddlefish that are hanging around some standing timber that I got on my lowrance hds unit.


past clients


Jana Waller and Jim KInsey of Skull Bound tv show on the Sportsman Channel.

What does something like that run for a day?

I charge $250 for two guys and $125 per person up to 5 guys.

Your Graph photos of those fish are awesome, best of luck, seems like you have a good business going there.

This is something I am seriously considering. What does the weather need to be like for the best chance? I hate driving to that part of OK this time of year with the weather.

Fish killer- weather doesn't affect these fish. As far as weather we 63 degrees last Sunday and its mid 30's today and another warm next week. I love winter time cause not many boats to fight. Seems this winter we've caught more over that 60 pound mark than any other winter I can remember!

Thanks Rusty for the information I will have to plan a trip and bring my boys.

The song with the last screenshot is awesome!!! Great White - "Once Bitten twice shy" with big ol spoonbill on the screen.

Scott Turnage of G3 Sportsman



More clients

Elite- let's do it! Great for the kids because they are such big and unique fish!

I have fished for the spoonbills for years while living in Kansas. So when i moved to Tx. I contacted the Fish and Parks about bringing the eggs to Tx. to use as catfish bait. They said the Spoonbills were and endangered species and no part of a spoonbill was allowed to be taken from Okla. or any state to be taken into Texas. Now that was 5 yrs. ago so do not know what there feelings are about them now. I do know that Texas has stocked over a million spoonbill in several lakes.

I called the parks and wildlife main office there in Texas a few days ago and they said as long it was tagged with Oklahoma tag you were good to go. Now it is illegal to take paddlefish eggs out of Oklahoma due to the black market on the eggs for caviar.

Looks like fun, I'm going to have to book a trip

It's a blast! Saw some super big ones on the graph today when I was getting bait for cats today!

I had a last minute cancellation for next Wednesday. I'd cut someone a heck of a deal that's a member of this forum for that date!

Rusty, I'll be in touch to coordinate a possible date. I fished for Shovelbills years ago on the Red River below Denison Dam, absolutely loved it.

heres a link to a little video we made for you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAc60Sub1bM

I dont know how you call that fishing?

Since that fishery can obviously sustain regulated harvest, I'm all for the legal taking of table fare

Let us not forget that notions like "recreation" and "sport" are manufactured additives to the long heritage of taking of fish and game.

I was fishing a crappie tournament several years ago on Ft Gibson lake. You could constantly see the paddlefish breeching like whales do. It would scare you when one of 30 lb fish would break water next to the boat and shower you with water.

Wow those are monsters, heard they are really good eating. Congrats.

Some nice fish, would be fun to pull on one.

Where do they normally get snagged? I know fish can really fight when they can keep their mouth closed and we can not turn their head.

I have been guiding for them for 16 years now and I've hooked them everywhere from the tip of the tail to the tip of the bill! The tail snag is the best fight you'll ever have!

i'm bookmarking your site... this is something i'd love to have hanging on the wall......that would be a cool replica~...what your trophy size.. i mean to me.. anything like 20+ would be a trophy!


i'm assuming you don't have to keep them.. i live in Austin, but visit Windham Texas often... i don't think its that far....

great post OP!... awesome photo's...

Chris...

Hi there Chris, I was in mesquite last weekend at a show and I actually ran into a guy that did replicates there on Dallas. You don't have to keep them if you wish. I catch them from December to about mid may.

We average 25-30 pounds on the males and 35-45 on the females!

I guess they are pleniful in Oklahoma?