So let me get this straight. You guys are a snag and release guiding operation?

About half of our spoonbill paddlefish trips the angler chooses to release. Monday and Friday are mandatory catch and release in Oklahoma.

Up here (Canada) snagging is illegal, and snaggers are frowned upon, not considered sportsmanlike at all. I believe Texas and many other states have the same rule. It's in effect to protect the fish, as fish appear to take more damage when foul hooked. Just wondering if it's possible to catch them using bait.

No its near impossible to my knowledge.

They are filter feeders, the most common and effective way to catch paddlefish is snagging. Been done for years and the fishery is highly regulated.

Never done it, but I'm not going to frown upon it either and I don't think I'm alone.

So let me get this straight....

No each state has their own rules, no matter how absurd some may seem to others. We are only allowed 1 rod per person up here, most sport fish have a closed season during the pre-spawn, and live bait is banned throughout the province. Obviously, our biologists have more say than our angler lobby (no say at all here). As long as the guide is playing by state rules, good for him, even if others (such as myself) may find it un sportsman like.

That being said, there are ways to catch filter feeders using particle baits, I've seen footage of some people in Asia doing it for Asian carp. Wondering if it would work on paddlefish as well.

Paddlefish are doing just fine in Oklahoma and have been caught by snagging for ages.

Doesn't make it any more sportsmanlike in my book. Kind of like people that snag salmon or carp during the spawn, when they are all at the surface or in a foot or 2 of water.

Apparently, many people down there feel otherwise, judging by the happy customers in those pics.

Dragging a giant net around in the ocean catching Atlantic Cod is probably not terribly sportsmanlike either, but its also not illegal or wrong to do! I have no desire to do it my self, but would never look or speak down on those who make a living doing it. ( I like me some Long Johns Silvers fish once and a while too).

BTW I have my first spoonbill trip booked with Lance next weekend. Look forward to seeing you Lance.

Quite a difference from netting fish for consumption, to snag and release fishing. To each their own as they say. Wish we had some of those paddlefish and big cats up here.

Spoonbill, the other boneless fish:)
Anybody besides me ever ate one?
A family friend of ours when I was a kid used to catch them out of Red River and bring us one ever so often. He was a commercial fisherman and caught them in nets. We always called them shovel bill cats.

Paddlefish are highly regulated in Oklahoma. They are filter feeders and eat micro-organisms. They follow the same patterns and lives as shad a good portion of the year. It's amazing to me that something can reach the sizes they do from eating something we cannot see with our eyes.
Our population is very good hear and our customers come from all over the continent to battle with them. We follow all rules and regulations and take very special care with handling these fish.
Many people have different opinions of what is sporting. You are entitled to your opinions. We won't get in that debate. Lot of different fishing methods are legal in different states.
I can tell you that our customers have a blast and many make it an annual event with friends and family.

Tight lines and screaming drags to all!

Big shout out to Lance's guide service as well as Willis guide service, these guys teamed up to show us a heck of a time catching these very special fish, between the 2 boats we landed 35 of these beast with the big fish of the day being 59#'s.
For a heck of a fishing adventure give these guys a call....

Bad to the bone Paul!!! Memories right there and thats a dang good pic pardner!