For angler Justin Hamlin, it’s the tale of the big fish that got away.

Fishing in Oklahoma’s Keystone Lake in the northeastern part of the state Friday, Hamlin caught a huge, 157-lb. paddlefish that might have shattered a world record if not for a state regulation, officials told the Tulsa World.

Story

what a quirky law. I didn't even know there were paddle fish in that lake.

Caught a couple in the 30lb range yrs ago in OK, so they are abundant in many Oklahoma Reservoirs IMO

I had an acquaintance I occasionally hung out with that liked to drink Keystone.

Rj already posted this up ! Dang bob ... stealing the thunder .
That law is pretty silly .

I didn't see it. Thread?

I don’t know how to do the link to the thread trick . Excuse that

Weird law for sure, but it’s sucklahoma so not surprised at anything coming out of that place.

watched some guys snagging them "spoonbills" on lake Oolagah many years ago, i dont think they bite any bait very well

Snagged one by accident fishing below a lock/dam on the Ohio river in Kentucky. Awesome fight and odd looking up close. Released back in to the water to fight another day.

Filter feeders so to hook, not snag, them you got to use micro-mini hooks and thread on a few dozen freshwater plankton. Weird law ("stupid" the intimation?)? Hail no! If they weren't protected they'd be fished out of existence. Prehistoric era fish, found in fewer and fewer Mississippi watershed waters. If I remember correctly the species predates dinosaurs. Surprised to hear they're in Keystone.
For the bleeding hearts out there, the snagging doesn't appear to do them any harm. Lots of them have little snag scars.

I don’t think it’s stupid because they’re protected. I think it’s stupid you can only weigh a potential record on certain days of the week. There are plenty of fish and game laws that work to protect certain species. I don’t think this is one of them.