I am not the only one in the family that fishes, everyone does! I am just the youngest that fishes. Here are some pics of my uncle up in Nebraska catching some Paddles. He is a great fisherman too and usually fly fishes but he took some time out from fly fishing to catch some big boys..
http://us.f3.yahoofs.com/users/419dfca1z218f91a8/mail/__tn_/485f.jpg?ph2Tq1CBGep81LFh
http://us.f3.yahoofs.com/users/419dfca1z218f91a8/mail/__tn_/6650.jpg?ph2Tq1CBgU06S8p5
http://us.f3.yahoofs.com/users/419dfca1z218f91a8/mail/__tn_/4678.jpg?ph2Tq1CBCtQ7mdLP
http://us.f3.yahoofs.com/users/419dfca1z218f91a8/mail/__tn_/c0a8.jpg?ph2Tq1CB4y2GvuRn
This is the smaller of the two he caught while fishing for the day and it weighed in at 100lbs. He is crazy and I am sure he had a blast..

Here you go

Y are the pics so dang small? U still did a better job than i was able to do. C ya and have a great weekend.

That's one weird looking fish.

what the??

They are paddlefish and my uncle likes to catch them. They put up a good fight and get huge. Very different from his everyday trout fishing.lol. He says he can bust them in, in about 10 minutes. Wish we had them around here.

Paddlefish are awesome. I'd love to catch one sometime, just for the fight, the size, and to add it to my list. Can't do it here of course they're endangered in Texas. Are they pretty common up in Nebraska Pie? Awesome pics, thanks for sharing.

It's funny how they are endangered in Texas but not in Oklahoma.Capt.Steve Barnes targets them in wintertime.
www.txfishingguide.com
go to the photo section on his website and then the trophy catfish section,there are several paddles and some huge cats!

I saw a guy catch 3 on the Red River last month. If you get an Oklahoma fishing license, I think you are legal. Be sure and check first - that is what the guy catching them told me, and he was from Texas.

i used to have a small one that i had "trained." i miss that little dude. world record is close to 200 lbs.


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Yes you can catch them in the red river. Growing up we use to go up there and do a duck hunt with some guide then go catfish and paddle fishing. Pretty sweet fish. They are a prize to catch and put up a much better fight then a catfish.

They taste good as I remember.

Found a website that details the basics of this fish.
http://www.thejump.net/fishlist/spoonbill.htm

Seems like it has been around since before the dinosaurs.

J.P. Greeson,
Paddel fish are not legal to have in your possesion in the State of Texas, if you have an Oklahoma License you may only take one Paddelfish a day period and you must have a tag for the paddelfish it is a lot like a red fish tag here in Texas. I have talk in depth with the Game Wardens up here from both Texas and OKlahoma if you catch in Oklahoma and notify the Local Game Warden and have a tag filled out correctly and there are specific rules for Paddelfish for example like barbless hooks or all barbs must be removed and if you have a paddelfish in possesion and are still fishing you are in trouble the rule is if you keep a paddelfish it does not matter what you are fishing for after that you must stop fishing for the day period it is written in plain english on the Oklahoma Parks and wildlife page. I wish yopu have called Jeff Magee(Game Warden)903-271-0215 and told him that some keep three paddelfish. Ther are a lot of misconceptions about the rules on having a paddelfish. Call the Game warden i mentioned and he can give you all of the rules. Jeff said if you have a legally filled out game tag and legally licensed and have notified the local game wardens he would let you have it in possesion. Please call the Jeff and tell him were you saw this guy and what he looks like and what he was driven and anything else poachers need to turned in.

Tim,

I think JP said the guy caught 3 not kept 3...slight difference I think....difference between being an angler and a poacher.

Thanks for the info on the Game Warden though.

If was below the dam near either the Texas wall or Oklahoma wall he was still in violation. You have to be at least 1000' down stream to snag period maybe more and on the Texas side it is illegal period. I was not sure if he kept them or not but just to be safe is why I said what I did. I hate poachers. I live in Sherman right here close to the Denison Dam and I see a lot of things that are not right. I also have the Game warden number in my cell phone. If he accidently snags them that is one thing because it is easy at times to snag fish there with a snigle hook much less a treble. They just stack in thick. If you even keep them out of the water for say a picture or weigh the Paddel fish they can and will ticket you. I am trying to save a you guys some money on a fine I saw a guy earlier this year get a 3000 dollar fine for just having paddelfish fillets at the gas station with them in his ice chest it is minimum of $1500 I think a fish. Just be careful fishing the Red River.