Freshwater · Spring best; March to May on upstream spawning runs, only in short regulated seasons where legal

American Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

A huge, ancient plankton filter-feeder with an unmistakable paddle-shaped snout. It does not take baits or lures, so the only honest fishery is tightly regulated snagging where a state allows it. Once also native to Lake Erie and Ontario waters, where it is gone; a memorial note sits with the Canadian guide.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

American Paddlefish — Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Paddle-shaped snout (rostrum) about one-third of the body length
Smooth, almost scaleless grey skin like a shark or sturgeon
Very large mouth with dense gill rakers for filtering plankton
Deeply forked tail with a long upper lobe
Small eyes at the front of the head, near the base of the paddle

Habits

Swims with its mouth open to filter zooplankton from the water
Migrates far upstream in spring to spawn over gravel in flowing water
Gathers below dams and in tailwaters during spring runs
Long-lived and slow to mature — females may not spawn until about 7-10 years old
The roe fishery is tightly managed; several states use lottery or tag seasons

Distribution

Des Moines, IA · Iowa & Missouri★ Primary

Chattanooga, TN · Tennessee & Kentucky★ Primary

Bismarck, ND · North & South DakotaCommon

Wichita, KS · Nebraska · Kansas · OklahomaCommon

Chicago, IL · Illinois · Indiana · OhioCommon

Jackson, MS · Arkansas · Alabama · MississippiCommon

Where to find them

Tailwaters below dams on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in spring
Deep river bends and channel edges during spring runs
Large reservoirs in Iowa-Missouri and Tennessee-Kentucky waters, in season only

Where they live

Deep channels of large rivers such as the Mississippi and MissouriTailwaters below dams where fish gather on spring runsLarge reservoirs and slow river bends with rich plankton

How to catch them

Regulated snagging in tailwaters River

Rig: Heavy snagging rod, strong line and a large weighted treble hook cast and swept through tailwaters and river bends during the spring run

Bait/lure: None — the fish does not feed on baits

Key tip: Only where legal and in season: use steady sweeps and follow size, tag and quota rules exactly.

Rules-first tag and lottery seasons Boat

Rig: The same heavy snagging tackle fished from a boat, with the required tag or lottery permit carried on the water

Bait/lure: None — migrating fish are snagged, not fed

Key tip: Check state rules first every year — seasons are short, some waters stay closed, and snagging and bowfishing rules differ by state.

Best baits & lures

No bait — this fish does not bite hooksNo lure — it feeds only on filtered planktonSnagging tackle only, and only where expressly legal

Techniques for American Paddlefish →

Baseline setup

Rod: Heavy 7-8 ft snagging rod
Line: 50-80 lb braid or heavy mono
Terminal: Large weighted treble hooks and heavy sinkers, barbless where required