Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Paddlefish

I was scuba diving in a quarry in Illinois and the owner said "see if you can see any of our paddlefish". I thought that would be a great unique fish for the pond. So, my question is. How large of a pond do they need to survive? I am sure they wouldnt breed, but would like to have a few. Does any else have any? Thanks

They are plankton feeders, so they need ponds that aren't crystal clear but have healthy plankton communities. I'd say, you'd probably would want at least an acre but probably 3+ would be better.

Hey Thedford. Several years ago, my dads supplier of CC fingerlings threw a 25 in one of my ponds. They raise them for the Missouri dept. of conservation. They "donated" them for kicks. I have never seen them since, and suspect they have died due to the high turbidity and lack of phytoplankton due to the turbidity. The fish guys must have thought it would have been worthwhile at the time. (The pond has been abandoned)I can direct you to the supplier if interested. They are located below Bagnell Dam. I'm sure they can tell you all you want to know.

I have read a few posts about Paddle fish on here. Try a search?

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post252731


http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post237107

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=234279&page=1

I hope to make it to glen dive MT to paddle fish this year. I try ever year but work always picks up right then.

good luck!!

How do you paddle fish Fishm_n? Doesn't it have to be a big cooperative fish?

trebble hooks in front of a big weight. The season is open during there spawn, go figure! but that is when they are easiest to catch. They swim up stream and GlenDive has a big converson dam, that the fish cant get over so they stock pile there to do their thing. THe deeper and muddier the water, the more fish pile up, so I guess it really depends on the snow pack.

And yes, I think they do have to be fairly cooperative!! but the 120 lb line and salt rods help!! Lots of people break off and lots of people snagg on the bottom. bUT I know a few people that limit out on the first cast, and others that go days without a snag. The game and fish have skinning stations set up there to fillet for you and it is free of charge, as long as they get the eggs!! Not for restocking fish either.!

I think he was ribbing on ya... But I could be wrong. I am sure snagging a 40 pound paddlefish must be one heck of a battle.

I try not to drink and post but some times it gets the best of me,

Cooperative looked alot like comercial at first glance..!! hehe. By the time I had it figured out i was already elbows deep in tyoping.

and as not wanting to let my hard work go to waste...


I will stop here this time. hehe

Feel free to join me in MT if you guys want! this will be the year!

I stocked 7 paddlefish in my pond the fall before last and had my first fish kill that winter due to extended ice. I never saw a dead paddlefish but lots of dead BG, LMB & CC. I know that small BG and LMB survived, but I have little hope that the paddlefish made it through. A big waste of money on my part.

Maybe you should just wait and see. Paddlefish love cold water and are tolerant of low disolved oxygen at low temperatures ( my opinion). I moved some paddlefish two years ago from an above ground tank that was nearly frozen solid to a pond that later froze over and they survived.

Not much else to do but wait. I would think that all fish need less oxigen when cold, but paddlefish are river dwellers where O2 is higher. I still hope they survived, but doubt it.

I found the below link very informative for anyone intereted about paddlefish
http://www.uaex.edu/pperschbacher/Fish/Paddlefish2.htm
I also found this link for aquaculture in general. It is for Missouri, but I thought others might like it.
http://moaquaculture.org/pubs/sspubs.htm

I have seen a number of posts here about the very high prices charged for paddlefish stockers... and/or that paddlefish juveniles are not available in many areas. I'm new to this Forum, but I am aware of aquaculturists who have paddlefish to sell most years and at quite reasonable pricing. There is currently a reputable producer near Lexington KY who sells surplus quantities of 9" to 12" paddlefish juveniles for $10 each. He historically produces the vast majority of these fish for research, but as grant funding has evaporated, attempts to cover expenses and overhead by selling some fish every year. Would be happy to forward the contact information. My operation is in St Louis County, so my remarks here are not to be misconstrued as advertising.

"A big waste of money on my part" Ain't that what's a pond for?

Buying the fish was not the waste; losing them was.