Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species Paddlefish $20 an inch.

Here you go: long snouts
A bargain at twice the price.

I don't know if those are even legal to stock privately here in Nebraska. I know that you couldn't legally harvest them out of a private body of water after they were stocked. It sure would be cool to have some swimming around in the pit though.

There was a plan to plant them in private lakes in my state and Kentucky and then come back with gill nets with really large mesh to net them out for harvest mainly for caviar. Something didn't pan out as the supplier a former professor went bankrupt from what I hear.

He did hatch and rear the fingerlings in a system he designed.

Did I hear Jones in OH was selling paddlefish this year? I wonder what their affect would be on the food chain with their filtering habits?

Johnes was/is selling them, although there are a few restrictions. I don't see them listed on their website now.

I sent the an email this spring. They said $30 per 8" fish delivered in fall only. I am planning on adding some to my pond this fall. First, I will add fish screen on my outlet.

Jones fish, newtown ohio, PF, $30.00 15"

Three years ago this november.I purchased fifty some paddlefish from a hatchery in Frankfort,ky,(i'm in northern ky) for a lot less than your quotes. I need to find my files with names & phone number,if any of you are interested.He brought them up to no.ky and I believe one customer was hauling them to Canton,ohio. Dayton ohio is only a little over an hour and a half away.So,a short trip for dave if he has a way to haul them home.

Bernie, how are the paddlefish doing in your pond?

Bernie, your fish probably came from here. http://bigfishfarms.com/iWeb/www.bigfishfarms.com/Welcome.html They are in Kentucky, and they are who supplies Jones hatchery. I am actually placing an order with them soon. I plan to pick them up myself, put a couple in my pond, and ship out the rest to cover my cost.

Sorry,I have not responded sooner.The paddlefish are a mystery. Never seen in my pond.I assumed that I would need to fertilize more often as they are filter feeders but that has not been the case. .I,m going to try to have it shocked in hopes of bringing a few up to the surface to assess their growth/condition. I,ve heard I may have to sign a release in case any die.I,m willing to lose some. Besides.I can always cook them.I.ll get that supplier,s name as soon as I can.

Hi Bernie, I supplied those fish if I'm not mistaken. It is interesting that you have never seen them. They should be twenty plus pounds by now. Regards, Tim Parrott

"I can always cook them."

I've heard they don't cook up so good, but I have no first hand knowledge of that.

I was discussing this just the other day with a friend who goes snagging for paddlefish at one of our local lakes. He says that smoking the meat is the only way he's found to prepare it so that it tastes good.

You can also make caviar out of their roe. A google search will bring up some how-tos for this. I've never tried it.

I have eaten them and they tasted bad to me.

Is not this super interesting? I wonder how hard paddlefish are to raise in a production pond???

Tim Parrott,You're right on the money! Fish were in great shape after your delivery. I recommend to PB readers to deal with you. Does it seem unusual not seeing them? Of course,I keep my visibilty between 18-24 inches. Any negatives to having the pond electro-shocked other than the loss of a fish or two? Good hearing from you again.

In my honest opinion, they are the best tasting fresh water fish there is followed closely by walleye.

I think the key is to clean them as soon as you can from harvest time. They do not seem to keep well like BG, Cats, or Crappie.

Very similar to sturgeon. I think they are a waste fresh cleaned or not unless you smoke them. But considering I can get sturgeon for right around 50 cents an inch or less, I'll stick with them.

I think the new knock off caviar is going to put a major hurt on that business. But can't replicate that smoked sturgeon. Some of the best fish I have ever tasted.

I think you either like them or not, as my father says they are trash and my Grandma thinks they are the best thing on earth.

I have yet to try them myself so no much I can say either way besides what I have been told by others.

As far as smoked fish, I plan to do a Buffalo or Drum the next time I catch a nice one just to try it out.

It's also a great cultural divide. Americans or Westerners generally like mild tasting or smoked fish. Asians want that super fishy oily taste. Even raw. I had a Chinese neighbor who used to salt and dry Stipred Bass under cheesecloth. Smelled god awful, like rotting fish. Cheesecloth was covered with flies. And he ate that up yum. I'll go smoked trout, salmon, shad and sturgeon all day long. But keep them stinkin anchovies off my pizza. Paddlefish and Sturgeon are very bland. Probably in the Asian market the blandest tasting fish for sale.

The 'chovies on pizza are good. The trick is to rinse them off before cooking them.

Shad, I have never eaten a shad, are they good?

American or white shad are very good smoked and if you know how to fillet them just right, are excellent fresh. If filleted wrong, they are very bony. Hickory shad a close relative are also good. The female shad in the spring full of eggs are great, because you can cook up the eggs sacks and eat them as well. Very good!

Gizzard shad, never tried them... I have seen some Salvadorians and Asians keeping them to eat, but I would pass personally.