Doug Leier: The paddlefish is one of North Dakota’s most unique fish species

WEST FARGO – For many, the other side of the window in May is a path to the first tulips and annual flowers emerging, spotting the first baby goose or even swatting a mosquito. Gardens are planned and planted, and golf clubs, baseballs and softballs are as common as minnows, jigs and spinners. We look forward to a walk after supper or spending a little more time outdoors than indoors. In North Dakota, spring has something to offer for anyone outdoors from the first open water cast to the end of spring turkey and snow goose hunts across the state.

If there’s a spotlight on one species or season in North Dakota in May, it’s in extreme northwestern North Dakota, as paddlefish rightfully hog the spotlight for a few weeks each year. When I say hog, it’s nothing but sheer reverence as they commonly weigh well over 50 pounds, and the state record caught last year by Tyler Hughes topped the scale at 131 pounds.

Paddlefish are as unique as they are big, and the combination of specific habitat needs, low reproductive success and recruitment conversely generate extreme interest for the paddlefish snagging season.

The greatest threat is the loss of habitat for successful spawning and recruitment. Paddlefish need natural, free-flowing rivers to reproduce effectively. Without spawning habitat, there’s really little that can be done to maintain viable populations over the long term. Water withdrawals from the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers are reducing available habitat. Protecting and enhancing habitat and flows in these rivers is critically important for the long-term survival of the stock.

Snag fisheries are regulated to ensure that the Yellowstone-Sakakawea stock is not overharvested. Illegal fishing is a major threat, however, and has been documented in several other states. Any illegal harvest activities should be reported. To emphasize it even more, consider it’s the only fish species and season for which a tag is required to participate and harvest a fish.

Snagging of paddlefish is legal May 1 through May 21 for those with a valid paddlefish tag. Paddlefish snagging is legal only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central time) during each day of the paddlefish snagging season. Select days are set aside for harvest and release only.

Depending on overall harvest, an “in-season” closure may occur, with a 24-hour notice issued by the Game and Fish director. If this occurs, there will be no refunds for unused tags.

If there is an early closure, snag-and-release-only will still be allowed for a seven-day period immediately following the harvest closure, but not to extend beyond May 21.

Notice of an early closure and subsequent days set aside for snag-and-release-only will be announced by the department. Once a snagger harvests a paddlefish, they can no longer snag for paddlefish at any subsequent time during the current season (including snag-and release-only and extended snag-and-release-only days).

The open area includes the Yellowstone River in North Dakota and the Missouri River west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the Montana border, excluding that portion from the pipeline crossing (river mile 1,577) downstream to the upper end of the Lewis and Clark WMA (river mile 1,565).

A paddlefish snagger must obtain and have in their possession a valid paddlefish tag, in addition to a valid fishing license that may be required. Only one tag per snagger will be issued and the tag is not transferable to another individual. Any paddlefish tag locked shut prior to attachment, altered or modified shall be voided and will not be replaced.

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Doug Leier is an outreach biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Reach him at dleier@nd.gov.