We don't have that many in Table Rock. I have caught almost my limit this year. Planning on getting live scope. I use a gaff. But I only do it to the ones I keep. Old shovel handle and sharpened screw in hook.
Cant use gaffs in Okla anymore. Our limit is 2 per year to keep. It was 3 per day when I was a kid. There is still millions of them though. I livescope them when they are shallower.
Live here in Kentucky. and I do a lot of snagging at the Kentucky Dam. For Spoonbill. Used to stand on these rocks right by the dam Being like crazy, and had good luck snagging them from the shore. Eventually, some of the local boys. who use their boats and stayed away from the damn. showed me the spot. Just down. from the damn. pretty good ways. But it was a pocket of really deep water that just dropped for that pocket. And they said it was the last one before you get to the dam. And these boys were just tear them up almost. like jigging. and you can access it from the shore. Ben Wall since I've been there, but man, I really enjoyed it. And some of the best meat I've ever had. Caviar out of this world.
I use a 16ft 3 piece Diawa surf rod with a Diawa bug game 5000 open face reel, J-8 95lb braided line, 10 Oz walking sinker, and 2 10/0 barbless treble hooks. A 33 ln male spoon feels like a 3 lb bass on a standard size rod. Lol
Great video. I don’t have live scope and only fish casting to them in the spring then give up on them after the spawn. This gives me another way anytime during the year. Can’t wait to try it out. Everything was described but the rod. What rod do you use?
Any strong catfishing rod works. Meathunter is good. I used B&M Silvercat Elite in the video. You don't need livescope with this method. Just traditional sonar and mapping.
Thank you for the video. I'm trying to learn about fishing for paddlefish and there isn't a lot out there. How close to the bottom are you running the diver? Is it important to be close or dragging the bottom? Do you have problems getting snagged on logs and rocks? How fast are you going?
I get pretty close to the bottom. If you see your rod tip bouncing your dragging the mud and could get hung up. If you see fish suspended dont go so deep. Its almost a 2 to 1 ratio. 40 ft out is 20 ft deep depending on speed. I go 5mph. If you dont mark the logs you will get hung up. Make a pass with them shallow and if its all clear from snags go back with more line out. I lost 10 in one day when I first started. Ouch..
That's my washdown pump. SeaArks come equipped with them. It sucks lake water like a life-well does but puts it into the hose. Could'nt live without it.