Dial 1-800-392-1111 anytime to report illegal activity
Your identity will remain anonymous, and a reward is possible depending on successful prosecution of the case.
Report for Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, the Osage River (below Bagnell Dam) and Table Rock Lake
What’s New: Snagging has been slow for most anglers on all three reservoirs, with only a few scattered reports of anglers have much success. However, there were reports of fish over 100 pounds being caught on all three large reservoirs this week.
Paddlefish snagging on Truman Lake has been slow for most anglers the past week. Paddlefish have been scattered throughout the upper Osage arm of Truman Lake. Water temperatures in the upper Osage arm of Truman Lake have been in the mid to upper-60s the past week. Paddlefish on the Osage Arm of Truman are likely post-spawn at this point, and it is unlikely there will be any additional large upstream movements of Paddlefish this season.
Snagging on Table Rock Lake has continued to slow down. Many of the Paddlefish seem to have moved back into the lake. Increased flow could produce another push of fish, but with less than two weeks left in the season it may not happen this year. Some reports indicate snaggers with forward facing sonar are still having some success. Water temperatures have been in the upper 50s on the James River Arm.
Snagging on Lake of the Ozarks has been slow for most. There has been some water released from Truman Dam over the last week, but it still hasn’t been enough to move a lot of Paddlefish upstream. Water temperatures have started to push 60, but we need some more rain or flow from Truman to pull more fish upstream and increase snagging success. Snagging on the Niangua Arm remains slow.
On the Osage River in Miller County below highway 54 bridge snagging has been slow. Flow has been low to moderate, and water temperatures have been in the low 50s. Paddlefish have been scattered and angler have had very little success. Most snaggers are fishing between Hwy 54 and the golf course. It will likely take increased water temperatures to pull more fish upstream and increase snagging success. If you are snagging on the Osage River below Bagnell Dam, please remember snagging is not allowed between Bagnell Dam and the Hwy 54 bridge.
There has been some confusion about the paddlefish length limits. Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake, Truman Lake and their tributaries have a 34” minimum length limit. The rest of the state has a 32” minimum length limit.
Unless exempt, you must possess a valid fishing permit if you are snagging or driving the boat used for snagging.
Do not clean paddlefish while you are on the water.
The head, tail, and skin must remain attached to all fish that have length limits while those fish are on the water.
There are numerous private ramps that you can pay to launch from.
Dial 1-800-392-1111 anytime to report illegal activity
Your identity will remain anonymous, and a reward is possible depending on successful prosecution of the case.
Use a large net to land all paddlefish safely.
Using a gaff to land paddlefish can injure or kill sublegal paddlefish, making you subject to a penalty.
Call 573-579-6825 or email.
Please dispose of waste responsibly when cleaning paddlefish. We receive several nuisance complaints of fish-cleaning waste on the banks around the accesses. Fish-cleaning waste should be deposited in deep water, where it cannot end up washing on to the bank or concentrated in one area. As a reminder, the head, tail and skin must remain attached to all fish for which length limits are established while those fish are on the waters to which length limits apply or until the fish have been checked by an agent of the department.
In addition to using trash receptacles, disposing of fish-cleaning waste back into the water is allowed. Fish-cleaning waste should not be allowed to pile up near the water’s edge. It should be discarded into deeper water or in the flowing part of the stream. It is important to remember that the Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits the transportation of extricated paddlefish eggs, so extracted paddlefish eggs cannot be transported out into deeper water for disposal.
Please be considerate, and responsibly dispose of fish-cleansing waste and help keep access areas clean for everyone to enjoy.
Snagging is very dependent on environmental conditions - photoperiod, water temperature and flow. As daylight gets longer, paddlefish will start congregating in deep holes. Then as water temperatures reach 50-55F and there is an increase in flow, paddlefish migrate upstream to spawn. The increase in flow is what triggers them to make the spawning run. As the water temperature and flow increase, the fish will move upstream in the reservoir or river.
If we get a dry spring without much rain, snagging may not be as good as it has been in the past, and the fish will tend to remain lower in the reservoirs or rivers. On the other hand, if we have a very wet spring, fish will move up higher in the reservoirs or rivers. In some areas, snagging may be very difficult or hazardous if flooding occurs. During flooding events paddlefish will move out of the heavy flows to wait until flows come down. When reservoirs and rivers are rising due to heavy rains, logs and other debris can float downstream, and boaters need to be careful.
Typically, snagging tends to be good opening day, and then it often slows down. Early in the season, water temperatures are cool, and fish tend to be scattered out and lower in the reservoirs or rivers. Harvest is primarily made up of “local” fish, smaller males and immature females. Males make spawning migrations before females, with more and larger females showing up when water temperatures are 55F and greater. It is the increase in flow that will get the fish moving - think warm spring rains! Remember as water temperature and flow increase snagging improves!
Check the paddlefish regulations
MDC maintains the paddlefish populations in Truman Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and Table Rock Lake with annual stockings of fingerlings from MDC’s Blind Pony Hatchery. It takes paddlefish seven to eight years to grow to legal size. In 2016 more than 314,000-foot-long fingerlings were stocked — MDC’s largest stocking of paddlefish. These fish will be large enough to harvest beginning in 2023, with a few becoming legal in 2022. As these fish grow, snaggers will catch a lot of these sublegal fish. It is extremely important to release all sublegal fish unharmed immediately and gently because they are the fish that you will be harvesting over the next several years!
The Code states that sublegal paddlefish must be returned unharmed immediately after being caught!
Thank you to all the snaggers who have reported tagged paddlefish. Please continue to report all tagged paddlefish that you catch.
Continuing to report tagged paddlefish will help us monitor and better manage paddlefish. Together we can keep paddlefish snagging great for many years to come.
To report tagged fish, call 573-579-6825.
Unlike other species of fish in Missouri, the catch and release of legal paddlefish, any fish of legal length, is not permitted. In other words, once a legal paddlefish is caught, that fish is to be retained or kept by the angler and included in their daily limit; these fish cannot be released. However, all sublegal (fish less than the legal length limit) paddlefish must be released unharmed immediately. Once two legal paddlefish are caught, they are to be retained by the angler and included in their daily limit.
Please remember that on Lake of the Ozarks and its tributaries, Osage River below U.S. Highway 54, Truman Lake and its tributaries, and Table Rock Lake no person shall continue to snag, snare, or grab for any species after taking a daily limit of two (2) paddlefish. Be sure to check the Wildlife Code of Missouri for paddlefish regulations.
We are continuing to see more bank snaggers, especially on Truman Lake. When operating a boat near bank snaggers please be considerate of them. Please slow down and give them space; running into their line risks pulling them into the water. Everyone needs to stay safe. When snagging on private property be sure to obtain permission from the landowner.
If you have any questions call 660-885-8179 x 4953 or email Chris Brooke.
In 2013, Conservation Agents broke up an international paddlefish trafficking operation in Warsaw. This group of poachers stole a lot of fish from legal snaggers. We aren’t sure what effect that this illegal activity has had on Missouri's paddlefish population. If you see or suspect illegal snagging activity, please report it immediately. Your identity will remain anonymous, and a reward is possible depending on successful prosecution of the case. Visit our Operation Game Thief page for more details.