Left the house at midnight and got to Gavin’s point just a little after 3 am, we were the first people there but not by far. Found a nice spot up by the dam and sat on the bank until 7am when legal casting hours started. First cast at 7am hooked a fish that was 44.5” - for those that don’t know Nebraska has a release slot on paddlefish from 35-45” measuring from the eye to the v of the tail. Casted countless more times and caught a few more in the release slot.

Finally caught a skinny 34” one around noon but the fish seemed to be moving back through as lots of people around us started hooking them again and I just couldnt bring myself to tag the little guy after hooking into quite a few fish towards the top of the slot and decided I was going to keep fishing (my buddies had not tagged any at this point either). Cast cast cast- fast forward a few hours and with limited success I’m starting to think I won’t be taking a fish home and getting pretty tired and sore and starting to kick myself for not tagging out when I had the chance! Then out about as far as I could get casted I hooked into one that felt like a monster. I had a lot of line out and he had the current on his side and took off downstream- the bank is literally lined with people for probably a couple hundred yards and I start my way down after it. The rocks on the bank aren’t great getting around on- and at this point there is probably hundreds of people downstream casting out over my line. I’m working my way downstream- through the other fisherman, across the rocks, over a set of stairs with railings and finally gaining on this fish. A couple hundred yards downstream I finally get it wrestled to the bank and another fisherman helped me get it landed and up onto the bank! What an adventure and this fish still seemed huge! We got a tape out and it only measured to 44”! (Back in the water it goes) I wish we would have had a scale down there because it was a fat fish though!

At this point my attitude on not tagging that skinny 34” fish has taken a total 180- that last fish was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had with a fishing pole in my hands, and even though it had to go back in the water I felt like I had really earned myself a story! I get walked back upstream and go to casting again. I’ve now decided I’m not even going to be disappointed if I don’t get my tag filled. I caught a couple more in the slot and then hooked into another that felt pretty solid, this was much closer to the bank than the last big one though and he didn’t have nearly the current on his side from the get go, so I am getting it pulled in mostly expecting another slot fish- but when it finally surfaced by the bank it looked like it might have a chance of being over! We got it up on the bank and it measured 47”! The fight on this one was nothing like the fat 44” but another pretty great feeling getting to take home a fish over the slot limit!

WTG, never seen a paddle fish before, how are they to eat.

Great story. That looks like quite an adventure! Good job!

I used to live in Yankton, spent a lot of time where those pics were taken. Only went paddlefishing one year, boating probably 150 fish with one other guy and never got one over 45. Was wondering how it would be with the gates open, probably easier from shore than trying to keep a boat anchored. Great jon on the 47

Excellent work! Way to persevere!

Chris

Getting There- they are great eating

DWC- the water is raging through there, I’ve been there in the past when the boats were basically up against the dam, but yesterday I only saw 3 boats on the water.. they all headed towards the dam and turned around before they got anywhere near it. It looked rough, miserable, and dangerous

For those not familiar with the area, these photos were taken below the Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River which impounds Lewis and Clark Reservoir and is the border between Nebraska and South Dakota. This dam Is the lowest(furthest south) of six mainstem dams on the Missouri River.

I hunted this area a couple years ago, very nice!

I caught a 92@ 73 pound up in Williston north Dakota, Back straps are white meat ,take out like deer back straps,u get about 3 to 5 pounds of eggs.sizzle eggs in butter and Lawry salt or add to bacon and eggs,other side meat is red bloody meat,soak in salt water ,can pan fry it but I pickle the meat .