Me and a buddy of mine caught these two big spoonies yesterday. We also caught 2 small ones. Nice limit though.

Cool Fish.  

How do you catch those?

snagging below the dams. good workout to prepare for bassin, gets all those muscles in shape quick.

Nice size fish! You plan on eating all that fish?

Wow!

Those are some fine fish!

Nice!!

What kind of gear do you use for those guys?

yes i plan on eating them, mainly smoked spoonbill for me. It just tastes better. as for the rig I use, it may be overkill but I have a 12' surf rod with a ginormous spinning reel equipped with #80 power pro. We use 5 oz weights and 2 8/0 trebles. Most guys go with a 7' rod with baitcast combo, but I can cover more of the water table with the much larger sweeps. I bought the 12' rod primarily for flathead fishing cuz the tip is sensative enough that they can run with it and not feel much. I discovered its a great snaggin rod as well, and I havent broke yet after around 40 to 50 #30 to #55 flatheads and lots of carp and spoonies.

Even though I fart around with other fish bass is my main target year-round. Just good to catch a couple gully-whoppers once in a while.

Woo Hoo your gettin me ready for March when season opens here in missouri.

 

 You all think throwing a crankbait all days wears you out.  Try going after these monsters.

Nice fish, can you catch those without snagging them?

Guys, this is 'MAN" fishing.

Talk about wearing a fellow out!

I have seen it, but it's DEFINITELY NOT my style.

Nice fish, can you catch those without snagging them?

I don't think so, they feed on zooplankton.

I dont know of any other way to catch them than snagging. Ive also heard that they only feed on plankton, however 2 of the fish we gutted had small white perch in em, and 1 had a huge crawdad. Most of the stuff in the stomach was a greenish/brown mud looking crap, probably the plankton or algea, but they did show signs of not feeding specifically on plankton. Unless they accidentally ate the fish and craw. I guess we'll never know.

isnt it illegal/immoral to snag?

Illegal- no, we have a season on spoonbill that runs from jan 1 to april 15 with very strict guidlines. state law says that if you snag it you keep it, with a limit of 2 per day. The only fish you are allowed to snag are roughfish. ex. carp, buffalo, redhorse, drum, and during the season spoonbill.

Immoral- depends on the person. I, like many other snaggers do foul a catfish from time to time. which according to the regs. must be immediately released. Now when a 8/0 hook goes through the gut of a catfish theres no way that fish will live, but it does become a vital food source for the eagles that are perched along the Mississippi during the snagging season. So its not a total waste of a perfectly fine fish.

Illegal- no, we have a season on spoonbill that runs from jan 1 to april 15 with very strict guidlines. state law says that if you snag it you keep it, with a limit of 2 per day. The only fish you are allowed to snag are roughfish. ex. carp, buffalo, redhorse, drum, and during the season spoonbill.

Immoral- depends on the person. I, like many other snaggers do foul a catfish from time to time. which according to the regs. must be immediately released. Now when a 8/0 hook goes through the gut of a catfish theres no way that fish will live, but it does become a vital food source for the eagles that are perched along the Mississippi during the snagging season. So its not a total waste of a perfectly fine fish.

That would be hard to do. What do you do, throw like a giant treble hook?

wow thats some pretty cool stuff.

Good to see the Tarheels represented in Iowa. Go Heels