Ohio River Monster

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

JD7.62

Dovii
MFK Member
Sep 13, 2005
5,513
44
105
at the 'Bama Breeze
A buddy and I decided to catch some bait and hit up the Falls of the Ohio to catch some hybrids and striper. Well the bass werent biting but fortunately paddlefish were every where! They were so thick we snagged a few. Here is one we landed after a 45 minute fight. Well see how he tastes tomorrow.

I also caught a 4ft gar. It was strange as its back was bent at a 45* angle. My friend, who is a fisheries biologist, said it was from a vitamin c deficiency. No pics of him as we let him go but before he was gone he flopped in my hand and the edge of his mouth caught my other hand and left me a little love bite that seemed to bleed forever!

In the next few days we are going back out with bigger tackle to snag more paddle fish. Our goal is one over 50lbs! :naughty:

Well here are the pics...

100_0711.JPG

100_0712.JPG

100_0713.JPG

100_0714.JPG
 
sweet catch!

ummm can u eat paddlefish???
 
WOW HOW LONG DID YOU FIGHT THIS GUY.... OR WHO EVER CAUGHT IT....

GREAT LOOKING FISH!!!!
 
Yes you can eat paddle fish and their eggs. Ive been searching online for recipes. The fish is very strong from what I hear but if cooked and seasoned right it can be quite tastey.

It took about 45 minutes to get him in. Right before he was hooked the horn blew at the dam meaning they were going to let out more water. We were standing about waist deep in current that really was too fast to be standing in. If you lost footing it could have been bad. Anyway with more and more water being let out the current was getting very fast. His initial run spooled out 3/4th or so of my bud 220yd capacity reel (good thing he spooled it before we left). Rather quickly he gained line back and got the fish within 10 yards and we actually could see him a bit. As soon as he sensed he was getting close to shore he tore off another 75 yards or so. This time he didnt come back. By now it was pitch black and the river was flying by us. Sticks, limbs, logs, even planks of wood and tires were hitting us as we were standing there!

There was a log jam about 75 yards up river from us that I thought he may be in so we carefully walked to it...again its pitch black out. We get to it and
I grab the line and start working my way through the jam reaching blindly into the water. Finally I feel the fish and grabbed him by his tail. Since he was so spent by then we decided he wouldnt make it so we packed our stuff up and carried him out.

I hope to go out tomorrow with some quality treble hooks and a heavier outfit.
 
Awesome catch! Would love to see one of those in a monster tank...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom