Catching River Monsters! PADDLEFISH on the Yellowstone River

Fishing for one of North America biggest fish! Fascinating and exotic opportunity for the massive paddlefish on the Yellowstone River near Sidney, Montana. Interesting biological insights on the management of this prehistoric fish that grows to huge proportions.
The upper Missouri River Drainage that includes the Yellowstone River produce some of the largest paddlefish caught by anglers each season. The paddlefish, (sometimes called spoonbill catfish in some regions) is a 300 million year old species of fish that is made up of cartilage. Anglers must snag these fish because the fish is a filter feeder (feeding on zooplankton). Highly regulated season in Montana. The fish's enormous size combined with strong current makes this one of the toughest fish to land. Many of the largest fish are never landed by anglers. These fish can break rods and spool all the line off reels. Some fish can reach weights that surpass 80 pounds.
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[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

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[@codychristie1655]

Um a fellow paddle fish snagger from the great state of Montana I see your fishing my state and on a yellow tag that's the Yellowstone gem tag area and was wandering about the gaff does a pole with poop not qualify as gaff cause Montana regulation says no more than 4 ft 6in long im truely curious not starting a argument I feel your way would be more humain and more efficient and safer if you can go longer with it I been in a few life threatening situations amd I tend to gaff 50 plus fish a year

[@melissadawn9374]

It’s so exciting. I get to go every year at Warsaw Missouri. I absolutely love it.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

+Melissa Brown thanks for watching and good luck this spring!

[@frackyouasshat5531]

I hear the caviar from them is delicious

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

When you register the fish in MT, they take the caviar.

[@MTexpeditions]

No caviar is delicious lol

[@frackyouasshat5531]

@@MTexpeditions your opinion

[@beconsumptive]

This is by far my favorite fish to catch in freshwater. There's nothing like hooking into a 40lb+ monster that can take line swimming upstream. Amazing fish! So grateful that state wildlife agencies around the US are helping to preserve these beautiful creatures.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

+Gilbert Randolph they are both cool and unique. Thanks for the view!

[@FishcastAngling]

Cool you guys did this for a show! I’ll tell ya from personal experience it’s insanely more efficient/easier on the body if you use typical Muskie style baitcasting gear and braid instead of ridiculously heavy glass spinning rods and mono that people is usually use.

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

+Fishcast Angling great tip! That does sound like a better idea.

[@user-wo7rp6bc6t]

Great video

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@ryanminten9958]

I got a 6ft 80lber about 6 years ago at the confluence first and only time i tried it. It was a blast!

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

That is an awesome fish!

[@rogergoodwin374]

Blind, no eyes?

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

+Roger Goodwin they have small eyes but they are a filter feeding fish that feeds on zooplankton

[@fishinfool247]

I got 7 in one day on pool 4 in wi on the Mississippi on walleye grear not impressed lol

[@JasonMitchellOutdoors]

How big were they?

[@zemphorp9605]

Well what’s funny is you can’t get 7 in one day so I mean break the law ig