Northwest Iowa — Going after the paddlefish on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers was once banned, but the populations came back enough to restart the paddlefish season.
The DNR is hoping for similar success in bringing the paddlefish back at two popular lake areas. DNR Western Regional Fisheries Supervisor Chris Larson says West Okoboji is one area they have targeted.
Larson says. Two years ago they were stocked at Rathbun Lake as Larson says the paddlefish were native to the Cherokee River.
He says it takes come time for the paddlefish to grow to a size that can be caught.
The fish have a big paddle that sticks out in front of their face called a rostrum and they use it to help them navigate and find the plankton they eat. Larson says they are hoping to have the same success with paddlefish that other states have had.
Larson says the paddlefish like deeper areas of water that have some movement to them, and don’t like stagnant backwater.
