IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE RULES BELOW:
1 - Season closes after 1,000 fish have been caught
2 - An additional 1 week snag and release season is to be added after the regular season closes or until May 31st. Stay posted on changes while you are out there!
The snagging of paddlefish shall be legal May 1 through May 31, in that area of the Yellowstone River in North Dakota and the Missouri River lying west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the Montana border, excluding that portion from the pipeline crossing (River Mile 1577) downstream to the upper end of the Lewis & Clark WMA (River Mile 1565). Paddlefish snagging shall be legal only from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm (Central Time) during each day of the paddlefish snagging season.
All paddlefish snaggers must obtain and have in their possession a paddlefish tag in addition to other licenses and certificates that are required. A maximum of one tag per snagger will be issued and the tag is not transferable to another person. Any paddlefish tag that is locked shut prior to attachment, altered, or modified shall be voided and will not be replaced.
It is illegal for a person to use fish snagging equipment in the paddlefish area if that person does not possess their unused paddlefish tag. Each paddlefish snagger must cast for and hook their own fish. The use of more than one snag hook per line is illegal. Snagging from a boat is illegal.
The sale, barter, trade, or purchase of paddlefish eggs is legal only for one qualified and properly permitted paddlefish caviar operation.
Depending upon the overall harvest, an 'in-season' closure may still occur with a 60-hour notice issued by the game and fish director. If this occurs, it would include closure of all snagging including days set aside for 'snag and release'; there will be no refunds for unused tags.
Snag-and-Release Days (Mondays and Tuesdays only) If a snagger has in possession the unused and current year's paddlefish tag issued to him/her, he/she can snag but must release (immediately) any and all paddlefish snagged on each Monday and Tuesday throughout the month of May. No harvest of any paddlefish will be allowed during these days, the snagging hours and area as defined above will apply, and there shall be no limit on the number of fish which may be snagged during the day. The use or possession of any gaff on Snag-and-Release days (Mondays and Tuesdays) shall be illegal.
Harvest Days (Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only) The release of paddlefish after snagging is illegal. Seasonal creel limit shall be one paddlefish. All paddlefish caught must be tagged immediately with one's own tag. If a fish is cut up, the tag must accompany the dressed fish either by attachment to the bag containing the dressed fish or by placement within the bag. The snagger must keep that portion of the back and dorsal fin (back fin) necessary to maintain the tag sealed to the fish. If a snagger harvests a paddlefish, he/she can no longer snag for paddlefish (including Snag-and-Release Days). The use or possession of any gaff hook for a distance of one-half mile in either direction of the Highway 200 Bridge on the Yellowstone River shall be illegal.