Snagging for Paddlefish at Gavins Point Dam

PADDLEFISH SPAWNING: This week, MDC staff spawned paddlefish at Blind Pony Hatchery. Paddlefish eggs take about 7 days to hatch. The fry are kept for another 7 days inside the hatchery before they're moved outside to rearing ponds where they can reach a growth rate of up to 2-inches per week! Around 38,000 fish are distributed between Lake of the Ozarks, Harry S. Truman Reservoir, Table Rock Lake, and Black River. These fish will be large enough to begin harvesting in 2027! | Missouri Dept. of C

SPOONBILL SPAWNING: For the past two weeks, MDC staff have been spawning paddlefish – AKA spoonbills -- at Blind Pony Hatchery near Sweet Springs. Staff collected and spawned 18 paddlefish broodstock females and 15 broodstock males in March from Truman Lake and the Osage River below Bagnell Dam. The fertilized paddlefish eggs are placed in special jars and take about seven days to hatch. The fry are kept for about another seven days inside the hatchery in special tanks before they are moved outs