Anglers can buy the special Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license beginning Dec. 15 through Jan. 31. This is the second year Iowans have the opportunity to fish for paddlefish on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Management Biologist Van Sterner says they want to track a recovering population..…
Sterner says issuing licenses helps them control population levels of Paddle Fish…
A resident license sells for $22. Anglers must also have a valid Iowa fishing license.
The Iowa DNR received 137 survey cards from last year’s season. Anglers averaged just over four paddlefish trips last year. The mean length of fish harvested last year was 32.4 inches. Forty-eight percent of respondents reported harvesting a paddlefish.
