The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) started stocking Paddlefish in Beaver Lake in 1990 to establish a sustainable population and provide a backup of broodstock in case of overharvesting in Arkansas rivers. Paddlefish, known for their valuable caviar, have continued to thrive in our rivers, making the Beaver Lake stock unnecessary as a backup. However, these Paddlefish have grown into impressive trophy fish, offering great potential for anglers seeking a memorable catch.
After the initial stocking in Beaver Lake in 1990, AGFC stocked Paddlefish annually from 1996 to 2000. In 2004, the AGFC Stream Management Biologist sampled these Paddlefish and determined their ages. At that time, they caught a 66-pound Paddlefish and found that it was 14 years old, meaning it was one from the original stocking. Overall, these Paddlefish have thrived in Beaver Lake.
A recent regulation change created a paddlefish snagging season which will be open from April 15th to June 15th and allow anglers to snag above the Highway 45 Bridge. We will allow 300 Paddlefish permits during the 2025 snagging season to allow more Paddlefish to be harvested in Beaver Lake. Beaver Lake Paddlefish range from 24-34 years old, and there is no documented natural reproduction, so the season will allow the harvest of fish that are close to the end of their life cycle. Keep in mind that once these old fish get harvested, it is going to take at least 6-8 years for the newly stocked fish to reach harvestable size. The AGFC is currently looking into stocking Paddlefish at a low number in the lake to sustain this fishery. The AGFC is also going to allow Paddlefish snagging from below the Houseman Access to the Missouri State Line from April 15th to June 15th to allow more opportunities for anglers in the White River below Beaver Dam.
Code 26.17 (which you can read here: https://ow.ly/yBnt50SFCeI) is the regulation that describes how snagging of game fish is illegal in Arkansas except for certain areas below dams, including the White River below Lake Sequoyah and directly below Beaver Dam. Snagging is considered to be an active fishing technique, where the angler is actively trying to hook a fish by swinging the rod with force. Active snagging of sportfish is illegal, except in certain areas. In Arkansas, an angler can foul hook a fish which is what happened with the current state record Paddlefish. The angler who caught the current state record was fishing for Striped Bass and accidentally hooked the Paddlefish. Two previous state record Paddlefish were caught this same way, one in 2018 and another one in 2020. The Paddlefish from 2020 was caught on a trailer jig, and the fish was hooked in the mouth. The fish simply swam into the lure and was foul-hooked.
Keep an eye out for more information on the Paddlefish seasons at the end of 2024.