WHEN LUCK COMES YOUR WAY.

 “Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.”
― Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea




When the sap is flowing in the timber and soccer season is just getting underway, then you know it's March and that's Paddle fish season on the Mississippi.







So, with Jerry back form school for spring break, Beau came back for our annual father and son outingon the river.







Last year we fished all morning in 65* weather, wearing shorts and tee shirts and only managing to hook one small sand sturgeon.





This year was a totally different story, with over an inch of rain last night and temps in the upper 30s* we set out in the fog just below the lock and dam.





 On only his third pull Beau hooked a nice ten pounder.  Well, that set the pace for the morning.  It wasn't long before both Beau and Jerry had there two fish.




Next up, the dads took the rods.  I caught a 39" 34 bls. and Rich caught a fish that ran just a little shy of the my fish and 25lbs.  With in an hour we had caught our eight, fish keeping only one for eating.




Like most fish, paddlefish make a healthy source of protein that is also lower in fat and calories than other types of meat, such as beef or pork. Paddlefish is a type of sturgeon, which is also a healthy source of phosphorus and potassium, as well as vitamin A.

 

 

Paddlefish are North American river fish that live in waters in the Mississippi Valley and down to the gulf areas near Texas and Louisiana. This species of fish is similar in appearance to swordfish with large mouths and paddlelike appendages off the front of their faces,known as the rostrum. Paddlefish can grow to weigh up to 60 lbs. and measure up to 5 feet. Similar in taste to swordfish.

 You can't ask for a much better day than that!

Thanks Rich and Jer!