ARCHERY PADDLEFISH
Paddlefish may be taken by bow and arrow and possessed in a designated area of the Missouri
River only during the season.
Season – June 1-30 Legal Hours – sunrise to sunset
Open Area – The open area is from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big
Sioux River at mile marker 734.
Closed Area – This includes the north wall of the spillway and immediately below the Gavins
Point Dam powerhouse downstream to a line extending from the east end of the south cement
wall of the discharge canal northwest to the east end of the north wall of the discharge canal
during the archery paddlefish season. See image below. The use of crossbows is not allowed in
the area from the Gavins Point Dam downstream to the U.S. Highway 81 bridge.
NOTE: From the open area below Gavins Point Dam to 0.6 miles downstream, archers may
harvest paddlefish if they possess a valid Nebraska resident or Nebraska nonresident archery
paddlefish permit as well as a valid Nebraska fishing permit or a South Dakota resident archery
paddlefish permit. A South Dakota nonresident fishing permit/tag is not valid in this area. In the
remainder of the river open to archery paddlefish, South Dakota nonresident archery paddlefish
permits are valid.
Requirements – All paddlefish archery anglers must have in their possession a paddlefish tag
and a Nebraska fishing permit, if required. Applicants for tags must be 12 years old by June 1.
Tag limit – Each angler may have no more than two tags.
SNAGGING PADDLEFISH
Snagging of paddlefish and nongame fish in the Missouri River is permitted from the Gavins
Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big Sioux River at mile marker 734.
Season – Oct. 1-31 Legal Hours – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed Area – The closed area is the north wall of the spillway and immediately below the
20 | Fishing Info: 402-471-0641
