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Experience North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season May 1–21, 2026. Join anglers on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers for this unique fishing tradition—harvest and snag-and-release days included.
 
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Paddlefish Snagging Season

When

Calander Icon May 1, 2026 - May 21, 2026
North Dakota’s paddlefish snagging season kicks off Friday, May 1, 2026 and and runs through May 21, unless harvest limits are met sooner. Snaggers can target paddlefish on the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers from 7 AM to 7 PM central time.

  • Harvest-Only Days (Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat): Tag and keep one paddlefish—release is not allowed.

  • Snag-and-Release-Only Days (Sun/Mon/Thu): Snag as many as you wish, but all fish must be immediately released—use or possession of gaffs are illegal.

New to paddlefish snagging? Check out our blog post. We've got you covered with some helpful tips to get you ready for the river!