Profile of Recreational Paddlefish Snaggers on the Upper Missouri River, Montana

Abstract

A written questionnaire was administered to 128 recreational snaggers of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) during a creel census on the Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir in 1993. We asked snaggers to describe their socioeconomic characteristics, attitudes and motivations regarding fishing for paddlefish, and attitudes on specific fishery regulations. More than 9 of 10 anglers snagged mainly or entirely at this site, and fewer than 1 in 10 had snagged for paddlefish in the past 5 years on the lower Yellowstone River, the other major snag fishery in Montana. Snaggers were most likely to be retirees or people in traditionally blue-collar professions that yielded incomes of US $20,000-29,999. Contrary to stereotypes of snaggers as meat fishers, their motivations for snagging were similar to those of other more traditional anglers. Primary motivations included opportunity to be outdoors, experience and thrill of hooking a paddlefish, experience natural surroundings, and be with friends. Although snaggers thought highly of paddlefish meat, the motivation for acquiring meat for eating ranked low. Paddlefish snagging, as practiced in Montana, is more than a meat harvest for most anglers.