While most Oklahoma anglers are somewhat familiar with the humble spoonbill, even more people refer to the ancient species as our freshwater shark... but is it even related to sharks beyond being a member of the fish family?

Several traits of the American Paddlefish are shared with most species of shark. Paddlefish have a third eye like some sharks and a pit over their gills called a spiracle, but the electro-receiving bill confuses most people.

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All of those black dots that line the head and rostra bill of a paddlefish can also be found on sharks. They're called Ampullae of Lorenzini. It's the organ sharks use to detect electrical signals from prey, like a heartbeat.

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Since paddlefish are filter-feeders, they're not using these spots to detect crab and fish under the sand, but they do use them to find the food they do eat. Plankton.

So they're related to sharks?

Uh, no. They are fish made up of (mostly) cartilage and skin, sharing several physical traits and organs, but they're not related beyond that. Along the same species family related to ray-finned fish like swordfish and marlin, the paddlefish is more closely related to pufferfish than sharks.

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Weirdly enough, the humble spoonbill is actually the oldest animal species in America. At 300 million years old, they've been around a lot longer than alligators or dinosaurs. They're also the last surviving member of their zoological family.

China also had a spoonbill, but they fished it into extinction.

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Is it a protected species in America?

Sort of... Paddlefish are classified as "vulnerable" on the conservation list. They're found in 22 US states that branch waters of the Mississippi River system, but you can only fish for them in 13 states including Oklahoma.

Favored for their uniqueness, trophy size, and sweet meat, paddlefish are a pretty popular target species among anglers, but they aren't easy to catch.

You can't toss out bait on a hook to catch paddlefish. Being a filter-feeder, they won't eat a hook. Instead, anglers buy weighted hooks and try to snag them instead.

You just toss it out in the water and reel it in. When you feel resistance, you set the hook and hope you'll be eating spoonbill that night.

If you'd like to try your hand at catching an Oklahoma delicacy, there are several fishing charters you can hire to put you on the fish. I'd suggest looking around Facebook to find a highly-rated one.

Oklahoma's Ten Best Fishing Lakes

If you know, you know. When it comes to fishing, not all lakes are equal. While you can fish and catch fish in just about every body of water in the Sooner State, there are only a handful of lakes Oklahoma anglers get serious about.

Here are the top fishing lakes in Oklahoma.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

This Grand Lake Home is Straight Out of Yellowstone

If you were looking to get pretty far from the hustle and bustle and had $3.5million burning a hole in your pocket, this Yellowstone-looking massive cabin home might be just the place for you.

Unlike most lake homes, this one looks very lived in full-time. The stocked pantry and full workshop really scream "Retirement Home" in my mind.

With just over 5300 square feet of living space, five well-appointed bedrooms, five bathrooms, two stories, a detached shop, plenty of lakefront, and your own personal dock... this looks like a dream out in the middle of nowhere. Unlike a lot of Oklahoma's most expensive homes, this one actually looks really well put together. Everything matches, one theme, etc... It's a rare case of the wealthy having good taste.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

The Best Things About Oklahoma

It seems we've reached a point in human history where the norm is to sit around and complain about anything and everything. Oklahoma is a sore subject on both political sides of the aisle. So instead of adding to the morose nature of being bummed, here are some 100% pure Sooner State things Okies can't help but think positively about.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

Check Out Oklahoma's Planned New Theme Park

American Heartland Theme Park is the latest huge investment announcement for the Sooner State. Slated to open in 2026 up in Vinita, it sure does look incredible from the renderings. With the project spearheaded by 20+ former Disney Imagineers, we'd expect nothing less than spectacular.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

 

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