Hoopengarner on Outdoors
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BPA makes it pay off to help salmonids
For some Mid-Columbia anglers, fishing for northern pikeminnow - the fish formerly known as squawfish - is a lucrative pastime.
The Bonneville Power Administration's northern pikeminnow sport reward fishery program, which began its 10th season
May 15, already has doled out thousands of dollars to anglers who have reeled in more than 60,000 of the piscatorial predators.
Last year, the program paid out a whopping $590,000 for 115,000 pikeminnow. This year, BPA is paying $4 for every fish nine inches or larger. The reward jumps to $5 after 101 fish and $6 a fish after you've caught 401 pikeminnow. Last year, the minimum size needed to claim a reward was 11 inches.
The objective of the pikeminnow reward program, said Lyle Fox, state Department of Fish and Wildlife project manager in Vancouver, is to remove 10 to 20 percent of the salmonid munchers.
Since 1990, wildlife officials estimate
1.3 million pikeminnow have been removed from the Columbia and Snake river systems, which likely has reduced salmonid predation by 25 percent, or saved 6 million smolts a year. However, on their way to the sea, predators such as birds and other fish species take their toll on young salmon and steelhead, as do dams.
Nevertheless, the reward program is putting a dent in predation by removing one of the worst offenders - the northern pikeminnow.
Kurt Hubbard, who works with the Fish and Wildlife Department in the Tri-Cities, said a single pikeminnow can gobble up 15 smolts a day.
"Pikeminnows are basically swimming coyotes. They'll eat them even if they aren't hungry," he said.
Moreover, pikeminnow will search out smolts after they pass through the dams, feeding on the disoriented and injured fish. Knowledgeable anglers often target their pikeminnow fishing below dams early in the season. And now, with pikeminnow beginning their own spawning cycle, anglers are targeting those spots, including the Vernita Bridge area and the Hanford Reach.
"The catch rate at Vernita has been about 11 pikeminnow per trip," Hubbard said.
The Vernita Bridge Rest Area on Highway 240 also is one of several sites where anglers can sign up to participate in the reward program.
"The Hanford Reach is just thick with pikeminnows," Hubbard said. "Anglers who find those spots are really cashing in."
The majority of pikeminnow anglers either drift fish or plunk using medium weight steelhead tackle.
Hubbard said the trick is to use baits such as chicken livers and Mormon crickets, baits not likely to attract salmon or steelhead. The peak time to fish for pikeminnow is now through July, as they can be found near
riffles in large schools. Also, trolling smolt-looking plugs or bouncing light-colored grubs near the bottom in areas below dams has been effective.
Hubbard added that pikeminnow are caught day or night. During the dog days of summer, many prefer fishing at night.
Beside earning some extra summer cash, anglers seem to enjoy fishing for pikeminnow because it's something they can do to help salmon and steelhead that doesn't reduce their fishing opportunities.
The money's not bad, either.
Since the program began in 1990, the reward has climbed from $1 a fish to $4 this year. Last year's top pikeminnow angler - a Tri-Citian - pocketed $16,314.
If you're interested in participating in the program, which ends Sept. 24, sign up at one of 22 registration areas, including Columbia Point Marina in Richland (manned daily, noon-8 p.m., Ringold (manned 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., Wednesday-Sunday only), Umatilla Boat Launch (manned daily, 5-8 p.m., and Lyons Ferry Marina (manned daily, 1-3 p.m.) on the Snake river.
Hubbard said anglers can self-register, but there must be someone at the station to verify the catch and issue a voucher to claim the reward.
"All you have to do then is mail in the vouchers and wait for your check," he said. "If I were a young person looking for a summer job, I'd give pikeminnow fishing a try. It sure is more fun than mowing lawns."
For more information on the pikeminnow sport reward program, call 800-858-9015, or visit online at www.pikeminnow.org.
- Ken Hoopengarner has been the Herald's outdoor writer for 19 years. He can be reached at 582-1544 or via e-mail at khoopengarner@tri-cityherald.com
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