Pikeminnow on the fly

FishyJere

FishyJere

Nee Jerry Metcalf
Forum Supporter
Seems this offers some opportunities...

I have caught some, probably by accident, but there is an incentive to consider this as a target activity. I saw a news feed that implied there was a possibility of some pretty good money. Anyone looked into this or, better, tried it out?
 
My first fish I ever caught on a fly I tied were northern pikeminnow back in late 70's when they were northern squawfish.

I think the Columbia river only has a bounty on them locally? I have always enjoyed catching them as they are a native fish and give the osprey, otters and cormorants something to chase and dilute interactions with salmonids.
 
Last edited:
There are a few around...shoot, I occasionally get them as by-catch while fishing for tiger muskies...

eh0LCsz.jpg
PXL_20220501_171725228~2.jpg
PXL_20220501_171728346~2.jpg

Also by-catch while getting after smallies....
270016726_10225053866869130_3713736378165609464_n.jpg
 
Last edited:
I would rather catch bluegill on the fly over targeting squaws. Not a very fun fish to jostle with, that being said I do bycatch them during summer head season. I’m pretty sure the payment program is for the Columbia on the east side of the state (?).
 
Hook, egg sinker, and Albertsons deli cooked chicken strips… gets one, just ‘bout every cast in my neck of the woods…the Willy is loaded with ‘em. 😉
 
If someone really wants to go into the weeds about the Pikeminnow Program.
Here’s a link to over 30 years of data and reports-
www.pikeminnow.org

Reports | Pikeminnow

Research Reports2013 Research, Management & Evaluation Report2004 Economic Evaluation Of The Northern Pikeminnow Management Program1990-1996 Evaluation Of The Northern Squawfish Management Program Annual Reports2023 Annual Report2022 Annual Report2021 Annual Report2020 Annual Report2019 Annual...
www.pikeminnow.org www.pikeminnow.org
 
Years ago some jerk poured bleach in the Touchet to kill pikeminnow to turn in for money. Killed a lot of other things too. Meth, poison.
 
Last edited:
Honestly, they are pretty underwhelming on the fighting scale, but they DO attack streamers far above their weight class at times, often visual which is pretty cool. Plus, no one seems to give this native fish an ounce of respect, so naturally, I'm drawn to them....😆
 
A few guys seem to make a living wage off that bounty program. I always wonder how many hours they put into it. Gotta be a lot.

Screenshot 2024-04-19 at 12.34.23 PM.png
 
clarkman said:
Honestly, they are pretty underwhelming on the fighting scale, but they DO attack streamers far above their weight class at times, often visual which is pretty cool. Plus, no one seems to give this native fish an ounce of respect, so naturally, I'm drawn to them....😆
Click to expand...
Any guesses on the weight of that giant one you caught? The WA state record is 7.92 lbs.
 
Matt B said:
Any guesses on the weight of that giant one you caught? The WA state record is 7.92 lbs.
Click to expand...
I have no clue, but my 10wt was corked....it had me fooled for a little longer than usual though cause I didn't see that take and everything about it screamed musky!
 
Josh said:
A few guys seem to make a living wage off that bounty program. I always wonder how many hours they put into it. Gotta be a lot.

View attachment 111324
Click to expand...
One of former coworker lived just downstream of Wanapum Dam and often spent evenings after work fishing the river. He was a very good walleye and smallmouth angler. One day Max decided to register for the pikeminnow program and started fishing after work and weekends. Pretty soon it was a second job for him. One afternoon he said that he was going to quit fishing because it had become "work". (Work is a four letter word.)

I hear pikeminnow carcasses make good mud bug bait.
 
Buzzy said:
One of former coworker lived just downstream of Wanapum Dam and often spent evenings after work fishing the river. He was a very good walleye and smallmouth angler. One day Max decided to register for the pikeminnow program and started fishing after work and weekends. Pretty soon it was a second job for him. One afternoon he said that he was going to quit fishing because it had become "work". (Work is a four letter word.)

I hear pikeminnow carcasses make good mud bug bait.
Click to expand...
probably good sturgeon bait too! although I've never tried.
 
I caught a pretty dang big one on the Yak one time on a purple Chubby Chernobyl. I also caught two in Baum Lake (a small Hat Creek impoundment) at dusk. I didn't realize there were any in there, I'd never heard of them being caught, but they are native to the Sacramento River watershed
 
I forgot about this. That black and gold woolly bugger has found more big uglies than any other fly for me.
1713571677024.png
 
Last edited:
When fishing the Yakima, we never cast into the slow frogwater, lest the fly be sullied by an NPM.
Used to call it the 'Squaby Water'.
 
Josh said:
A few guys seem to make a living wage off that bounty program. I always wonder how many hours they put into it. Gotta be a lot.

View attachment 111324
Click to expand...
Buddy of mine was serious about it and saved enough over a few years to get a new truck. To the OP, I have caught them with a fly rod. Got lucky once last year when the surface was full of emergers and they were taking parachute patterns. But that was rare, and they are not fighters
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top