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Pikeminnow reward season opens Saturday

By Al Thomas, Columbian Outdoors Reporter
Published: April 29, 2010, 12:00am

What seemed like an odd idea — paying fishermen a bounty on pikeminnow to save young Columbia River salmon — begins its third decade Saturday when the sport reward program opens for the 2010 season.

Rewards of from $4 to $8 per fish will be paid on each northern pikeminnow 9 inches or larger through Sept. 30 in the Columbia downstream of Priest Rapids Dam and the Snake downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.

Pikeminnow eat millions of young salmon and steelhead migrating down the Snake and Columbia. Reducing the number of predators helps the fish reach the ocean.

Eric Winther, project leader for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said more than 3.5 million northern pikeminnow have been removed from the rivers, cutting predation by an estimated 37 percent.

Winther said 2010 is shaping up to be a good year.

“We usually have our best seasons in low-water years, and this looks to be one of those,’’ he said. “I expect fishing to be fairly good right off the bat, and if it is, we’ll probably finish above our average of 175,000 fish per year.’’

The first 100 pikeminnow per season are worth $4 each. After 100 fish, the reward jumps to $5. After 400, the bounty is $8. There also are special tagged pikeminnow worth $500 each.

The program has a variety of registration rules, available in detail online at www.pikeminnow.org.

There are 16 registration stations between Cathlamet and McNary Dam, including the Ridgefield, Marine Park, Port of Camas-Washougal and Beacon Rock State Park boat ramps.

In 2009, anglers landed more than 141,000 pikeminnow. The top check station was Boyer Park at Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River, with The Dalles Boat Basin No. 2.

Catch per day was best at the Ridgefield boat ramp (9.3 average).

Winther said there are a variety of lures and baits that will catch pikeminnow.

Chicken liver is the most popular and productive bait.

“Chicken liver needs to be fresh and kept cold to keep it from getting too soft on the hook,’’ he said.

The website includes tips on several fishing methods including use of bait, lures and grubs.

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Columbian Outdoors Reporter