The catch of Northern pikeminnow was down this year even though the season was extended by two weeks, according to the Bonneville Power Administration, which oversees the bounty program for the voracious salmon predators.
In all, 141,645 pikeminnow were caught this season in the Columbia and Snake rivers, down from a typical 160,000 to 200,000.
The season, sponsored by BPA and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, ended Oct. 11.
"This year the total number of pikeminnow caught was lower than in recent years, but we believe it's due to the program doing what it was designed to do: reduce the number of pikeminnow in the river," said Russell Porter, senior program manager for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. "But that's not to say that we should stop fishing for them."
The program offers a number of incentives for anglers in addition to bounties ranging from $4 to $8 per fish, rising with the number caught.
Anglers pulled 180 specially tagged fish out of the river this season worth $500 each. In addition, from August on, anglers were eligible for weekly drawings of $1,000, for a total of $60,000 paid out. The incentive was designed to hook more of the salmon predators before the end of the sport reward season.
"The real winners are the salmon, because pikeminnow eat millions of juvenile salmon and steelhead every year," said BPA project manager John Skidmore. "Reducing the number of these predators through this program helps boost salmon and steelhead survival."
Administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and funded by the BPA, the program is designed to reduce the number of, but not eradicate, northern pikeminnow. Since 1991, more than 3.3 million northern pikeminnow have been removed from the Snake and Columbia rivers through the program.
Last year, there were 158,191 northern pikeminnow were turned in. As a result, northern pikeminnow predation on juvenile salmon in 2009 was cut by an estimated 37 percent.
Anglers who register and follow the rules of the program are paid $4 per fish up to 100 pikeminnow. The bounty jumps to $5 per fish for each fish over 101 and $8 per fish for 401 fish and above. There are hundreds of pikeminnow in the basin with special tags worth $500 each to lucky anglers.
Similar stories:
Top pikeminnow fisher made $66,478
Top pikeminnow fisher made $66,478
PORTLAND -- The top earner in the Northern Pikeminnow Sports Reward Program this year earned $66,478 during the six-month season and the second place angler brought in $60,742.
The program pays cash for catching and removing the voracious fish from the Columbia and Snake rivers, reducing their consumption of juvenile salmon. Payment is $4 to $8 for pikeminnow nine inches and larger caught in the lower Columbia and Snake river.
In addition 156 pikeminnow were specially tagged and worth up to $500 each.
Meals on Wheels seeks volunteer drivers
Meals on Wheels seeks volunteer drivers
Meals on Wheels needs drivers to help deliver meals to homebound seniors in Pasco, Kennewick, Richland and Benton City. Drivers are especially needed in Pasco.
The meals are delivered to seven locations for drivers to pick up at 10:45 a.m. Routes take 30 minutes to an hour and a half.
Drivers use their vehicles and mileage reimbursement is available. Volunteers must pass a background check. For information, call 735-1911.
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
SPOKANE -- State wildlife officials will ask fishermen to help control the advance of northern pike toward the Columbia River.
Fishery managers in the next few months plan to enlist anglers to remove as many northern pike as possible from the Pend Oreille River, which is the route the voracious species is following from Idaho and Montana.
Studies conducted with the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University show a dramatic decline in native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile Box Canyon Reservoir.
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will test whether anglers can successfully catch summer chinook salmon in the tailrace of the Chelan County PUD's hydroelectric powerhouse in Chelan.
The new fishery is scheduled to run through Oct. 15.
"This opening will test whether we can conduct a fishery in such a small area," Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for the WDFW, said in a news release Friday. "Starting this year, a lot of hatchery-reared fish will be moving through the tailrace, and we'd like to give anglers a chance to catch some."
Commission calls for early end to sturgeon gillnet season
Commission calls for early end to sturgeon gillnet season
The Coastal Conservation Association is calling for an end to the winter sturgeon gillnet season in the lower Columbia River to reduce handling of the dwindling population.
"It is an unneeded season on fish that are in serious trouble,'' said Bruce Polley, CCA Oregon government relations committee chairman. "Because this season is unnecessary to access the commercial quota, it results in an increase in discarded sturgeon in fall salmon/sturgeon gillnet fisheries.''
Historically, the winter sturgeon season has been in January and early to mid-February.
Print
Email Story
