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Northern Pikeminnow Program Meets its Goal by Staff The Columbian, January 20, 2021

The Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program met its annual goal to remove 10% to 20% of pikeminnow in the Columbia and Snake rivers that prey on juvenile salmon and steelhead, the Bonneville Power Administration reported.

In 2020, the number of fish removed by 2,450 registered anglers was 103,114, an average of 6.5 fish per day. This paid out $839,461 to anglers.

The top angler removed 5,579 northern pikeminnow for a payout of $48,501.

When the season opened May 11, registered anglers had the opportunity to make $5 to $8 for each northern pikeminnow at least 9 inches long, and specially tagged northern pikeminnow were worth $500.

Program managers temporarily increased the reward to a flat $10 per fish late in the season to spur angler participation -- which was a bit lower than normal due to the pandemic -- and to take advantage of favorable river conditions during the season's 11-day extension in October.

The program will resume its pre-pandemic bounties when the northern pikeminnow season kicks off again in spring. The typical season runs May 1 to Sept. 30.