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Pikeminnow Probe Nets The Dalles Men by Ted Kulongoski The Dalles Chronicle, May 6, 2008

Marina pen yields 88 fish as annual rewards begin

Two men from The Dalles were cited by Oregon State Police (OSP) Fish and Wildlife Division troopers after an investigation into their participation in the 2008 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery, which began Monday, according to information from the Oregon State Police.

The program's goal is to reduce the number of Northern Pikeminnow in the Columbia River that are responsible for eating a significant portion of downstream migrating salmon and steelhead smolts.

Following an investigation and surveillance, OSP troopers served a search warrant on Saturday on a boathouse in The Dalles Marina. A total of 88 live Northern Pikeminnow and one catfish were reportedly held in a live trap constructed of wood and wire mesh that was in the water attached to the side of the boat slip.

The boathouse renter, Reggie Dawson, 56, from The Dalles, was cited on misdemeanor charges of Unlawful Holding of Fish without a Permit and Attempted Theft by Deception.

Information obtained in the search warrant led to a second person suspected of catching roughly half the fish located in the live trap. John Brown, 46, from The Dalles, was contacted and cited for the same charges.

Both men involved in the case have reportedly been participants in the Northern Pikeminnow Reward Fishery program for a number of years.

The Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery program is operated by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The program allows anglers to catch Northern Pikeminnow by legal sport angling methods, turn those fish in to check stations for vouchers, and then turn the vouchers in for payment. The angler is paid $4 per fish for the first 100 fish caught and turned in for the season, $5 per fish after 100 and up to 400 fish, and $8 per fish for any fish caught in excess of 400 fish.

Anglers participating in the program must register at a check station each day before they begin angling, and then can only turn in fish caught subsequent to that registration for the day. The 2008 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery program began Monday and will run for approximately five months. Anglers caught violating any angling regulations or rules of the program may be disqualified from participation in the program.

Northern Pikeminnow are voracious predators responsible for eating a significant portion of downstream migrating salmon and steelhead smolts. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of Northern Pike Minnow which are 9 inches and longer in the Columbia River.

More information about the program is available on their website at: www.pikeminnow.org/more_info.html