Pikeminnow on the fly

[FishyJere]

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?

 

[Gyrfalcon22]

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.

 

[clarkman]

There are a few around...shoot, I occasionally get them as by-catch while fishing for tiger muskies...





Also by-catch while getting after smallies....

 

[Divad]

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 (?).

 

[troutpocket]

Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery Program

Image Photo by WDFW

wdfw.wa.gov

Pikeminnow – Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program

www.pikeminnow.org

If I wanted to try for a payday catching Pikeminnow, I wouldn’t do it with fly gear. The award fishery zones are in the hydro system of the lower C and Snake. Big water. Not that you can’t do it with flies, but this is really a commercial enterprise, right?

 

[FinLuver]

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.

 

[Paul_]

If anyone wants info on the Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery Program let me know. I know a guy…
Here are some examples of patterns to tie up to match the hatch-

 

[Paul_]

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-

Reports – Pikeminnow

www.pikeminnow.org

 

[Tom Butler]

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.

 

[clarkman]

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....

 

[Josh]

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.

 

[Matt B]

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....

Any guesses on the weight of that giant one you caught? The WA state record is 7.92 lbs.

 

[clarkman]

Any guesses on the weight of that giant one you caught? The WA state record is 7.92 lbs.

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!

 

[Buzzy]

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

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.

 

[clarkman]

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.

probably good sturgeon bait too! although I've never tried.

 

[Travis Bille]

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

 

[Tom Butler]

I forgot about this. That black and gold woolly bugger has found more big uglies than any other fly for me.

 

[krusty]

Caught a lot of them on the Spokane back in the 1960s, using a Wooly Worm. Really lousy fighters...a strike then you're hauling in a log.

 

[Mossback]

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'.

 

[Dogsnfish]

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.

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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