Northern Pikeminnow Reward Program Extended Through Oct. 14

The northern pikeminnow reward program in the Columbia and Snake rivers is being extended through Oct. 14.

“Our mission is to remove a portion of the largest northern pikeminnow from these waters, and fishing is very good right now,” said Eric Winther, project leader for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Anglers are paid $4 to $8 for each pikeminnow measuring at least 9 inches. There also are tagged fish worth $500.

So far in 2007, anglers have caught more than 180,000 northern pikeminnow, earning about $1 million in rewards, Winther said.

Last week, 653 anglers landed 6,687 pikeminnow, an average of 10.2 per rod.

The top two spots were the M. James Gleason boat ramp in Portland, and Kalama Marina, where anglers averaged 26.4 and 22.6 pikeminnows.

Catch averages were 5.4 at Cathlamet, 4.8 at Willow Grove, 5.2 at Rainier, 22.6 at Kalama, 26.4 at Gleason, 5.2 at Chinook Landing, 8.4 at Camas-Washougal, 12.7 at Cascade Locks, 2.5 at Bingen, 9.2 at The Dalles, 0.4 at John Day Dam, 3.6 at Umatilla, 11.9 at Columbia Point, 10.4 at Vernite, 19.9 at Lyons Ferry, 7.8 at Boyer Park, and 12.3 at Greenbelt in Clarkston.

The largest total catch for the season has been at The Dalles, followed by John Day Dam.

Originally published by The Columbian.

(c) 2007 Columbian. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.