2020 Northern pikeminnow season opening delayed

 Stay at home orders issued in March by governors in Washington and Oregon closed or limited fishing and access to some boat ramps. Washington recently reopened most fishing seasons and is allowing day-use of many boat ramps.

 When the fishery does open, participants will see some changes to registration and turn-in procedures. These changes are intended to protect the health and wellbeing of program employees and fishing enthusiasts.

Program participants should expect additional barriers, signs and floor markers at stations to encourage social distancing. Anglers will be encouraged not to congregate near stations and will be asked to unload their fish into designated containers.

 Registered anglers will again earn $5 to $8 for each Northern pikeminnow that is at least 9-inches long. The more fish an angler reels in, the more each is worth. Specially tagged Northern pikeminnow will be worth $500. Last year the top fisherman in the program removed 6,482 Northern pikeminnow and earned more than $53,000.

 Northern pikeminnow are voracious, consuming millions of young salmon and steelhead each year. Since 1990, anglers paid through the program have removed nearly five million Northern pikeminnow from the Columbia and Snake rivers. The program annually reduces predation by about 40 percent.

Check the fishery website, www.pikeminnow.org, or call 800-858-9015 for updates on the 2020 season.

The website also has details on how to register for the program and applicable state fishing regulations, and hosts fishing tips.  The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in cooperation with the Washington and Oregon departments of fish and wildlife and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.