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Where to find pikeminnow in a river
Northern pikeminnow gather around rocky areas with fast current. Look for places where current meets or moves around structure:
- Dam areas, where fishing is permitted
- Islands, points and stream mouths
- Eddies and rows of pilings
- Rock ledges, bars and bottom ridges
Most fish in the program guide’s advice are caught in 7–25 feet of water. Treat that as a starting range, not a fixed limit: check depth and current as you move between structures. The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program guide describes these locations and depths.
When to fish
Sunrise, sunset and nighttime are generally productive because pikeminnow tend to concentrate in shallower water in low light. In Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife guidance, success often improves in May and June as water temperatures rise, with a typical seasonal peak in late June. Conditions at a particular river or location can shift that pattern. See the agency’s pikeminnow fishing information.
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What lures work for pikeminnow?
Choose a lure that can be worked near the bottom. Two useful starting options are a rattling lipless crankbait and a large-lipped diving crankbait. Fish may respond differently to color, so try blue-, green- or black-backed patterns and change if one is not producing. Vary retrieve speed to find what triggers a bite. The program’s lure guide describes these lure types and presentations.
| Lure | How to use it | What to adjust |
|---|---|---|
| Rattling lipless crankbait | Let it sink to the target depth, then retrieve it near the bottom. | Countdown, retrieve speed and color. |
| Large-lipped diving crankbait | Choose a plug that dives close to the bottom at the depth you are fishing. | Retrieve speed and color. |
How to present a lure from shore or a boat
Shore fishing
Cast upstream or straight out, then work the lure through the target water. With a sinking lure, count it down before retrieving so it reaches the depth where fish are holding.
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Anchoring or drifting
From a boat, either anchor and cast or drift while casting. In both cases, aim to cover rocky structure and keep the lure near the bottom rather than retrieving it high above the fish.
How to troll for pikeminnow
Troll bars, bottom ridges and island ledges—the same kinds of bottom structure often targeted for walleye. The program’s lure guide suggests trolling downstream at about 2–3 mph with a lure that dives close to the bottom. That speed and direction are starting points; faster trolling or an upstream pass may work better on a particular day.
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- INLINE SPINNER: Concave/convex blade rides directly on the shaft — the cupped face catches water so the blade starts turning as soon as it hits and continues to spin at slow retrieve speeds. Catching fish since 1958.
- BARBLESS & LEGAL: Our best patterns with true barbless single hooks - easier on the fish, more sporting on the line and fully legal in barbless-only waters.
- SIZE 2 (1/16 oz): CREEK TO POND TO LAKESHORE: At 1/16 oz it casts on ultralight gear and light line, then works stream runs and plunge pools, farm ponds, spring creeks and shallow lakeshores. Light enough to fish skinny water without dragging bottom.
- COLOR Silver: GENUINE SILVER PLATED: Real silver plating throws the brightest mirror flash of any finish, matching the glint of fleeing baitfish. A first pick in clear water, bright sun, spring-fed streams and clean lakes.
- TARGET SPECIES: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Bluegill, White Bass, Pumpkinseed, Sunfish, Panfish, White Perch.
How the pikeminnow bounty works
The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program is a specific Columbia–Snake fishery, not a general payment for pikeminnow caught anywhere. Its stated waters include the Columbia River mainstem from its mouth to the restricted zone below Priest Rapids Dam and the Snake River from its mouth to the restricted zone below Hells Canyon, plus specified backwaters, sloughs and up to 400 feet of tributary mouth under program rules. Check the current program rules and applicable state regulations for exact boundaries and restrictions.
- Register before fishing each day. Use a designated station or the program app.
- Follow applicable state fishing rules. Program participation does not replace those requirements.
- Keep eligible fish in suitable condition. Fish must be personally caught, alive or fresh, and at least 9 inches total length. Frozen or poor-condition fish may be rejected by program technicians.
- Return the fish to the same station. Do so on the registration date, before that station closes.
The program home page lists seasonal rewards of $6 per fish for the first 25, $8 per fish after 25, and $10 per fish after 200. It also lists $500 for a verified external tag and $200 for a verified PIT-tag-only fish. These are the listed program rewards; confirm the current schedule and terms at the program home page before fishing.
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- SIZE 6 (1/4 oz): THE VERSATILE MID-WEIGHT: Long casts and deeper coverage for big trout, smallmouth bass, crappie and more. At home in lakes, tailwaters and larger rivers.
- COLOR Rainbow Trout Holographic: MATCH THE HATCH: A lifelike trout pattern for waters where the biggest fish eat smaller trout. Deadly on trophy browns, lake trout and stocked-water predators.
- TARGET SPECIES: Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, White Bass, Peacock Bass.
The program’s 2025 results summary reports that its top 20 anglers averaged 4,133 fish and $41,736 in reward payments each during the five-month season; the highest-paid angler earned $159,310. Those are results for the top participants in that season, not typical earnings or a guarantee of payment.
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