Outdoors Notebook | Northern pikeminnow fishing is off to a good start

The Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program in the Columbia River is off to a good start, and more anglers seem to be participating this season.

"We've been getting more new anglers out this season, and we're always trying to recruit people," said Russell Porter, senior program manager, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The reward program just might be a way to sweeten a sour economy or to help someone without a job, and do their part at catching these highly predatory fish.

After all the northern pikeminnow, a large member of the minnow family is known to eat millions of young salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers each year.

The more northern pikeminnow an angler catches, the more the fish are worth. The first 100 are worth $4 each; the next 300 are worth $5 each, and after 400 fish are caught and turned in, they are worth $8 each. As an added incentive, specially tagged fish are worth $500. Only fish caught from the Columbia mouth to Priest Rapids Dam, and form the Snake mouth to Hells Canyon Dam are eligible.

Last year, excluding tagged fish, rewards totaled more than $1-million for 158,674 fish. A total of 167 tagged fish paid out $83,500.

Last year, Nikolay N. Zaremskiy of Gresham, Ore., was paid $57,772 for catching 7,015 fish, and David R. Vasilchuk of Vancouver took second with $44,608 and 5,185 fish. The top-20 catches were paid a grand total of $430,415.

Last year, anglers caught about 159,806 fish with 26,141 angler days spent on the water. The daily catch-per-angler average last season was 6.11 fish.

"Things have been going pretty good this year, but our catches are a bit down and that might be because the water is a little bit cold right now," Porter said. "By [later this month] we usually start to hear of a better bite."

Porter says through June 6-7, anglers have turned in about 26,000 fish, and "we consider it a good year when 180,000 to 200,000 fish are caught."

Since 1990, more than three million northern pikeminnow have been removed through the sport reward program. As a result of these efforts, predation on juvenile salmonids is estimated to have been cut by 38 percent.

Some of better catches occur from the The Dalles Boat Basin check station; Boyer Park in the Snake River below Lower Granite Dam; and the M. James Gleason ramp in the Lower Columbia River Washougal.

"It's not easy to catch them," Porter said. "We'd like to educate people so they have some knowledge before heading out."

The help anglers there will be a pikeminnow clinic 6 p.m. June 19 at the Sportsman Warehouse on Canal Drive in Kennewick.

The fish caught aren't just thrown away in the trash; they are used to make liquid organic fertilizer for agriculture and fish meal for poultry and dairy cattle feed.

There are 17 check stations along both rivers. Anglers must register in person each day before fishing.

Catches must be checked in at the station each day, and reward vouchers will be given. Details: 800-858-9015 or www.pikeminnow.org.

The program is administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration, which is directed by the 1980 Northwest Power Act to fund work to improve salmon runs harmed by federal hydroelectric dams.

Notes

• The free Jimmy Green Memorial Fly Fishing Fair and Casting Expo is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 20 at Lake Tye, 14964 Fryelands Blvd. in Monroe. Meet and talk to the owners of local Puget Sound fly shops; learn to cast a fly rod; get involved in protecting local waters and fish; meet fly-fishing guides; find a fly-fishing club near your home; attend seminars in Fly-fishing 101; Lake Fly Fishing, River Fly Fishing; Puget Sound Fly Fishing; and there will be a casting competition for single and two-handed rods. Details: www.jimmygreenflyexpo.com.

• The Eastside Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 7 p.m. June 17 at North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Ave. N.E. Guest speaker is Robbie Tobeck, former Seahawk and co-host of ESPN 710 Outdoor Line Radio Show. Topic is tuna fishing off the coast. Details: 425 562-9180.

• Through this month, The North Face Company is hosting free educational events and community activities in the Seattle area to honor National Camping Month, an initiative to encourage and inspire Americans of all ages to get outdoors.

The free events being held this month include The 10 Essentials; Nutrition for Hiking and Running; Local Climbs; Triathlon 101; and Get Down! An Introduction to Tents and Sleeping Bags. Details: www.thenorthface.com.

• The Iraq War Veterans' Cross-Country "Coming Home" Bicycle Tour" is today and tomorrow. Join former Marine Officer Tyler E. Boudreau, who wrote the celebrated book Packing Inferno: The Unmaking of a Marine, 4 p.m. June 14 at Elliott Bay Books in Seattle.

Then at 10 a.m. June 15 at Gas Works Park join Boudreau and his friends as begins his 3,200-mile cross country bicycle trek to Northampton, Mass., which he is expected to finish by Sept. 15. Details: www.tylerboudreau.com or http://feralhouse.com/titles/kulchur/packing_inferno.php.

• The Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited is hosting a presentation titled Working Snake River Project, restoring a river that works for people and salmon, 6:30 p.m. June 16 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 6794 Martin Way East in Lacey.

The project puts into action the coalition's commitment to supporting solutions to the Snake River salmon crisis that work for fishermen, farmers, coastal towns and Inland Northwest agricultural communities. Details: www.OlympiaTU.Blogspot.com.

• The National Park Service has announced three fee-free weekends this summer to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit these national treasures.

At Mount Rainier and other national parks, all park entrance fees, including commercial tour entrance fees, will be waived on the following dates: June 20-21, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16.

These fee free weekends are in addition to the usual fee free days: National Public Lands Day, which falls on Sept. 26 this year, and Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

The waiver does not include other fees, such as fees charged for camping, reservations, climbing, or use of concessions. Details: www.nps.gov.

• The City of Woodinville Parks and Recreation is holding an eight-week evening classes on the Basics of Fly-fishing with Dick Lange, an Alaskan Outfitter, July 2-Aug. 27, and a Basic Fly Tying 101, July 1-Aug. 19 at the Carol Edwards Center, 17401 133rd Ave. N.E. in Woodinville.

Cost is $39 for Woodinville residents and $44.85 for nonresidents, plus $15 for course manual. Details: 425-398-9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for new members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Seattle Tennis Club. Please RSVP to attend meetings. Details: www.WFFC.com.

• The Mount St. Helens Institute offers a free Sunday Hiking Program series of 14 hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest now through Oct. 25. The hikes range from east to difficult, and are 4 to 10 miles round-trip. Space is limited and reservations are required. While the hikes are free a $5 donation is suggested. Details: www.mshinstitute.org.

• The Western Bass Club meets every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kennydale Hall in Renton. Details: www.westernbassclub.comor www.nickbarrfishing.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th S.W. in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com