Northern Pikeminnow
Ptychocheilus oregonensis
Northern Pikeminnow is a large native minnow of western North America, now often abundant in big rivers and reservoirs. It is a powerful predator on smaller fish and is sometimes targeted in bounty fisheries where allowed.
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Identification points
- Long, torpedo-shaped body with a flattened head and large mouth
- Small eyes set high on the head with a slightly overhanging snout
- Olive-gray back with silvery sides and a forked tail, lacking bold spots or bars
Habitat
Large lowland rivers, main-channel sloughs, backwaters, reservoirs, and warm turbid water with moderate current; commonly holds near drop-offs, eddies, submerged structure, and tributary mouths.
Bait notes
Use small live minnows, salmon eggs where legal, worms, cut bait, or streamer-style flies that imitate small fish. Oversized lures are unnecessary; natural baitfish profiles and scent often outperform flashy presentations.
Behavior
An opportunistic piscivore that feeds heavily on juvenile salmonids and other fish, especially at dawn, dusk, and low-light periods. Adults patrol current seams and ambush prey but will also scavenge and take drifting food.
Caution
Check local rules: northern pikeminnow are managed differently in some Columbia Basin waters and may be part of a bounty program. Large individuals can contain higher contaminant loads in some rivers, so heed local fish-consumption advisories.
Fishing notes
Fish river seams, tailouts, and current breaks with a drifted bait or cast-and-retrieve minnow plug; in reservoirs, work points and channel edges. In many areas it is not a typical sport species and may be subject to size or harvest regulations.