Previously known as squawfish, the Northern Pikeminnow underwent a renaming process in 1999, led by the American Fisheries Society. The change in common name aimed to replace the term "squaw," which was considered offensive to Native American women. Since then, it has been officially recognized as the Northern Pikeminnow, a name that better reflects its unique characteristics.
The Northern Pikeminnow is a long-lived fish species, capable of reaching lengths of up to 35 inches (89 cm) and weights of 15 pounds (6.8 kg). Female Northern Pikeminnow typically mature at around six years, while males reach maturity between three to five years. Remarkably, a mature female can lay up to 30,000 eggs annually, contributing to the species' population growth.
As adept predators, Northern Pikeminnows exhibit a varied diet, which includes salmon smolts, aquatic insects, other fish, terrestrial insects, benthic invertebrates, and even plant matter. The presence of the Columbia River hydropower system has provided favorable conditions for the Northern Pikeminnow to thrive, particularly in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Unfortunately, this increase in population has led to concerns about its impact on salmon populations within these water systems.
According to collected data, it is estimated that the Northern Pikeminnow can consume up to 650,000 salmon fry annually, exacerbating the challenges faced by depressed salmon and steelhead populations. These findings have prompted Washington and Oregon state fisheries agencies, along with the Bonneville Power Administration, to implement measures to control the predation by Northern Pikeminnows and protect vulnerable salmon stocks.
While historically not a commercially sought-after species or a popular choice among sport anglers, the Northern Pikeminnow's impact on salmon stocks has resulted in the development of a commercial fishery. Agencies such as Washington and Oregon state fisheries, in collaboration with the Bonneville Power Administration, have introduced a bounty system to incentivize the removal of Northern Pikeminnow from the water systems.
Sport anglers and commercial fishermen have participated in this effort to reduce predation on salmon stocks, resulting in a competitive environment where individuals seek to catch the largest Northern Pikeminnows. In fact, the current International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record for Northern Pikeminnow stands at an impressive 7 pounds 14 ounces (3.6 kg) and was caught in the Snake River near Almota, Washington.