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[1]Northern Pikeminnows are voracious feeders and can easily be caught on a variety of spinners, lures and baits. The fish give a respectable performance when hooked and played on light tackle. Fish that inhabit waterbodies contaminated with PCBs and other chemical pollutants are suspect as their predatory feeding habits and nonmigratory lifecycles make them likely to concentrate toxins.[2] Fish in areas of high agricultural runoff like the Mid-Willamette Valley in Oregon show abnormal growths and deformities but these have not so far been associated with particular chemicals.[3] Northern Pikeminnows are edible but quite boney. The flesh is white in color and firm. It may be prepared in the same way as trout of similar size and is very palatable. Health advisories ought to be consulted before consuming this fish. www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/envtox/fishconsumption.shtml
Fisheries managers are currently attempting to reduce the numbers of this native fish in the Willamete River and Columbia River Systems to reduce its believed predation on salmon and trout eggs, fry and smolts. Bounties are currently offered.[4] Like many predator reduction programs, this one is open to question. It is likely that the elimination of seasonal wetlands and overflow channels, creation of impoundments and increases in water temperature have given this predator an advantage it did not historically enjoy over some of the prey species.[5] Efforts aimed at improving salmon and trout spawning and rearing conditions and migration paths would seem to be more effective than targeting the Pikeminnow.[6] The minnow's prey base includes insects, mollusks, crusteceans and smaller fish. Its indiscriminate feeding habits mean that numbers are unlikely to be effected seriously by angling pressure. Seroius reduction in the numbers may result in the relief of pressure on other prey species other than trout and salmond with consequences that may not have been fully appreciated.
- ^ Insert footnote text here
- ^ www.dhonline.com/articles/2004/01/18/news/opinion/edit01.txt and www.willamette-riverkeeper.org/river1.htm
- ^ www.deq.state.or.us/wq/willamette/summary.htm
- ^ See reports of Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission at www.pikeminnow.org/reports.html
- ^ See www.pikeminnow.org/reports/2004-Pikeminnow-ER.pdf for program description and economic analysis
- ^ The program is underwritten by electric utilities but sponsorred by government fisheries managers www.pikeminnow.org/info.html
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