Captain Quantum
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| 16 Dec 2010 07:11 AM |
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Whether you call them Squawfish or Northern Pike Minnow, (political correctness aside) the majority of fishermen can agree, this is not the fish you wanted when you casted out! There is nothing more frustrating and humiliating than pulling in a big ol' Squawfish. Especially when your buddys are around. It's more aggravating because, since they fight so hard, you thought you had a 5 pound bass! Listening to the snickers as you remove the hook from the slimy bottom dweller, you must now decide what to do with him. Gut and kill him? Throw him on the shore? Turn him in for the reward? Or let him go, so he can steal your bait another day? And thats where things get tricky. In some parts of the country, including mine, there is a bounty for these aquatic invaders. The bounty is around 3 or 4 dollars a fish. The reason being, Squawfish are an incredibly disruptive and invasive species of fish. They consume the spawn of threatened gamefish like Salmon and not to mention they are hardly edible at all (I am not going to address the issue of Squawfish consumption here because, quite frankly, I find it disgusting. If you don't mind eating polluted, garbage fish than thats your prerogative.) So my question is, what do you do with your (Northern Pike Minnow) Squawfish? |
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saltydan
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Posts:337
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| 16 Dec 2010 09:12 AM |
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If they were in my neck of the woods, and they were considered a nuisance or trash fish with a bounty on their heads, you can bet I would turn them in for the reward!
That would sure go a long way in helping to defray the costs of fishing.
Tight lines,
Salty Dan
Orange Texas |
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Captain Quantum
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| 16 Dec 2010 09:38 AM |
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Unfortunetaly, the area im in now, the bounty isn't available to me. It is in nearby areas like Idaho and the Columbia River. What I do when I catch Squawfish is smash them on the head a few times with a rock to give them a quick death, then throw them on the shore. Now, before people start criticizing me for this, you have to realize that these are not cats or dogs. They are fish. And it's either eliminate these fish, or release them, and allow them to continue to disturb the reproduction of such gamefish as trout, bass, pike and ofcourse the main species they effect, Salmon. |
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fisherfanatic
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| 17 Dec 2010 07:34 PM |
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These fish seem to have destructive capabilities similar to Round Goby. Both species are big consumers of fish eggs.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squawfish |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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basbandit
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Posts:547
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| 21 Dec 2010 10:53 AM |
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I agree with you 100% Captain. Squawfish are a big problem here in the NW So kill em |
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| Trophy Life Member USN Retired 1969-1989 NW Bass Pro Washington State |
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AZAllen
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| 21 Dec 2010 11:49 AM |
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Sqauwfish an invasive species, I thought they were native to the Columbia river system. Actually the smallmouth bass and walleye are closer to being "invasive" than the squawfish (with human help) but people like smallies and 'eyes. Smallies and 'eyes probobly also eat salmon smolts as they head downriver to the sea, but people like them. But, unlike their Colorado River cousins, they are not endangered, of no use exept possibly for catfish bait or fertilzer so I would tend to say, enjoy the fight and kill the fish, collect the bounty if conveneient. |
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| NAFC, NAHC, NRA, SASS, Viet Nam Vet. Bullhead City, AZ |
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Captain Quantum
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| 21 Dec 2010 12:24 PM |
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Clearly, smallmouth bass have been introduced into a wide variety of water systems and would be more appropriately labeled as "invasive." Much more than the Squawfish. However, I am not using the word invasive in it's strictest, most literal sense. I merely meant to convey a sense of "war" that is occurring within the Columbia river system. The invading army being the Squawfish. And the victims, depressed salmon and steelhead populations. Thier smolt, comprise the majority of the squawfish's diet. Much more than bass or walleye consume. And squawfish are arguably equally aggressive, if not more so, then the smallmouth bass. They are predators. Which is fine, until they start to negatively effect prized game fish populations that are of commercial value. Squawfish are not edible (depending on who you ask) and are not caught for sport. They really are a species of fish that need to be kept in check, and that is the entire point of the topic at hand. |
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basbandit
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| 21 Dec 2010 04:13 PM |
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As far as the bounty is concered you would have to do it full time in order for it to pay off. There are a few guys from the Tri-Cities area in Washington that make a pretty good living catching Squawfish for the bounty. I have only caight one squawfish on the Columbia River and I killed it and threw it on the shore. I have however caught a ton of em in Lake Samish near Bellingham Wa. Samish at one time was one of the best kokonee lakes in western WA, not so much any more because of the squawfish.
Captian Quantum where might you be from. |
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| Trophy Life Member USN Retired 1969-1989 NW Bass Pro Washington State |
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Zilch
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Posts:65
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| 21 Dec 2010 08:36 PM |
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As stated by CQ squawfish take their toll on salmon eggs. They also take the fry. Another fish that does the same is the bull trout aka dolly varden which is really a char. It is a huge problem where steelhead spawn. I just happen to live a few yards from a crystal clear creek where steelhead spawn and it makes me sick that the bull trout are protected under the endangered species act. |
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Captain Quantum
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| 15 Mar 2011 03:31 AM |
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I think they should increase the bounty on squawfish by a few dollars. 5 dollars a fish. That would get people out on the lakes and rivers in droves! All with the universal purpose of exterminating the squawfish! |
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saltydan
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| 15 Mar 2011 06:01 AM |
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Ya know CQ, if there were bounties on several invasive fish, such as squawfish, snakehead, and the carp that has been threatening the Great lakes and has invaded the Mississippi and other rivers, it would certainly go a long way in getting them out of our waters and halting their spread!  Just my thoughts on it, Salty Dan Orange Texas |
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| If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try sky diving! |
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Captain Quantum
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| 15 Mar 2011 11:05 PM |
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I say we nuke em' Dan! Ha ha! |
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Captain Quantum
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| 15 Mar 2011 11:05 PM |
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I say we nuke em' Dan! Ha ha! |
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AZAllen
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| 16 Mar 2011 09:24 AM |
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Captain Quantum, a better label for the Pike minnows would be destructive, other species on land in the water might be considered the same way. Coyotes might be an example on land. Zilch, bull trout would be considered a "good" fish had they not become endangered, apparently in most all of their original range. |
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| NAFC, NAHC, NRA, SASS, Viet Nam Vet. Bullhead City, AZ |
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Captain Quantum
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| 16 Mar 2011 10:33 AM |
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Posted By AZAllen on 16 Mar 2011 10:24 AM
Captain Quantum, a better label for the Pike minnows would be destructive, other species on land in the water might be considered the same way. Coyotes might be an example on land. Zilch, bull trout would be considered a "good" fish had they not become endangered, apparently in most all of their original range.
Do you have squawfish where you live AZAllen? A lot of people haven't even heard of them. I don't think they exist on the eastern side of the country. |
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fisherfanatic
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| 16 Mar 2011 05:13 PM |
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Posted By Captain Quantum on 16 Mar 2011 11:33 AM
Posted By AZAllen on 16 Mar 2011 10:24 AM
Captain Quantum, a better label for the Pike minnows would be destructive, other species on land in the water might be considered the same way. Coyotes might be an example on land. Zilch, bull trout would be considered a "good" fish had they not become endangered, apparently in most all of their original range.
Do you have squawfish where you live AZAllen? A lot of people haven't even heard of them. I don't think they exist on the eastern side of the country. They aren't here in Michigan. |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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Captain Quantum
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| 16 Mar 2011 09:12 PM |
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Posted By fisherfanatic on 16 Mar 2011 06:13 PM
Posted By Captain Quantum on 16 Mar 2011 11:33 AM
Posted By AZAllen on 16 Mar 2011 10:24 AM
Captain Quantum, a better label for the Pike minnows would be destructive, other species on land in the water might be considered the same way. Coyotes might be an example on land. Zilch, bull trout would be considered a "good" fish had they not become endangered, apparently in most all of their original range.
Do you have squawfish where you live AZAllen? A lot of people haven't even heard of them. I don't think they exist on the eastern side of the country.
They aren't here in Michigan.
You are lucky then! They are a nuisance! |
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saltydan
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| 16 Mar 2011 09:48 PM |
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There might not be any squawfish in MI, but they have those danged old slippery eel like things that come in with the saltwater ships through the canals. They are trying to exterminate them because they eat the young pike and pike eggs. Nasty creatures. Hope they eradicate them all! Again, if there was a bounty on things like that, I would bet dollars to doughnuts there would be a lot less of them! Tight lines, Salty Dan Orange Texas |
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| If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try sky diving! |
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fisherfanatic
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| 17 Mar 2011 09:20 AM |
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Posted By saltydan on 16 Mar 2011 10:48 PM
There might not be any squawfish in MI, but they have those danged old slippery eel like things that come in with the saltwater ships through the canals. They are trying to exterminate them because they eat the young pike and pike eggs. Nasty creatures. Hope they eradicate them all!
Again, if there was a bounty on things like that, I would bet dollars to doughnuts there would be a lot less of them!
Tight lines,
Salty Dan
Orange Texas Are you talking about American Eels? If so, they're old news, and they're native to MI.  |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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Pegsguy
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| 17 Mar 2011 01:06 PM |
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I think the reference is to sea lamprey which have been in the Great Lakes since they were opened to the sea in the 19th century. They just about ate the lake trout to extinction in the 50s. Fortunatley there is a poison that is specific to them and electric barriers have helped keep them out of the streams where they spawn. Tom |
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| Lifer in NE Illinois Gen. 1:28 I didn't rise to the top of the food chain to become a vegitarian! |
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fisherfanatic
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| 17 Mar 2011 05:54 PM |
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Sea Lamprey don't feed on fish eggs. Native lamprey (Brook, Chesnut, etc.) might, though. |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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saltydan
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Posts:337
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| 17 Mar 2011 08:42 PM |
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It is the sea lamprey. There have been numerous stories about hem for years on Nat Geo and other channels like them. I know the lamprey has been in the Great Lakes since the opening of the locks to allow ships to get into Lake Erie. However, it seems like the last show I watched about them showed how they were neutering all the males they could catch and letting them go back into the wild. The idea being that they would be sterile and would lessen the reproduction rate. They were catching them in the streams and tributaries where they were feeding on pike fingerlings or something like that.
All I know is that they are destroying the fisheries up there...at least that is how it was presented on the programs I have seen.
Tight lines,
Salty Dan
Orange Texas |
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| If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try sky diving! |
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AZAllen
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| 18 Mar 2011 08:39 PM |
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Sea lampreys have been in the Great Lakes since the opening of the Ship canal around the Niagra Falls. I believe that is how Alewive gto there also. Sea Lampreys feed by boring a hole in the side o the host fish and sucking out the juices (blood) (vampires??). Pegsguy has it right on the efforts to control them. Never heard of neutering and releasing them to control them, I do know that the use of sterilized male mosquitos has helped in their population control. It works because a female mosquito only breeds once per cycle and if the he-bug is shooting blanks, she lays no eggs that time around (or the eggs are sterile).
Yes there are squawfish in the Colorado river but never so many as in the Columbia river system. They were the apex predator until other types of fish were brought west. The Colorado river system is long but tiny compared to the Columbia System, not even half the size of the Yakima. I think pretty much all of the native species of the lower river are endangered, whereas the dams and competition did not seem to bother the Columbia fish much, it has made things hard for all of the native fish of the lower Colorado. I have only seen a squawfish in the aquarium in the Cabelas in Glendale, AZ. |
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| NAFC, NAHC, NRA, SASS, Viet Nam Vet. Bullhead City, AZ |
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Captain Quantum
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| 19 Mar 2011 02:36 AM |
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I have only seen a squawfish in the aquarium in the Cabelas in Glendale, AZ.
Cabelas put a squawfish in their aquarium?! Ha ha! |
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fisherfanatic
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| 19 Mar 2011 09:56 AM |
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Posted By saltydan on 17 Mar 2011 09:42 PM
It is the sea lamprey. There have been numerous stories about hem for years on Nat Geo and other channels like them. I know the lamprey has been in the Great Lakes since the opening of the locks to allow ships to get into Lake Erie. However, it seems like the last show I watched about them showed how they were neutering all the males they could catch and letting them go back into the wild. The idea being that they would be sterile and would lessen the reproduction rate. They were catching them in the streams and tributaries where they were feeding on pike fingerlings or something like that.
All I know is that they are destroying the fisheries up there...at least that is how it was presented on the programs I have seen.
Tight lines,
Salty Dan
Orange Texas Sea Lamprey are almost totally parasitic feeders. They only suck out other fish's blood and other fluids. Alewives, however, are big consumers of fish eggs, especially Lake Trout eggs, due to the locations that Lake Trout typically spawn. |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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Captain Quantum
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| 19 Mar 2011 10:02 AM |
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How did this topic all of the sudden become about sea lamprey?! |
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AZAllen
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| 19 Mar 2011 10:07 AM |
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Guess it is because no one likes them either.
Cabelas probobly has the Coroado River Pike Minnow in the Aquarium 'cause that is the only way most of us will ever see this rare and endangered fish, which does have a sort of fpike like profile for its body. |
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| NAFC, NAHC, NRA, SASS, Viet Nam Vet. Bullhead City, AZ |
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Captain Quantum
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| 19 Mar 2011 10:10 AM |
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Posted By AZAllen on 19 Mar 2011 11:07 AM
Guess it is because no one likes them either.
Cabelas probobly has the Coroado River Pike Minnow in the Aquarium 'cause that is the only way most of us will ever see this rare and endangered fish, which does have a sort of fpike like profile for its body.
Were you joking? "Rare and endangered?" They are neither! And who wants to see them? They are ugly, gross fish. Come fish the Spokane river for 20 minutes then tell me they are rare! There are millions of them here. I still say kill em' all! |
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saltydan
Advanced Poster
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| 19 Mar 2011 10:18 AM |
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Sorry CQ;
I guess that I must have hijacked it by including it with other invasive fish that should have a bounty on them.
Sorry,
Salty Dan
Orange Texas |
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| If at first you don't succeed, maybe you shouldn't try sky diving! |
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Captain Quantum
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| 19 Mar 2011 10:21 AM |
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Ha ha it's okay Dan. One cannot control where these threads go! You just have to sit back and enjoy the ride! |
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Captain Quantum
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| 19 Mar 2011 10:39 AM |
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 Yes, just look at that majestic beauty...
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Pegsguy
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| 19 Mar 2011 11:16 AM |
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Never having seen a Squawfish, I wouldn't recognize one if I caught it but CQ's pic doesn't look the least bit like a pike. At least the ones I have caught! Tom |
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| Lifer in NE Illinois Gen. 1:28 I didn't rise to the top of the food chain to become a vegitarian! |
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Captain Quantum
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| 19 Mar 2011 11:51 AM |
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Posted By Pegsguy on 19 Mar 2011 12:16 PM
Never having seen a Squawfish, I wouldn't recognize one if I caught it but CQ's pic doesn't look the least bit like a pike. At least the ones I have caught! Tom
They do only a little Tom. Just because of their long body. But other than that no they don't. |
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fisherfanatic
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| 20 Mar 2011 11:12 AM |
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Posted By AZAllen on 19 Mar 2011 11:07 AM
Guess it is because no one likes them either.
Cabelas probobly has the Coroado River Pike Minnow in the Aquarium 'cause that is the only way most of us will ever see this rare and endangered fish, which does have a sort of fpike like profile for its body. I think what he means is that Pike Minnows aren't that wide spread, although they cause problems where they live. I personally had never seen one until you brought up this topic. |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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AZAllen
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| 20 Mar 2011 12:49 PM |
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Like I said before, on the huge Columbia river system, they have obviously adapted well to the changes in the river system, the fish native to the Co;orado have not. Before dams created reservoirs, The Colorado river ran huge variations in flow. They river was usually relatively muddy and warm. Now the river has huge coldwater tailwater areas that are totally alien to the native species as well as a huge new set of predators; bass, catfish and stripers mainly. Every fish "native" to the lower Colorado River (and Arizona) is or has been on the endangered species list. This is totally different than the northern species to which you refer.
Fisherfanatic, you will probobly never see one unless you come west. I have spent very little time on the Columbia River system and didn't see any then, as I said, the only ones I have ever seen were the endangered "colorado River Pikeminnow" at the aquarium at the local Cabelas. Most people will never see one down here...Whole 'nother subject from CQ's area.
Always wondered why they were called "squawfish"? Squaw is algonquin ( I think) and means "woman". |
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| NAFC, NAHC, NRA, SASS, Viet Nam Vet. Bullhead City, AZ |
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Captain Quantum
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| 20 Mar 2011 01:13 PM |
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Yeah, they are a dime a dozen here! Unfortunately... |
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slipperybob
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| 07 Jul 2011 12:07 AM |
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If it is the state rule to kill the invasive species on the spot, then one should just do so. Sure enough first time I've seen it done, I was sick to my stomach, but people were only following the rules. |
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Captain Quantum
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| 07 Jul 2011 12:51 AM |
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Posted By slipperybob on 07 Jul 2011 01:07 AM
If it is the state rule to kill the invasive species on the spot, then one should just do so. Sure enough first time I've seen it done, I was sick to my stomach, but people were only following the rules.
It is not the state rule to kill Squawfish. But there is a bounty in certain areas of WA and ID. They are destructive to other fish populations that are of recreational and commercial value. Squawfish really are just a nuisance. |
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