Northern Pike in the Lower Columbia?

[buckcanyonlodge]

Talked with someone in the tri-Cities and they saw a post on fishing site of a guy asking " what kind of fish is this?"
My contact said it was caught in the tri-City area and someone identified the fish as a northern pike. I have not seen the pic. If not true I believe it's just a matter of time.. Anyone else have any info on northern pike below Grand Coulee??

[boneaddict]

Ive only caught them above....havent heard of any down below.

[boneaddict]

I would guess it was a tiger muskie, those I have heard of...

[RockChuck]

Hopefully they were mistaken and it was a pike minnow! I’ve heard people call them northern pikes before🤷‍♂️

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Haven't seen or heard of any here at Lyle. Will keep an eye out for sure and report back.

[Samloffler]

I would guess tiger muskie too. There have been a few taken out of the reach.

[buckcanyonlodge]

I would guess tiger muskie too. There have been a few taken out of the reach.

Where do the tiger muskie come from?

[boneaddict]

I think a majority of them have been dumped by private stock or accidental release. Sort of like how bass always end up in my favorite trout pond.    They are a sterile fish I believe so have to either be planted or escape.   


Mayfield used to have them, and may still be planted with them.  Doesn't it hook to the cowlitz which flows to the columbia?  No stretch in my mind that a fish cant somehow get downstream of the dam.

[The Marquis]

I think a majority of them have been dumped by private stock or accidental release. Sort of like how bass always end up in my favorite trout pond.    They are a sterile fish I believe so have to either be planted or escape.   


Mayfield used to have them, and may still be planted with them.  Doesn't it hook to the cowlitz which flows to the columbia?  No stretch in my mind that a fish cant somehow get downstream of the dam.

Mayfield certainly has em.  Saw a couple this week in the water.  Massive.  Also, Mayfield does connect to the Columbia River system, though one making it's way up to the Tri-Cities seems insane, considering they are sterile.  Probably a Pikeminnow.

[Stein]

They certainly aren't going to help salmon recover.  I'm not sure how many hurdles they can jump over at this point.

[jennabug]

Here's the post in question from Facebook. Im.not experienced enough to identify the fish. Thoughts?

[WapitiTalk1]

That’s a squawfish Jenna. They call em’ pike minnows also; no relation to an actual pike. Squawfish are true garbage fish, fit for nothing except fertilizing a garden 

[jennabug]

Ahh good to know. Thank you. Still learning all the fish stuff.

[pianoman9701]

There are a few people making a living off catching squaw fish and turning them in for reward. One guy from OR made $80K last year. Of course he likely spent $25K on a boat and another $25K on tackle.