Fishing for a living? It's possible..

The Pikeminnow (squawfish) bounty program is running and paying: The first 100 fish (9 inches or longer) caught by each angler is worth $4 apiece; the next 300 are $5; and after 400 fish it is $8. Specially tagged fish are worth $500 apiece.

In 2006, David Vasilchuk of Vancouver caught 5,714 squawfish (eight were tagged fish) and earned $48,348 before taxes. Second was Nikolay Zaremskiy of Gresham, Ore., who got $45,351, and third went to Thomas Papst of West Linn, Ore., with $42,388. That year, the top 20 anglers cashed in 61,262 fish (47 tagged) for $487,229.

Pretty sweet eh? Details @ 800-858-9015 or www.pikeminnow.org

Z

What I don't understand is why they'd have a bounty on a native fish while they (Fish and Game of both WA and OR) promote the non-native bass and walleye fisheries.  At least I assume they are promoting bass and walleye by treating these species as sportfish (size and take limits).  Maybe they're just planning ahead for a potential salmonless future.

Brian

The departments, as usual, are caving in to politics, Brian. Pikeminnow, like Rodney, get no respect and have nobody looking out for their interests, even if it's not their fault that we have created ideal conditions for them.

Bass and walleye, on the other hand, have big, active fan clubs.

What I don't understand is why they'd have a bounty on a native fish while they (Fish and Game of both WA and OR) promote the non-native bass and walleye fisheries.
Brian

Cheaper than knocking down a dam or two.

Funny that up bring this up Z, just last night I was looking at my Columbia River map and noticed that in it's annotations that it showed a couple of popular spots for Squawfish.

I think I'm going to educate myself a bit more on this fishery.  Have no idea's on how to catch squawfish, but would be nice to not have to worry about C&R for a change.  And with other fisheries closing down, would be nice to catch some fish folks actually want you to catch.

Might be a good addition to AOTY next year.

Everything you need to know at www.pikeminnow.org ...

-Allen