Skip to main content

Northern Pikeminnow

Northern Pikeminnow

Northern Pikeminnow are large native predaceous minnows found throughout Washington's Columbia River system, coastal drainages, and Puget Sound watersheds.

These fish are voracious predators that consume millions of juvenile salmon and steelhead annually in the Columbia and Snake River systems.

Scientific Name: Ptychocheilus oregonensis

Also known as Columbia River dace

Physical Characteristics:
  • Can live over 15 years, reaching up to 25 inches and 8 pounds.
  • They have elongated bodies with dark green or green-brown backs, white/cream bellies, relatively long heads (22-23% of total length), small eyes in adults, and distinctly forked tails.
  • Males display yellow/orange lower fins during spawning.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Found throughout Washington's Columbia River system, coastal drainages, and Puget Sound watersheds.
  • They're found in diverse habitats including streams, rivers, and lake-like environments, thriving in both free-flowing and impounded waters.

Key Locations

  • Columbia River system, Snake River, numerous lakes across counties including Benton (Columbia Park Pond, Lake Wallula), Chelan (Lake Chelan, Wenatchee Lake), Clark (Vancouver Lake, Lacamas Lake), King (Lake Washington).
  • Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Fishery Program operates annually on the Columbia River from the mouth to Priest Rapids Dam and the Snake River from mouth to Hell's Canyon Dam.
  • State record of 7.92 pounds caught from the Snake River.

Specific Spots

  • Rocky areas with fast currents near dams, islands, stream mouths, points, eddies, pilings, and river ledges or bars in 7-25 feet of water.
  • Concentrate in shallow water during low-light conditions.

Northern Pikeminnow FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Northern Pikeminnow in Washington?

Natural baits: worms (most popular), chicken liver (keep fresh and cold), salmon e.g.gs, crayfish tails, cocktail shrimp, fish entrails, and grasshoppers.

When is the best time to fish for Northern Pikeminnow in Washington?

Prime fishing season runs from May through September, with fishing success increasing as water temperatures rise in May and June, peaking in late June. After a summer lull, fishing peaks again in late September-early October.

How do you catch Northern Pikeminnow in Washington?

Three primary techniques: plunking (most popular) using just enough weight to hold position; back-bouncing by lifting bait 1-2 feet off bottom and letting current drag it; and drift-fishing. When trolling, fish at 2-3 mph downstream (though experiment with upstream), targeting bars, ridges, and ledges near islands.

What do Northern Pikeminnow eat?

Diet varies by size - smaller fish under 11.8 inches primarily eat invertebrates, while larger individuals consume fish and crayfish. Adult pikeminnow are particularly effective salmon predators, with consumption rates increasing exponentially with size.

Where do Northern Pikeminnow live in Washington?

Found throughout Washington's Columbia River system, coastal drainages, and Puget Sound watersheds. They're found in diverse habitats including streams, rivers, and lake-like environments, thriving in both free-flowing and impounded waters.

Fish smarter with real-time insights

Whether you're en route and conditions shift or you're looking for the best spot based on current flows, we enable you to make informed decisions on the fly.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Northern Pikeminnow.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Northern Pikeminnow water

    Pick Northern Pikeminnow and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Northern Pikeminnow

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Northern Pikeminnow are.

Open the map, filter by Northern Pikeminnow, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Washington licenses and regulations

Explore nearby waters

Explore Washington waters

Top fishing waters

Popular Cities

Loading popular cities...

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.