In last week’s column I talked about how the common carp, a species of coarse fish in Shuswap Lake, are gaining more respect as a sport fishery in spite of the fact that coarse fish are often regarded as little more than pests.
Having said that, few coarse fish are respected less and reviled more than the lowly northern pikeminnow. They are, quite simply, scavengers. Their diet varies from insects to shiners. The young feed on plankton, insects and small fish such as salmonoid fry and fingerlings. Larger pikeminnows that live in deeper waters feed primarily on baitfish and other small fish such as immature trout and salmon.
During the salmon spawning season, pikeminnows will also feed on eggs being deposited in the salmon spawning beds. Pikeminnows grow quickly and on light tackle can provide excellent fishing for children who are just learning about angling techniques and who are more interested in quantity over quality.
Where there are pikeminnows, the action can be fast and furious. A light spinning setup with six pound line is all you need.
When fishing for any species, it is always important to know where to look for the fish. Northern pikeminnows usually inhabit shallow portions of rivers, lakes and streams and can be found pretty well anywhere throughout the province. Look for pikeminnows close to shore near structures such as rocks, logs, reeds, pylons and piers. They usually choose slower water where little or no current exists – areas where trout and salmon fry and fingerlings swim about during their growth stage, thus providing ample food supply for the pikeminnow.
The Northern pikeminnow can be easily caught pretty well anytime between the months of May through to September using a variety of tackle and techniques. The easiest way, especially for young children, is definitely float fishing. All they need is a bobber or light float with properly balanced weights rigged up with a small hook and some bait such as bread, worms or roe. Cast the float out and strikes will usually occur within seconds if fish are present. This method is best used in calm waters or waters with very little current. Bottom fishing or bottom bouncing with roe can be used in waters where there is more current, but you do risk the chance of losing your tackle from snags on the bottom. Casting and reeling in with a spinning setup not only avoids snags, but also has the advantage of generally hooking larger fish.
Popular lures include spoons and inline spinners. Choose your lures based on the colour of the water and the light intensity. If it’s cloudy and the water is dirty, I would go for a darker lure. If it’s sunny and the water is fairly clear, then a silver or bright lure is best. If baitfish are present, make sure the size of the lure matches the size of the baitfish. When retrieving your lure, try to keep it as close to the bottom as possible without snagging. Be prepared for pikeminnows to strike the moment your lure hits the water, but also anytime during the retrieve. Jigging with small jig heads and rubbertails is also an effective method but again you risk snagging on the bottom if you’re not careful.
Pikeminnows are aggressive and predacious feeders that swallow their food whole so they also tend to swallow the hook deep. Pinching the barb down on the hook is a great way for kids to learn how to keep fish on while reeling in. It also makes it easier to remove the hook.
The very fact that the lowly northern pikeminnow can be caught so easily only goes to show that they really are the perfect fish for young anglers .
When it comes to kids learning how to fish, there really is something to be said for quantity over quality.