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Wanted: Northern Pikeminnow that Prey on Salmon, Steelhead by Associated Press KTVB, May 9, 2007

BOISE -- There's a bounty out on the lowly northern pikeminnow in the Snake and Columbia rivers of Idaho Oregon, and Washington.

The Bonneville Power Administration's program is meant to encourage anglers to catch as many of the large minnows as possible, to keep them from gobbling up millions of young salmon and steelhead that are struggling and endangered.

From the mouth of the Snake to Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake and the mouth to Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia in Oregon and Washington, the first 100 pikeminnow turned in are worth $4 apiece.

That goes up to $5 for each of the next 300 and after 400 are turned in, each is worth $8.

Last year, 238,000 northern pikeminnow were caught.

As a result of these efforts, northern pikeminnow predation on juvenile salmonids is estimated to have been cut by 25 percent.