Invasive northern pike threaten Washington salmon future
There is a rapidly growing threat to salmon in the Columbia River that biologists say could wipe out tens of millions of dollars in restoration efforts.
On the surface of Lake Roosevelt, it may look like a picture-perfect day. Underwater, the scenery is anything but perfect.
The Spokane Tribe built a boat to deal with the invasive predator lurking beneath the surface.
"Hit 'em hard. Hit 'em now. Hit 'em with all we got," said tribal Fisheries Manager Brent Nichols.
Nichols believes northern pike were brought here illegally, considered a fun sport fish to catch.
The tribe has been setting nets for years, trying to wipe out northern pike. But they just keep catching more.
"What happens is you see this explosion of the population size. So, we could go from 200 to 300 fish one year and three years later be looking at tens of thousands of fish in the same system," Nichols explained.
Northern pike are voracious predators. They're often caught with a full belly. They'll even eat animals on the shoreline like ducks and mice. Biologists recently caught one with a bat in its stomach.
https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/invasive-bat-eating-fish-threatens-washington-salmon-future/281-547805673
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They are as close to being inedible as any fish. If one catches a Northern, throw it back. Useless to filet. Impossible to bone them.
Plus, they are an utterly asshole fish. They eat everything and anything. They are all fucking mouth!!!!
Cannot stand them!
