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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Northern pike: Get ‘em while they last in Lake Roosevelt

Sean Hansen of Vancouver holds a northern pike caught in the Columbia River near Kettle Falls in spring 2015. (Photo Jolley / The Spokesman-Review)
Sean Hansen of Vancouver holds a northern pike caught in the Columbia River near Kettle Falls in spring 2015. (Photo Jolley / The Spokesman-Review)

UPDATED 5/28/15 with details about bowhunting ban.

FISHING -- While anglers have reported catching the occasional northern pike in Lake Roosevelt for about six years, the trickle of pike from Montana, through the Pend Oreille River to the Columbia has become more than a stream. 

State and tribal fish managers are hoping to jump on the expanding pike fishery and keep it from being anything significant.

Meanwhile, look for pike lurking in the shallows. This may be the peak year for pike in Roosevelt if fish managers have their way.

Even bowhunters are reporting pike kills from their boats in the Kettle Falls area.

HOWEVER, it's illegal to use bow and arrow for fish in Lake Roosevelt.   While Washington fish managers don't want northern pike in the Columbia system -- and there's no minimum size limit or daily limit on them -- pike are still considered "game fish" in Washington.

Page 12 of the 2015 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet says:

You May Not ...fish for Game Fish, salmon, shad,
sturgeon or shellfish with bow and arrow or spear.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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