Squawfish Hunt Ends

Sun., Nov. 30, 1997

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

Fishing

Anglers caught 119,000 squawfish from the Columbia River system this year in a bounty program funded by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Since the program began in 1991, anglers have killed more than one million northern squawfish for bounties that have ranged to $5 a fish.

This year’s take during the May 19-Oct. 17 bounty season was down 24 percent from last year, probably because high spring flows made fishing difficult, officials said.

An average of 178 anglers a day registered at check stations along the Snake and Columbia rivers to fish for squawfish during this year’s five-month bounty season.

The program was authorized by the Northwest Power Planning Council to help reduce losses of endangered salmon smolts to predators. Studies revealed that squawfish devour millions of salmon smolts each year.

Next year’s squawfish reward program is set to begin in May.

, DataTimes

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Squawfish Hunt Ends

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