Northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis)

The northern pikeminnow is native to the pacific slope of western North America from Oregon north into British Columbia. It prefers lakes and slow moving portions of streams. They spawn in late spring/early summer in shallow water over a gravelly bottom in streams, but will spawn along lake shores. Eggs apparently are randomly deposited over gravel beds. Females produce from 12,000 to 100,00 eggs, depending on size (average about 40,000). Size of mature fish usually varies from 2 to 5 pounds, but they have been reported to 29 pounds and 25 inches in length. Juveniles feed on a variety of aquatic invertebrates, but fish are the favored prey of larger fish. In addition to young salmon and trout, pikeminnows also feed on sculpins, other minnows, and suckers. They are considered serious predators of game fish and much effort has been expended in attempts to eradicate them.