northern pikeminnow identification

Profile Image of Northern Pikeminnow.
A Northern Pikeminnow on the ground, 2016. Photo by Isaac Lane Koval.

What is a Northern Pikeminnow?

The common name of the Northern Squawfish has been changed to the Northern Pikeminnow by the American Fisheries Society.

The Northern Pikeminnow is a large member of the minnow family native to the Pacific slope of Western North America. Formerly known as “Northern Squawfish”, the name was changed to Northern Pikeminnow by the American Fisheries Society in 1998. It had a long snout with a large mouth extending back to the eye. The body is dark green or dusky green above, and silvery or creamy white below, with clear fins. Northern Pikeminnow are similar in shape to the non-native Walleye, but lacks the Walleye’s obvious teeth and spiny fin rays.

The Northern Pikeminnow of the Columbia River is not the same as the threatened Colorado Pikeminnow. They are two distinct species. 

How to Identify a Northern Pikeminnow from a Peamouth

Profile image of Northern Pikeminnow fish.
Profile image of Northern Pikeminnow Head.

Pikeminnow

  • The Northern Pikeminnow has a head that is somewhat flattened between the eyes.
  • A long snout and a large mouth–you can usually fit 2 to 3 fingers fully into an 11-inch Northern Pikeminnow’s mouth.
  • The corner of the mouth comes back to the eye
  • No barbels at the corner of the mouth
  • No dark bars on the side of the body
  • Northern Pikeminnow from the Columbia River are generally a bright silvery color, while those from tributaries will usually be darker and more colored.
Profile image of Peamouth fish.
Profile image of Peamouth fish head.

Peamouth

  • Peamouth is the species most commonly confused with the Northern Pikeminnow due to similar body shapes. However, a Northern Pikeminnow is usually smaller.
  • Rounded head
  • Has a small, round mouth. Generally, you can fit the tip of a finger into the mouth.
  • Red coloring around the lips, and a small barbel at each corner of the mouth.
  • The corner of the mouth ends before the eye
  • Two dark lateral bars on the side of the body, which can turn reddish during spawning season.
  • Peamouth is a native fish, and do not prey on or compete heavily with salmonid smolts. They should not be wantonly killed and discarded as trash fish.