The Fish Formerly Called the Squawfish

There is a fish that is common in the Pacific Northwest that is a lot of fun to catch. It hits hard and fights strongly, so though it is considered to be a trash fish since it is extremely bony and the flesh isn’t all that tasty, many fishermen enjoy catching it. The fish used to be called the Northern Squawfish. Many people still call it a squawfish, including yours truly.

Fish biologists decided to change the common name of the northern squawfish, though, for various reasons. The scientific name of the fish hasn’t changed. This is Ptychochellus oregonensis. Most people will agree that this is a tongue-twister, so the common name is used most frequently when talking about this fish. The name of the fish is now the Northern Pikeminnow.

The new name can be confusing because this fish isn’t a pike and it shouldn’t be confused with the fish called the northern pike (Esox Lucius). The two fish are entirely different families and they don’t look much alike.

The northern pikeminnow is indeed a member of the minnow family, though. It is one of the largest minnows. According to Montana’s official state website, pikeminnows or squawfish have been caught in Montana that weighed over seven pounds, while some have been caught in Canada that weighed close to 30 pounds.

These fish are silvery in color, with the back having a greenish color. The scales are fairly large. They have a deeply forked caudal or tail fin and the dorsal fin is located about midway down the back. Northern squawfish have long pectoral fins and none of the fins have spines like those of bass or perch. The mouth extends past the large eyes and the fish doesn’t have teeth (unlike northern pike, which has many very sharp teeth).

Although these fish have no teeth, they are very able predators and since the mouth can be opened so wide, they can swallow other fish that are half their own length. They tend to gulp their prey rather than biting them. Fishermen catch these fish on bait, lures and flies, but their normal food includes fish, invertebrates and frogs. They will also jump for flying insects, much like a rainbow trout will.

This fish is native to Montana and most of the rest of the Pacific Northwest, as far south as extreme northern Nevada and well up into Canada; particularly British Columbia. They are found primarily in lakes and large rivers that are slow-flowing. They are also a relatively long-lived fish and don’t become sexually mature until they are about six-years-old.

I’m well acquainted with this fish because it is my cat’s favorite kind to eat, once it is boiled. I use the broth that is left for my garden, particularly my tomatoes. Does the squawfish broth help the tomatoes? Well, my tomatoes are bushy and about five feet tall, packed with tomatoes, so I’d have to say yes.

The Clark Fork River, which flows through town, has a large number of northern squawfish, and I’ll probably continue to call them squaw fish rather than pikeminnows. I must say that they are a thrill to catch, too.