Pikeminnows don't really hang out in any general area, the spot I fish on the willamette is a mud bottom with a very slight current, and it is pretty hard to keep the squawfish off the hook. They just go where ever the minnows are.
They make good catfish bait, just fillet and dice up the fillets, barely hook a piece once and let it dangle from the hook (size 2 minimum).
My biggest Pikeminnow is about 26 inches caught a week ago, along with 2 caught Friday measuring 20 and 23 inches