From the Sandy River Bridge, thick schools of smelt stretched bank to bank, their movement visible across the entire river. (Photo edited to make fish more visible) Mark Graves/The Oregonian.

Thousands of people lined the Sandy River in Troutdale, Ore., on March 27, 2025, to take part in the seven-hour eulachon smelt dipnet fishery. Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB.

The fish were seized during the one-day smelt dipping season along the Sandy River on Thursday, an event that saw thousands of people crowd the riverbanks. July 10, 2025. contribute now.