Monday March 31, 2025
Oregon Public Broadcasting —
Standing on the banks of the Sandy River, Oregon, at 11:45 on Thursday morning, parents, grandparents and kids jostled for a good spot and ready their nets.
Below, in the clear water, thousands of smelt streamed by, each one about 6 inches long. They spend their adult lives in the ocean, then return to their native stream to spawn and die.
Little did these fish know, as they flitted past, they had just beaten an important deadline. The fishery didn’t officially open until noon, and there was a countdown happening.
“Five, four, three, two, one!” the crowd shouted. Then they waded into the water to dip their nets. It only took five seconds before someone pulled out dozens of smelt, each one shining silver and black.