I wasn’t a Homestar Runner devotee; just one of my social failings during college. But I did like a certain Strongbad email clip: lures and jigs. Don’t ask me why, though; it’s just one of those things.
Fast forward five years to the day I witnessed my first salmon run! The lure? Their home waters to spawn. The jig? Their journey up the fish ladder! To say I was enchanted would be an understatement. If you guessed riveted, you’d be close. Borderline obsessed? Well, let’s just enjoy the photos, shall we?
Setting the scene: the fish ladder is on the left, below the Canadian flag. It’s a series of wide concrete “steps” so that the salmon can make progress against the current a little at a time, rather than taking on the whole dam at once like the misguided fellow in the middle is doing.
(Left) On either side of the fish ladder were large rubber/canvas tarps to deaden the impact of off-target jumpers. (Right) We have a winner! The salmon on the left is well-positioned to make it onto the first step, while the one on the right is about to meet a bit of resistance.
(Left) “Oh yeah, I’ve got this jig.” A salmon trying a corkscrew move to beat the odds. (Right) A fine, if futile, effort. “Hey fish! Hey fii-iiish! I’m gonna recommend that you try the fish ladder next door.”
These fish were ENORMOUS, and powerful to be battling the surf at the base of the dam. Chinook salmon can top out at 30-40 pounds! I don’t think a measly keg of worms–and phytoplankton!–would have been enough to lure these guys into the boat.
(Left) Oof! He might feel that in the morning. (Right) I haven’t been to the Pike Place Fish Market yet, but I sure know what a flying fish looks like!
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