The guys over at Arcade Belts went on a Field Trip to the Grande Ronde River: Watch Their Video
A litany of factors play into how many fish return to each river, each year. Salmon and steelhead are counted individually as they fight their way up several fish ladders connected to the Columbia River dams. By the time these fish reach the Grande Ronde River they’ve traveled 400-plus miles, navigating eight of the largest dams in the lower 48.
Along the way, Fish and Game conducts dam counts, providing some insight as to how many (or how few) fish return to any given river system each fall. Steelhead fishermen pay close attention to the timing of the annual “run”. Its just one aspect of steelhead fishing that plays into whether or not there are fish waiting for you when you arrive.
