Freshwater · Spring runs, March to May in Alaska; southern runs tightly restricted or closed

Eulachon

Thaleichthys pacificus

Split picture — check which population before you fish: Alaska populations support traditional and sport dip-net runs ('hooligan' season), while the Southern DPS, from the Columbia River southward, is listed as Threatened under the ESA and its runs are tightly restricted or closed. The 'candlefish' is so oily a dried fish can burn like a candle, and it was a staple of First Nations grease trails — treat runs and traditions with respect.

Seasons · Peak

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Eulachon — Photo: Gillfoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons

Identifying features

Small, slender silvery smelt, usually under 10 in long
Bluish-brown back, bright silvery belly and a small adipose fin
Concentric striae (rings) on the gill cover
Spawning males develop a midline ridge and rough tubercles
Very soft, oily flesh — noticeably greasy to the touch

Habits

Anadromous: winters at sea, runs up coastal rivers to spawn in spring
Most adults die after their first spawning
A vital forage fish for salmon, halibut, seals, whales and birds
Rendered for rich oil ('grease') traded on First Nations grease trails
Runs can be huge and dense, moving upriver mainly at night

Distribution

Anchorage, AK · Alaska★ Primary

Juneau, AK · AlaskaCommon

Westport, WA · WashingtonCommon

Portland, OR · OregonCommon

Where to find them

Glacial rivers of Alaska's Cook Inlet and panhandle in spring, where open
Southeast Alaska river mouths during announced open seasons
Columbia River only in rare, specifically announced seasons — otherwise closed

Where they live

Lower reaches of glacial coastal rivers in springEstuaries and river mouths during spawning runsNearshore marine water for most of the year

How to catch them

Dip-netting in glacial rivers during spring runs River

Rig: Long-handled, small-mesh dip net swept through dense schools in lower glacial rivers during Alaska's 'hooligan' season; no rod used

Bait/lure: No bait — dip net only

Key tip: Fish the rising tide and the edges of the school — and confirm the run is open before you go; Alaska and southern rules differ completely.

Dip nets and small mesh nets in lower-river runs Shore

Rig: Dip net or permitted small-mesh net worked from shore in the lower river where a season is specifically open

Bait/lure: No bait — net fishery only

Key tip: Southern DPS water is tightly restricted or closed under the ESA — if no season is announced, the run is closed and fish must be left alone.