Pilar

[Barnyard]

Just finished a book "Mountain in the sky, The search for wild Salmon"( Yes I can read) This book made reference to the "June Hogs" you posted about a few months ago...I had never heard of them before. This book spoke highly of them but said they were eliminated when Bonniville was erected...Does this jive with what you know?????

[Pilar]

How nice of you to think of me in the same breath as that most awesome of fish the June Hog.(70# - 100#) Thanks Barnyard!

Bonneville was the first of the run of river dams on the Columbia River. The builders included a fish ladder but it was the beginning of the end for the free movement of anadromous fish on the great river. I'm not sure if the ladder was there from the first.

The Grand Coulee dam is the end of the road in a lot of ways. The last run of June Hogs beat themselves senseless against the concrete monster in the days after it was finished, help me with the dates. (Mid 50's) No fish ladder and no shortage of short sighted bureaucrats at the Corp of Engineers.

This run of fish was a mainstay of the Astoria salmon fishing industry. Next time you're down there check out the rotting piles in the river that are a gravestone to this industry.

Can you imagine a fish that could swim up the Columbia to BC for spawning? I've only seen the pictures but man what a fish! Feed your head, pick up a book.

The bend is your friend!

[dawhunt]

When I came home from the air force in 1965 there were still june hogs in the columbia river,We couldn't fish for them but every now then we'ed hook one fishing for shad.I believe that was just around the time they started disapearing.They were a huge beautiful fish and fought really hard.We weren't allowed to keep them but it was a real rare treat when one was hooked.I think it was just a couple of years later that they were gone and your right the last dam killed them.What a terrible waste.
Bob Dawson

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Bob Dawson

[Barnyard]

There was a run of what was reported 100lb Spring kings on the Elwha...They to disappeared when they built the first Dam....Dam