Droves of smelt dippers headed to the lower Sandy River on Thursday for a rare seven-hour season to capture the oily fish -- the first opportunity in eight years. The rare fishing opportunity, which has a long tradition, attracted hundreds of people along the riverbanks near the confluence where the Sandy River meets the Columbia River. To catch the smelt, people used large dipping nets and 5-gallon buckets. Biologists are now waiting to see dip reports in the Sandy River to see whether they can

Fried Smelts Crispy

How to dip for smelt