02/25/2026
This time every year a little fish with many names returns to the waters of the Columbia River.
Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) also known as Columbia River smelt, candlefish, or hooligan — are members of the smelt family (Osmeridae).
The nickname “candlefish” comes from their incredibly oily bodies. When these small fish return to spawn, they become so rich in oil that they can be dried, strung on a wick, and lit like a candle!
The word eulachon (also spelled oolichan, ooligan, hooligan, oulachon, and uthlecan) originates from the Chinookan language. On March 25, 1806, Meriwether Lewis recorded:
“Clatsops came to us in a canoe loaded with dryed anchovies, which they call Olthen’.”
In some regions, they’re known as “halimotkw,” meaning “savior fish” or “salvation fish.” Each year, eulachon arrive at the end of winter — a crucial time when stored food supplies were often running low for many Indigenous communities.
One fascinating theory suggests that the name Oregon may stem from the historic “Oolichan Trail” — a Native trade route used to transport prized oolichan oil.
The southern distinct population segment (DPS) of eulachon, or "Columbia River smelt," is popular for recreational dip-net fishing. Listed as a threatened species under the ESA in 2010, their fisheries are tightly regulated and not held annually. When allowed, they are usually brief, sometimes just a single day or a few hours, with confirmation given only a few days ahead.
Small fish. Big history. Powerful cultural legacy.
Photo: NOAA Fisheries
Alt text: Underwater view of dozens of small, silvery fish swimming and clustering over mossy river rocks in shallow, greenish water, with sunlight filtering through the surface above.
