SG the old Grisdale Camp crew went down in the gorge fishing Springers on the Nooche before the dam for the many years the logging camp existed. The spawning reach was the area the lake covers now and a little above. Don't recall MD or others talking about the reach near the falls. Locals are well aware of the history of the Springers and DW about wets himself on the subject.

As to why the agency refused to recognize the fish when the dam was built, don't know. Same with Sats Springers just a few and your right probably strays that established a little spot to call home but they were there every year when I was a kid. The Wynoochee was something else as that was a run be it small and be it did not fit the old agency matrix to manage.