In response to Thickline,

Carcasses are eaten directly by other fish when available (imitated by the infamous "flesh fly pattern). Then carcasses decompose, fertilize plants that grow more insects (aquatic and terrestrial) that are eaten by fish.

High water does blow carcasses downstream. What happens to them? Some get lodged in deep holes, some in logjams and rootwads, and some blow all the way to the estuary. All good things, but you can see that a stream with an abundance of deep holes and log jams has an advantage over a stream that doesn't. Even in the estuary, carcasses decompose, are fed upon by little amphipods and copepods that later feed juvenile fish. Did you know that productive estuaries greatly magnify the productivity of the rivers that flow into them. If coastal rivers had large estuaries like the Puget Sound rivers once had, they would be awash in fish. Just a thought.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.