Abstract A biological particle model is used to predict the upward trajectory of fish under a dam, the biological particle model refers to a fish as a particle and considers the flow rate, velocity gradient and turbulent energy of the fish, as a condition of retrospective behaviour, a control equation is used to simplify the fish's retroactive behaviour and establish a model programmed in MATLAB to develop a fish traceability prediction program. According to the program, the upward trajectory of the fish under the dam is predicted, there are three types of up-tracking channels under the dam according to the average widths of the up-tracking channels along the right bank of the channel, along the middle of the channel, and along the left bank of the channel and the average widths are 10, 14 and 7 m, respectively. The three existing fish import locations in the fishway project are evaluated, and optimization recommendations are provided, it is recommended to add a fishway inlet along the right bank of the upstream channel. In addition, this paper provides a feasible technical methodology by which a biological particle model can be used to predict the upward trajectory of fish in similar fishway projects.