Low-life cheaters run amok on the Cowlitz

[Fishin' Fool]

I've been to the Cowlitz on Wednesday a.m. and Thursday starting at 3:00 p.m. Somewhat Wednesday but in a major way Thurs. there were hosts of downright snaggers. Large hook, large corky, ball sinker...these guys aren't drifting eggs. Multiple guys seen keeping belly or back-snagged silvers. "FISH ON" they yell...yeah there's a fish on all right but if there's any justice in the world these guys will start paying fines and losing gear to confiscation. Most of these guys were very quiet, polite and/or even friendly but what they are doing is dead wrong and they know it.

In a somewhat upbeat note I saw a cop heading to the snagger area yesterday eve. as I was going to the car. Some good soul must have called on a cell phone. This is an appeal to all honest and concerned fishermen (and women right Jen!!) out there to bring cell phones and report cheaters. Even "take a picture of your buddy" with a snagger in the background for law enforcement. Until people start paying the price for this it will continue to go on. My dad had to throw back his (accidentally, drifting eggs) foul-hooked fish and I know he felt real bad seeing full stringers of Cowlitz silvers caught be illegal means. We need to start acting people!! And that includes myself, I don't have a cell but I think it's time to get one.

[Deleted User]

Youre exactly right fishin' fool. That is a very grim scene. Hopefully those people will be caught. I wouldnt be afraid to walk right up to them and tell them that what they are doing is wrong and illegal. No one should be afraid to make a phone call to authorities or warn them ourselves. This angers me. Fishin' fool please let us all know if you see any of this again. Maybe me and a couple of buddies I know will take a trip to that area and see if we cant straighten out some of these people who dont seem to understand how to fish the legally way. images/icons/cool.gif

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Fishin' Fool-

Thanks for the update. A couple of things. I passed this onto the appropriate officals, and he said that they will be on the Cowlitz all weekend; up at the Barrier Dam will be an undercover and then I think down at Mission is where the boat will launch with 2 others. They're starting to hit a lot of rivers with more than one officer, busting a ton of snaggers.

I'll be there this weekend, sometime, pulling river patrol. Look for the F.O.C. sticker at the dam and the guy posing for the camera with a boot chinook before being released. images/icons/grin.gif
www.friendsofthecowlitz.com (http://www.friendsofthecowlitz.com)

[Fishin' Fool]

Hey Reel...thanks for doing that. But please be very careful if you go where I'm talking about in a boat. This is across from and slightly down from the mouth of the Toutle. River isn't terribly wide there, flows at a good clip, and every boat that comes up there and stops for .3 seconds gets incredible abuse screamed at them from all quarters. They all get scared and leave before it gets ugly. I do understand bankie frustration (I have it too) when boats stop there due to narrow river when you're trying to drift fish from the bank, but still...it's ugly. Boaters have rights to fish too. If there are police there, undercover or otherwise, this weekend maybe things will change. If there really will be cops maybe I will go again after all, I was so depressed after yesterday I vowed not to go back (unless a weekday in the wee hours).

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Yo Foo.

Email me. Address at the bottom of the signature. Maybe you could meet up with me one day pretty soon to fish it.

[Silent Lucidity]

Geez, Y`all. You'd think since you're in gubnt work that you'd know how to keep undercover work undercover.

[Fishing freak]

Anybody know what the fine is for keeping snagged salmon? Whatever it is it should be doubled. I received a ticket on the Rogue 4 years ago for using a barbed hook (grew up fishing the rogue and was unaware of 1 year rule change) I got busted within the 1st. 2 hours (no fish landed or hooked) of fishing of what was to be a 2 week vacation. It cost me $299 which i accept for not checking out the law. But it gulls that another scum fishing (or should I say yanking and cranking) next to me received a $150 ticket!( Thanks to a boaters cell phone)for keeping a snagged salmon. Who was the greater offender?

[BUGLEMAN]

OSP Trooper Cooper informed me today that they can go criminal on ya if you flagrantly keep snagged salmon etc. $5000 bucks plus keeping gear etc.

I understand now why you all hate them so much. They stir up the pot and bring on the biggest case of lock jaw you have ever seen. Plus all the yankin' and crankin' is liable to cause some serious personal injury..

I encourage you to do some writing and tell our government, police captains etc. to not go easy on the bane of our rivers. I will start with Trooper Cooper. Just think if these idoits get fined off the rivers thier friends will be less likely to snag do to the fact they could meet the same fate, get frustrated and not go fishing, there by reducing pressure. I know I am dreaming but there is some truth to this issue.