Kind of Makes Me Sick--Outdoor Channel Snag Fest

NWFloridian · 08-09-2005, 08:39 AM

I just turned off the Jimmy Houston Adventures program on the Outdoor Channel. Well, turns out ol' Jimmy was invited to 'catch' some salmon in Pike Creek in Wisconsin. The boys were stacked up on a meat hole CLEARLY SNAGGING fish. They used fly and spinning gear, but of the six or seven fish landed, all were hooked squarely in the back or tail.

To make matters worse, ol' Jimmy kept talking about how great the 'fishing' was, and how he was going to take some fillets home to Oklahomie. Even worse than this, the fish were so dark and nasty, I wouldn't even want to touch them, let alone take them home to my family!

What really burns me is that this is a national show that influences how people think about salmon. If snagging is allowed in this particular river, they should keep it to themselves. Salmon and steelhead don't deserve this.

I'm just disgusted!

NWFloridian

reeldick · 08-09-2005, 08:56 AM

Wisconsin has had a snagging season for years and years. It usually opens toward the end of the run when the fish are in, lets say, less than prime shape. these fish would go to waste if not caught. I was told that these fish can not spawn and start a new generation. These are hatchery fish that have lived in fresh water (Lake Michigan) and return to the river.
I've been to the Manitowoc/ Two Rivers are and it's more to party than to fish. The serious fishing there is done in the summer by trolling out in the lake when the fish are in prime shape.

timinthegorge · 08-09-2005, 01:39 PM

Regardless of Wisconsin's regs, I agree with NWFloridian on this one.

The snaggers around here are not the brightest lights in the harbor, and anyone snagging fish, especially a good ole' boy like Jimmy Houston, will only induce these knotheads to think if it's OK for Jimmy, it must be ok for them.....

Intruder · 08-09-2005, 01:43 PM

DITTO-------

INTRUDER

STRUTTIN-1 · 08-09-2005, 01:50 PM

It is more than likley the only way Jimmy can catch
salmon.

Maybe we should invite him down and take him
fishing.Little harder than fishing planted ponds.

mustang66 · 08-09-2005, 02:02 PM

My boss is from the midwest, and he asked me if we snag them out here.

My response was, "no, we can actually get them to bite, there's no need to snag." I think I embarrased him a little, but I think he knows now what I think of snaggers.

It's unfortunate that it's legal there (apparently), but hopefully most of the snaggers in the NW were too busy to watch it.

ANDYCOHO · 08-09-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

It's unfortunate that it's legal there (apparently)

Why is it unfortunate?

Have you asked a Wisconsin resident if they feel that this fishing technique needs to be outlawed?

Grass Hopper · 08-09-2005, 02:59 PM

its unfortunate becuase if people think its ok there then it should be ok everywhere. and as I hope you know some rivers and runs just cant handle that kind of abuse and pressure

PapaHog · 08-09-2005, 03:17 PM

Has anyone emailed the Jimmy Huston show to let him know that the good ol boys out west don't like that kinda fishn?

Has anyone invited Jimmy to come west for real salmon fishing?

If someone posts a good email for Jimmy I will email him.

papa

TheKing · 08-09-2005, 03:28 PM

" the good ol boys out west don't like that kinda fishn?"

My experience is that there are more snaggers out here than fishermen. It's sad but true.

fish_on · 08-09-2005, 03:41 PM

With the way ODFW is "manageing" the fish and the way they give them away to the kill netter I don't have a problem with snagging anymore, anyway you can get your share is ok with me.

NWFloridian · 08-09-2005, 03:50 PM

Well, I agree that the regulations in one state shouldn't necessarily effect the fishing practices in another state, but I have to protest when it comes to snagging.

As my ID indicates, I grew up in Florida. There are NO regulations in Florida about catching or harvesting snagged 'sport fish.' There is a commercial mullet fishery that in large part depends on snagging. However, mullet are vegetarians that WILL NOT strike bait or lures. They are also considered a 'bait fish,' not a sport fish. This isn't to muddy the issue, but I think there is a distinction between a sport fish like a salmon, and a bait fish like a herring.

When we caught a snook or a redfish or a bass that was foul-hooked, it was considered unsportsmanlike to keep the fish. Even so, to foul-hook a fish that will strike at a lure requires that fish to behave aggressively towards that lure or bait. I've hooked many fish that 'struck short' and ended up hooked in the pectoral or dorsal fin. All fish that were foul hooked were returned to the water unharmed.

What we didn't do was throw our 'lures' into a big hole full of fish and wait for a fish to swim into the line and hook itself in a fin. There are actually analagous times down there. During extreme cold snaps semi-tropical fish like snook gang up in deep holes. There were spurious characters who would snag them at times like these. But, the Fl. Game and Fish folks came down hard on snaggers at times like these. Fines of up to $1k were imposed, and ethical sportfisherman would readily report violators.

Migratory fish like salmon and steelhead aren't 'feeding.' So, more sophisticated techniques are involved in getting them to bite. And yes, I think there should be ethics that apply here too--especially in light of the reduced numbers of fish that actually make it back to our rivers.

This leads me to ol' Jimmy. Jimmy claims to be an expert fisherman. Jimmy claims to understand the science of fishing. But Jimmy neither explained nor identified that what he was doing was snagging. If folks in Wisconsin can do this legally, that's fine. But, he shouldn't pass this off as legitimate fishing.

Now, a confession... I went salmon fishing for the first time two years ago. My buddy told me to put a piece of yarn on my hook and wait for a 'bite.' I managed to catch several this way. But, when I got EDUCATED about what I was doing, I stopped it. In fact, I was horrified. I didn't realize that we were snagging. Since then, I have radically outfished this buddy using lures and baits.

Even more to the point, when I started to read about fishing with spinners and bobber and eggs, etc., my catch rates went WAY UP. There is no need to snag. Ever. I don't care if it's legal or not. If a fish can be caught using techniques designed to get them to bite, then we owe it to our fisheries to use sporting methods that preserve the integrity of the fishery. If that's not the case in Wisconsin, fine. But, they should call it what it is, not fishing. It's about ethics.

So there! I've said my piece.

timinthegorge · 08-09-2005, 04:01 PM

To Fishon.... you're part of the problem. Feel free to PM me.

To NWFloridian.... well said!

PapaHog · 08-09-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

With the way ODFW is "manageing" the fish and the way they give them away to the kill netter I don't have a problem with snagging anymore, anyway you can get your share is ok with me.

Surely you are joking.

I can not believe you believe that.

Fshklr · 08-09-2005, 04:13 PM

Mike, mike, mike....you know better than that

I feel your anguish, but come on.... :lurk:

SteelheadBum2 · 08-09-2005, 04:28 PM

Well Jimmy has no idea how to salmon fish and since he is in the east he goes to the great lakes area where they allow snagging. So jimmy must not think that these fish bite when they are ready to spawn, so he is doing only what he has been informed. Now he is a expert at catching bass, crappie, muskie, walleye, catfish etc. So if we took him on a trip in the NW he would be informed that indeed these salmon do bite and he would not be snagging. He was just taught how to fish for salmon the way everybody else does in the great lakes area. So e-mail him inform him about how to catch salmon the right way, and invite him on a trip or show him a top guide that will take him out

ET · 08-09-2005, 04:42 PM

I grew up in Wisconsin and remember the salmon snagging. I never got the chance to try it but some of my friends did. It was only allowed on certain rivers at certain times of the year and believe it or not, people actually know the rules. Rather than let the non-native fish go to waste, the DNR(Department of Natural Resources) consider it better that people harvest the fish somehow.

Here in WA and OR snagging at a terminal fishing area is somehow considered taboo while we allow gill-netting of native fish up and down the same river system.

If you find snagging, non-reproducing, hatchery fish at a terminal fishery offensive, I don't think you should be out on a river trying to catch a fish. You just may hurt one!

ANDYCOHO · 08-09-2005, 05:13 PM

Quote:

I grew up in Wisconsin and remember the salmon snagging. I never got the chance to try it but some of my friends did. It was only allowed on certain rivers at certain times of the year and believe it or not, people actually know the rules. Rather than let the non-native fish go to waste, the DNR(Department of Natural Resources) consider it better that people harvest the fish somehow.

My Grandparents and lot of my family live in Wisconsin as well. What you said is very true.

Most hardcore anglers that fish for Salmon (my Grandpa included) do so in the "Lake" and dont want anything to do with the salmon fishing in the rivers. But some folks that dont get a chance to get out in the lake have the option of fishing the rivers and still catching/ snagging a salmon to put on the table.

Wisconsin also allows multiple rods per angler and no problem with enforcement.....hmmmm.....

There are no native Salmon in the Great Lakes, so there are no runs to protect. Not that I think snagging salmon in Wisconsin is very sportsman like, but I wont cast judgement on those folks that do (in Wisconsin).

ET · 08-09-2005, 05:14 PM

Oh, BTW... don't you think they should outlaw noodling catfish? Now that is offensive....the fish doesn't have a chance...you just go down there and grab the thing by the jaw and throw it in the boat!!!

Oh, how about spearguns? Why in the world do they allow divers to shoot fish? How aporting is that? Dive down, see fish, shoot. Poor fish doesn't stand a chance.

My point is: Different strokes for different folks. I don't think we serve any purpose by taking offense to a legal, accepted practice somewhere else.

No Wishin Just Fishin · 08-09-2005, 05:14 PM

Back a few years snagging was legal on a certain portion of the Washougal. Didn't even need a rod and reel. There were guys there with 1/4 inch rope and sharpened grappling hooks. What a zoo that was to watch.

PapaHog · 08-09-2005, 05:41 PM

When I was but a wee lad I can remember my dad and brother throwing a rope across the river that had a bunch of big treble hooks on it at 2ft(or so) intervals.

This was on the Flathead River that ran into Flathead Lake.

There were so many salmon it was like smelt some years.

That was in 1948 or 1949. Everyone who wanted salmon was there to fill the locker.

I think it was legal cause there were many hundreds of people there.

My dad and brother are both dead so no one to ask that was there that day or late evening.

papa

newportfisher · 08-09-2005, 05:50 PM

I fish the Rogue all the time and see all kinds of fishing. It really erks me when I see people TRYING to snap fish on PURPOSE. But if someone catches a fish with there 12foot leader and it is outside in, its ok with me. Lets try to clear up what you mean by snagging. If you fish in a river in Oregon that is outside of tide water, it is snagging. Your lining the fish. They wont hit a corky, end of story. They may get [petunias!] and hit a quick fish, but they are not eating it to fullfill their hunger.

BloodNtheboat · 08-09-2005, 05:58 PM

Quote:

If you fish in a river in Oregon that is outside of tide water, it is snagging. Your lining the fish. They wont hit a corky, end of story.

I invite you to come fishing with me, I think I can change your mind.
Salmon and steelhead will bite a bare corky, or similar setups.

Jeb · 08-09-2005, 06:21 PM

I'm surprised no moderator has stepped in yet...but enough of the snagging posts. many of us are sick and tired of it; its a waste of time and a waste of energy.Your efforts are better spent helping cleanup the river or something more productive....

EOL

fish_on · 08-09-2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

To Fishon.... you're part of the problem. Feel free to PM me.

To NWFloridian.... well said!

Not sure how I am part of any problem, I have never snagged a fish in my life (on purpose) I am just fed up with the ODFW and WDFW and their brain dead management practices. If you buy a license you are purchasing the allotted number of fish for the year get em while you can they won't last long in these states.

fishhog1 · 08-09-2005, 09:15 PM

Makes me wonder... Do they gill net the rivers in Wisconsin? Many people from out of state and out of country think snagging and gill netting are wrong and blame us for letting it happen... Should we stop it? I think so. fh1

Silverback · 08-09-2005, 09:26 PM

We are sure bagging the Midwest here on this thread. They have snagging seasons in Alaska too!!!

Ryan Pultz · 08-09-2005, 09:39 PM

boy this one is getting good. :lurk: I give it a day and it will be locked. rp

foxer · 08-09-2005, 10:08 PM

Its also how they "fish" for paddlefish..Snag away. If it was entirely a hatchery run with no nates, I wouldnt have a problem with them doing it after the hatchery fills its quota.

Jennie@ifish · 08-10-2005, 06:42 AM

This thread is not good. It's ugly.
I'm going to lock it.
I'd sure appreciate it if folks would notify me, as I am not able to read every thread.
They have different laws, no wild fish ... all the points have been made.
Thanks,
Jen