the snag fest has begun

[rob allen]

Snagging is hot and heavy at the mouth of the Washougal right now.. take your cell phone and have the poaching hotline on speed dial...

[fishassassin]

How about taking a paint gun and marking the offernders? Nice glow in the dark lumis paint? Just a thought.

[rock bottom]

How about taking a paint gun and marking the offernders? Nice glow in the dark lumis paint? Just a thought.

The phone idea sounds much better, you might find trouble on your hands for shooting people with paint balls.

[Bonneville Dan]

Yes, but still a thought that puts a smile on my face .

[10-7]

i was by there this weekend no fish up river yet too low. where were they oak park area, i know all the camas guys and wdfw agent ill pass on the info.

[surebite77]

Save your breath and phone minutes boys, our tax dollars are much better spent harassing law abiding boaters than people who actually break the "Law" and take joy in it
like the no shamin snaggers. And if you just insist on making a phone call try your local legislature and let them know how our law enforcement dollars are being spent. Follow the money. Logic really not that hard, I think?

[SilverFly]

I'll brave a lot of combat fisheries, but Washougal snaggers are a scary bunch.

Anybody want to give me odds on surviving an attempt to fly fish for chinook in the lower river?

My guess is the headlines would read: "Dead fly-fisherman found on Washougal river, tarred, feathered, and violated with his own fly rod". That's too bad because I have a feeling I could get those chinook to eat a properly presented woolly bugger.

-----

[Nightfisher]

I guess if I didn't know how to fish I'd probably snag too.

[SilverFly]

Didn't mean to sound like snooty fly fisher (I own several casting rods). Ignorance is no excuse for snagging although it definitely contributes to it. If catching salmon were easy, it wouldn't be much of a sport would it?

There are lots of ways to catch fish legit. Ripping corkies is not one of them. I suspect these guys could do much better simply casting a small gob of quality eggs with little or no weight, - or better yet under a float. How difficult is that?

I can deal with guys who just don't know any better, it's the ones who don't give a damn and do it anyway that tick me off.

-----------------------------------

[Wang]

It's not like every game cop in Washington doesn't know about the snagging on that river or all the others. Once the fish are in you could call everyday all day about it. I'm sure Washington is short on officers just like Oregon is. It's not like that most of the snaggers on that river are hiding or anything. They stand on a big gravel bar under a well traveled bridge and rip at will.

[Ethical hunter]

I was in Seward last month and a friend of mine took me out snagging salmon on the Seward waterfront. We could not see the fish we were attempting to snag; just casting randomly into ressurection bay, into the wind, at high tide. But in 1/2 hour I managed to bank two hen pinks - we ate them for dinner that evening. That was my first experience snagging and it was a lot of fun. I'm thinking of making another trip up there next year just for the snagging.

HB

[Pete]

HBalczak, I assume your point is that there are different regulations in different areas. On the Washougal it is not legal to snag, so regardless of how much fun it might be, no one should be doing it. Further, there is an ongoing level of frustration with the illegal snagging on the Washougal due to the lack of appropriate police response. I think most of us have an expectation that our laws will be enforced. On the SW Washington streams, that doesn't always seem to be the case. Comprehensive enforcement takes adequate funding ... I don't know if that's true. If you want to see more comprehensive enforcement, let your legislators know when they are working on the state budget.

[fish stalker]

I discovered the Washoughal last year but after the run had already passsed. I live in Oregon and work in Vancouver so I went exploring during winter steelhead season and thought it was a great little river. I love bobber and egg fishing as well as drifting eggs. I'm not familiar (not fished) the lower river below the bowling alley but I have to assume its down low below HWY 14 bridge close to the mouth that these "snaggers" are working the water? I've watched the same sort of routine on the Sandy when the Coho come in and have found that most are just ignorant and when I show up with my eggs and bobbers and only fair hook my limit many have changed over their tatics to what really works. I've even share my eggs and gear. Granted there is always those who set out to snag away but often others who don't know better are following the lead of those who appear to know what they are doing.

[Shortbus Flashers]

Granted there is always those who set out to snag away but often others who don't know better are following the lead of those who appear to know what they are doing.

That was my first intro to steelheading, and the way the person who I questioned seemed to think the fish were just "mouthing it" so the subtle bumps could be the fish taking it. He was very helpful and took the time to show me how to rig a corkie. The next week, I went back and gave it a try, (didnt catch anything) but the first time I read about snagging, I was appaled, but had not idea what I tryed was wrong. When you see others catching, it is easy to think they are doing something right. Point is, maybe it is a need for knowledge, not just finger pointing . My bet is there is alot of people that learned this type of "fishing" from others thinking that it was just how you do it , and not that they were snagging and breaking the rules.

[steelymann]

The Kalama RV Park is also hot on the snag fest. In the milli scond you look up there from the freeway, you see a half a dozen fly rods. Seems that they don't snag there, they just miss ALOT of biters. Really disgusting to see parents teaching their kids to fish this way. It was great to see the look on some of their faces when my 6 year said loudly, "Daddy, is this where all the snaggers fish!" Day pass at the Kalama RV Park $12, Premier fishing POLE at Bi-Mart $20, Getting a ticket for being a dirtbag snagger Priceless.

~steelymann`

[KZ4LIFE]

I have witnessed snaggers using Fly Gear before. Go to Homer AK and you'll see it too.

[KZ4LIFE]

People always have thier ideas of which laws need to be enforced and ones that need to be overlooked. I could list quite a few that are important to me, many people may not agree. I might even be called a name or three. My point: If a law is on the Books it should be enforced. If we don't like a law and feel it is unfair lets vote it off the books.

[Chesapeake]

I live in Washougal and was invited by a friend to go fish for salmon several years back. He took me to the hole at 5 mile and showed me how to rig a corky on the tag end of the line behind the hook :whazzup:.

I didnt even cast before I realized these people were snagging. I never even fished, I just watched for a while till he was ready to go home.

I had never seen this type of fishing before. In Alaska they use a big treble hook with lead on it to snag. Or they line the fish.

I dont see how someone could confuse this with fishing no matter how green they were. Ignorance is no excuse.

The guys on the washougal know full well what they are doing. They put the corkey on the tag end behind the hook so it dont get in the way when snagging. They cast, let it sink, and then jerk once and real in to do it again.

They have a set of rules they follow:

1: Fish must be hooked in the gill plates or forward.
2: Only one jerk per cast.

Where these rules came from I dont know but if they follow them the Wardens just stand there and turn a blind eye to the blantant snagging.

It seems strange to me that so many people would sink to such a disgracefull level just for a spawned out salmon.

[Sea Nymph]

I was in Seward last month and a friend of mine took me out snagging salmon on the Seward waterfront. We could not see the fish we were attempting to snag; just casting randomly into ressurection bay, into the wind, at high tide. But in 1/2 hour I managed to bank two hen pinks - we ate them for dinner that evening. That was my first experience snagging and it was a lot of fun. I'm thinking of making another trip up there next year just for the snagging.

HB

if you go up there next year, it'll be 2006 which is an even year. there'll be no need for snagging pinks.... just cast a spoon and you're almost guaranteed a pink on every cast. a couple hours of fishing and you'll be tired of it. by then, you'll have caught 40 - 50 of them.

[nofishon2day]

Wait a minute.....No one here has mentioned the 30+ citations we've (WDFW Enforcement) issued thus far on the Washougal for snagging related activity. This includes folks retaining fish foul hooked, snagging, moving line rule and fishing after hours. Rules requiring that fish be hooked "inside" the mouth during non-buoyant lure restriction periods are also in place now and there have been citations issued for that as well. No longer can you keep a fish hooked from the gill plate forward in those listed waters (Washougal, Kalama and Lewis) during the non-buoyant lure restrictions. Eight citations were issued for snagging related activity on Monday in the Washougal with many hours logged watching the activities of many which weren’t contacted. Chances are you aren't aware of this, but don't think for a minute agents "turn a blind eye". We also wrote several citations this weekend at the Kalama River as well.

Hunting season and other duties will compete with time and limited resources, but if you see, or hear of someone getting busted, don't hesitate to mention that as well. It's easy to just say "nothing's being done" because you didn't personally witness it. It's frustrating to watch, but WDFW and OSP enforcement are doing the best they can. Out of all the hours I've invested watching folks through my binoculars and spotting scope, while they were snagging and violating rules this past week on the river(s), I've yet to see a fellow sportsmen walk up to anyone I've focused on and pass on a word of advice to get them to stop. Does that mean that this doesn't happen? No, it means I haven't witnessed it personally...yet. I know many of you do this very thing, but I don't draw the conclusion it isn't happening and that sportsmen have decided to "turn a blind eye".

There are a lot of river miles and a lot of hours in a week’s period to violate each day to say you actually know what's going on. Many of you may not realize that the activity which goes on at night while you're getting your sleep, is sometimes much more traumatic than what you see during the day. We attack that just as aggressively at night. You don't see that effort which takes hours and resources as well.

Anyway, I usually just read your posts and appreciate your caring nature. And I see that you do care very passionately. I know that. Know that both WDFW and OSP are working the problem. It's not going away, or it would have been fixed years ago. As long as there are big fish in the river, and they are visible to those greedy enough to go after them, we will be chasing them. The heaviest snagging season has just started. Given the low water conditions and numbers of fish returning we will see lots of violations. The officers are out there. Don’t give up, we haven’t.

Sgt. Rick Webb
WDFW - Vancouver

[Slayer]

always nice to hear from both sides of an issue. I frequently get tired of people complaining about something, and others piling on to it. When I'm on the river I see very few people willing to do anything about it. Thank you Sgt. Webb for all you do

Chris W

[Siwash]

Yes, thanks for the counterpoint, Sgt Webb!

[AnchorManagement]

Hey is that officer Webb? He's definetely on the ball, I've been fishing for over 25 years & never been checked until this year, twice so far this year I was checked, & both times it was officeer Webb & he was very professional, & I thanked him, I don't mind being checked, it shows that they are out there doing their job. With all the state money problems & cutbacks, I think their doing the best they can, maybe if we brought a video camera up to video the snaggers at the mouth of the washougal it might make them a little nervous?

[bake15]

maybe if we brought a video camera up to video the snaggers at the mouth of the washougal it might make them a little nervous?

They won't care, and if they do care I wouldn't want to be the one holding the video camera

[Cohoangler]

It's great to hear that WDFW is enforcing the regs in the lower Kalama, Washougal, and NF Lewis. Thanks Officer Webb.

However, I'm convinved that the problem will not go away unless and until these areas are "flies only". Believe me, a flies only section is the last thing I want to see on these rivers. But with the snagging that goes on in the lower sections of these rivers, the fish that make it above the gaulet are ripped open, with major scars, and corkies hanging from their fins. The fishing success upstream suffers greatly from this activity. The fish are spooked and in poor condition, which makes it tough for the rest of us. I hate to rant but this is an annual event. I about sick of it.

[surebite77]

Wondering if local police monitored these situations or if its something they're not encouraged to do? Snaggers on the shoug can be a bit scary or flat crazy or both.





Has anybody seen the bridge? Excuse me, I aint seen the bridge.

[Dragfreedrift]

Part of the problem is that the snaggers think they have a right to snag....its a mindset.



DFD

[AnchorManagement]

Hey is that officer Webb? He's definetely on the ball, I've been fishing for over 25 years & never been checked until this year, twice so far this year I was checked, & both times it was officeer Webb & he was very curteous, & I thanked him, I don't mind being checked, it shows that they are out there doing their job. With all the state money problems & cutbacks, I think their doing the best they can, maybe if we brought a video camera up to video the snaggers at the mouth of the washougal it might make them a little nervous?

[Chesapeake]

Sgt. Webb,
Its nice to hear somthing is being done. I guess I am just dissapointed that more is not being done. 30 citations sounds a bit low to me. I've stopped on 14 by the lady island bridge on my way home from work for the last 3 days and could count 20+ people snagging each time. On a positive note there were a few fisherman away from the pack that appeared to be "fishing". I will stop again this evening and be discusted again.

Your right on the part about me not doing anything.
What can a guy like me do? Video?

I can remember being checked by a Warden twice in the last 5 years. Once at the coast clamming and once up by Silverstar. It was year before last durring Elk season by an older officer (maybe 45) that was training/showing the ropes to a new officer. Maybe it was you.

Thanks for all you do! :smile: Sure wish there were more of you to do it.

[SilverFly]

However, I'm convinved that the problem will not go away unless and until these areas are "flies only". Believe me, a flies only section is the last thing I want to see on these rivers. But with the snagging that goes on in the lower sections of these rivers, the fish that make it above the gaulet are ripped open, with major scars, and corkies hanging from their fins. The fishing success upstream suffers greatly from this activity. The fish are spooked and in poor condition, which makes it tough for the rest of us. I hate to rant but this is an annual event. I about sick of it.

I've made the flies only argument to WDFW and ODFW about similar fisheries. One in particular ended up being closed which was probably the best choice. As much as I would like to see more "fly only" water, sadly I think it would only result in somewhat fewer snaggers using fly rods. I've heard the fly only section on the lower Kalama is also a snagfest. I don't see how anyone can enjoy catching a fish that is foul-hooked, even if they didn't intend to snag it, - regardless of what kind of gear they use!

BTW, Kudos to officer Webb!!!! Keep up the good work!

--------------------

[otisdog]

I work nights for Camas PD. Got to tell you I see that going on like crazy. Everyone totally disregards the night closure too.

I have to say I,m too busy dealing with other stuff so I am forced to ignore this stuff. WDFW has been excellent at responding even when they are under staffed as well.

Man there are some toothless creatures down there :whazzup:

[10-7]

otisdog if VPD was allowed 2 help id be out there with the taser. fact is theres not enuf enforcement people to issue citations for fish and game when the streets are out of control. most cops are 2 busy handling minor stupid calls to do real poice work now days. And I personally know that WDFW officers have been hitting the rivers a ton this year.

[259]

Save your breath and phone minutes boys, our tax dollars are much better spent harassing law abiding boaters than people who actually break the "Law" and take joy in it
like the no shamin snaggers. And if you just insist on making a phone call try your local legislature and let them know how our law enforcement dollars are being spent. Follow the money. Logic really not that hard, I think?

This reminds me of an old e-mail forum :
POLICE HARASSMENT

Maybe this should be made into a pamphlet to hand out....

This was taken from a "Community Policing" question and answer via an e-mail forum in California.

The question was:

"I would like to know how it is possible for police officer to harass people and get away with it? And where can you go for help, other than a civil attorney?"

And the answer was:

"It is not easy. In California we average one cop for every 2000 people. About 60% of those cops are on patrol, where we do most of the harassing. One-fifth of that 60% are on duty at any moment and available for harassing people. So, one on duty cop is responsible to harass about 10,000 residents. When you toss in the commercial, business, and tourist locations that attract people from other areas, sometimes you have a situation where a single cop is responsible to try to harass 20,000+ people a day.

A ten hour shift runs 36,000 seconds. This gives a cop only one second to harass a person, and three-fourths of a second to eat a donut AND find a new person to harass. This is not an easy task. Most cops are not up to it day in and day out. It is just too tiring.

Since you now understand why we cannot harass everyone let me explain briefly what we do to utilize some special "tools" to help us narrow down who we harass, so we can focus our limited "harassing resources" to those most worthy individuals. They are as follows:

The Phone:
People will call us up and point out things that cause us to focus
on another person for special (concentrated) harassment. "My ex-husband just beat me and my boyfriend up and he is barricaded in the bedroom with our baby and a gun, or "My neighbor is beating up his wife and she is screaming for help" are a couple code phrases that are frequently employed. Then we come out and give special harassment to the wife beater. Another popular one on weekends is "My neighbors are out of town and their kids are having a loud party."

Cars:
We have special cops assigned to harass people who drive; They usually ride motorcycles so they can get around fast or cut through traffic to harass as many people as possible in their given shift. They like to harass the drivers of fast cars, cars blasting music, cars with expired registration tabs, and the like. It is lots of fun when we pick them out of traffic for nothing more obvious then running a red light, going around railroad crossing arms, or driving 20+ MPH over the posted limit in a school zone. Sometimes we get to really heap the harassment on when we find they have in their car, are driving drunk, are unlicensed or have an arrest warrant!

Runners:
Some people take off running at the mere sight of a uniformed police officer. Nothing is quite as satisfying as running after them like a trained
beagle on the scent of a bunny. When we catch them, gosh darn it if there isn't always some good reason to harass them for hours!

Codes:
When we can think of nothing else to do, there are books that give us
ideas for reasons to harass folks. They are called Codes, Penal, Vehicle, Health and Safety, Business and Professions... They each spell out all sorts of silly things for which we can really mess with people. After we study these code books, we can just drive around for a while until we find someone violating one of the listed offenses and heap on the harassment! Just last week I saw a guy smash several car windows right in front of me. Well, believe it or not, one of the code books says that is not allowed. That meant I automatically got to harass this guy...of course he didn't like it, because just when I got done harassing him, the jail deputies harassed him and that will likely continue until the judge harasses him, then he will probably be harassed by a probation officer for the next couple of years. It is a pretty cool system that we have set up, and it works very well most of the time. We seem to have a never ending supply of folks to harass, and we "get away with it" because the good citizens pay the tab for us to keep the streets safe for them...and your civil attorney.

Next time you are in my town, give me a "single finger wave". That is a secret signal that you wish for me to take a closer look at you, and maybe find a reason to harass you.


I guess you can never keep everyone happy

[OldRedSled]

If snagging is illegal and there is a consisistant area of activity then it would make sense to me for the governing body to literally post and officer there who's only duty is to write tickets for snagging ... like bend has done for beer drinkers on the deschutes river..

this officers only job duty is to hit the heavy snagging holes and write tickets till he drops. Heck he could even prefill them out and just add the time and date to each one.
The state rarely misses an opportunity to raise revenue and this sounds like and excellent opportunity, the primer would be to earmark 50% of the money ticketed get returned to the home office where it was issued. That'll motivate the officers to get out and write those tickets.

[Big TULE]

I have fished this river since i was 6 years old, no i am not a toothless Washougalite. I learned how to snag these fish from the old guys that used to sit under the oak park bridge. Because back then i didn't know what i was doing. Then i grew up and realized what i was doing was wrong, but the only way i knew how to catch fish.
Yes i will admit i used to snag fish. Chastize me if you like,nobody here new me back then.
If you want to go down there and waste good eggs on Tule's be my guest. I have caught strays at the pump house on spinners that were absolutely chrome, do that instead of fishing for those bronze tule's.
Alot of these people that snag these fish do it for fun, i used to. How many can you catch today?
And i think Mr. Webb and Mr. Moats do a great job, i talked with them last year and showed them some illegal activities abouve hathaway park.

Oh and Tule's smoke o.k. when they are still somewhat brite...

[Sublime]

wow, what a yearly phenomenon....

...never knew THIS thread would come up?!


...Ah!, The advantages of fishing in the Ocean! :grin:

[rob allen]

That's awsome!! everyone who fishes the Washougal owes WDFW enforcment officers a big thanks and I know you guys are spread thin we need about 50 of ya just to cover Clark and Skamania counties. Thanks Sgt Web.

[PapaHog]

always nice to hear from both sides of an issue. I frequently get tired of people complaining about something, and others piling on to it. When I'm on the river I see very few people willing to do anything about it. Thank you Sgt. Webb for all you do

Chris W

Slayer, Does this mean that you do something and you see no one else doing anything about it. How do you know they have not made the phone call?

It seems to me to be dangerous to approach the poacher. How would you like me a retired person with a bad heart handle this problem?

I make the phone call and that is all I can do as my wife wants me to come home safe. Not beat up by a poacher.

papa

[Mr_sturgeon]

Just a question, don't want to open a new can of worms, but Who would be willing to pay an extra $10/year or even $20 for there license/tags if they put all that money into law enforcement, to me that should be plenty of money to get them out in full force. I don't know what it would take to get a designated law enforcement officer to patrol those three main rivers, but thats the only thing that would put a stop to this illegal fishing
Ken

[steelymann]

As a person who fly fishes the Kalama fairly regular, you have seen a dramatic decrease in the "slap a fly reel on the baitcaster and I'm fly fishing mentality" because the numbers of fish haven't been there like the huge silver runs in the past. The water is crystal clear and small presentations are the name of the game. Big hooks and weighted flies have those fish running. Those fish can be tricked by subtle patterns and small 6's and 8's. Slapping a fly out there will get those fish out of there in a hurry too. Thought has to be given to angle of cast, mending of line and targeting VERY specific slots to be succcessful. Those fish can be had but you need to be a student of the game to make it happen.

~steelymann~

[rob allen]

I'd pay 10-20 dollars more for a salmon steelhead tag if the money went into enforcment of salmon and steelhead fishing regulations... I wouldn't pay 10-20 more to have more enforcment checking licenses on opening day at a stocker lake.

[greenbuttskunk]

buy one of my no snag shirts with the poaching hotline numbers. I'm going to try and sell all the rest with all proceeds going to the red cross.
Snaggers SUCK! absolute low-lifes!

[FishTech]

Here, here on the hearing both sides. I've fished with wardens, good fisherman and next to snaggers. I've seen busts go down and always enjoy seeing an undercover citing a fisherman. Not sure there is enough paper to cite all the violaters but I'm sure warden's try to make good examples for other snaggers to pay attention too.

Remember this is a renewable resource we all have to make sure they get the chance and make us happy in 2-4 years again!

Fishtech

[bake15]

I have fished this river since i was 6 years old, no i am not a toothless Washougalite.

Hey now, lets not get into any labeling/name calling, I was born and raised in Washougal, and all my family and friends still live there. People come from all around to snag in the 'Shoug, its not all Washougal boys.

[SilverFly]

... The water is crystal clear and small presentations are the name of the game. Big hooks and weighted flies have those fish running. Those fish can be tricked by subtle patterns and small 6's and 8's. Slapping a fly out there will get those fish out of there in a hurry too. Thought has to be given to angle of cast, mending of line and targeting VERY specific slots to be succcessful. Those fish can be had but you need to be a student of the game to make it happen.

~steelymann~

Pay no attention to steelymann, (finger wave) ... 30 pound salmon will NEVER eat tiny flies, (finger wave)...

Just kidding steelymann, seldom have I read truer words on a fishing forum!!! (maybe I should call you Obiwan!)

-----------------------

[Big TULE]

Bake it is just the impression that some have of those guys. I know they are not really toothless. Most of those guys now have GLoomis, Lamiglass and self wrapped rods. Remember that Washougal is one of the highest priced places to live in SW Wa.

[Slayer]

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

always nice to hear from both sides of an issue. I frequently get tired of people complaining about something, and others piling on to it. When I'm on the river I see very few people willing to do anything about it. Thank you Sgt. Webb for all you do

Chris W


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Slayer, Does this mean that you do something and you see no one else doing anything about it. How do you know they have not made the phone call?

It seems to me to be dangerous to approach the poacher. How would you like me a retired person with a bad heart handle this problem?

I make the phone call and that is all I can do as my wife wants me to come home safe. Not beat up by a poacher.

papa


PAPA - See this is why so many people don't post on Ifish, people are always looking for some type of confrontation , looking for something that's not there.
My point if you must know was "lead by example" If your in a snagger hole and your flossing then your a snagger. I'm not saying I agree or disagree on the subject. All I was saying that if I go to a snagger hole I use legitamate ways to fish. If I'm unsucessfulI move on. If I'm being harassed, I stand my ground, but not to the point of physical harm. If I see someone snagging I try and point out their error in the most politically correct way. No I'm not looking to pick a fight. Also you are not the only one who has medical problems or a wife or family to come home unharmed. Most of the places I fish cell phones do not work. By looking the other way or coming up with excuse why I can not confront a criminal act is just not me.
If you use you cell phone, good for you!

When there is legal ways to keep fish thens lets all try and support each other at those holes where snaggers have run us out. Thats all I have for now

Chris W
"Changing minds one bobber at a time"

[Kencreep]

Holy crap...I had no idea Shoug fishers had such a bad name.

I live in Washougal but have never fished it..pretty sad. I'm just now learning the salmon ropes (thanks to some great friends) and right from the beginning I was taught that those who snag, aren't fishermen..just users. In my rookie excitment I remember saying "who cares, as long as we catch fish"..and seeing the look of disappointment in their eyes. It really is a knowledge thing -as I had never really known it was such a problem, or why...now I do. Last weekend we went out and caught a few jack's on the Lewis -then they drove me up to the hatchery to show me what not to do.

Anyway -here's a big thank you to the real sportsmen (and this site!) out there who take the time to teach you properly.

[steelymann]

Silverfly,
You take the time to go after those puny 30 lber's?? I try to avoid the little guys when I can...

steelymann

[SilverFly]

Well I did a little better today landing a 32 pounder!

------------------

[timinthegorge]

Fished the mouth of the Klickitat yesterday. Water temp was over 70 degrees, so no fish caught, except by those who were snaggin' by the green buoy.....

A buddy of mine was in his boat and we were both trolling but he'd never been there before. It was clear to both of us that their intent was to SNAG... then get the fish in the boat by trying to obscure their actions with the net, turning the boat, etc.

And Yes, I called the authorities, but by the time we left about 3pm, there was no OSP or WDFW presence.

I'd be happy to add another $50 a year onto my license if it went to prosecuting Snaggers. They're thieves, pure and simple, and they're stealing from your children and their children... JMHO! Tim Hopkinson

[PapaHog]

I wonder how calling the hotline is to help the snagging problem. Rule #1 There is no money for fish and game enforcement.

If I call (and I do) nothing can be done till the officer witnesses the snagging act and then probably more than once. Also when I call no one comes anyway. Back to rule #1 There is no money for this kind of enforcement and I understand that. I would rather have the police catching killers and drunk drivers (before they kill). Rapists and child molesters also have a big priority over snaggers.

That being said I hate snaggers.

papa

[timinthegorge]

I couldn't agree more papa! There's no money for enforcement of our fishing laws, and less funds for prosecuting criminals, on every level of gummint! No matter what the crime IS!

I think another Tax Cut would help. No sense in collecting taxes when services aren't needed.

[crabbait]

How about if you/we covertly video tape the scene. I know most video cameras these days have screns that eliminate ther requirement to hold the camera to your eye.

How hard would it be to video tape the action ans send a copy to the authorities along with time/date and contact info. Boat numbers or license plates would be helpful.

Even without enforcement funds, tape evidence would make it easy to write citations and make them stick. Especially when they start seeing the same guys over and over again.

Let's try to seek solutions in what we can do instead of lamenting what we can't do.

<font color="red">Anarchy: When we as a society decide that no money for law enforcement means no law. </font>

[Eriksdad]

Having lived my entire 42 years just alittle east of Washougal I've seen it all during the " CW fall snagging festival". WDFW has slowed it down quite a bit in the last 10 years or so. We still have the normal "problem holes" where the fish stack up &amp; probably always will. These extended summers really get the water low the fish refuse to move til dark. Seems for a few years WDFW moved alot of the "snaggers" down towards Naselle and the Grays. There the problem was as bad or worse for awhile. Now WDFW has cleared that up so us "regular fisherpeople" can enjoy that area once again.

Speaking for myself and my 12 yoa son, we just hate to see the fish snagged and we will always make a point to contact Camas PD if open and put our complaint in to try and make a difference.

Thanks to WDFW for all you do....Keep hammering them for every violation!

[bake15]

Heard from a buddy that stopped by Oaks Park this evening that there were a lot of salmon (80-100) stuck up where they put the road/dam in on the 'Shoug, and there were about 14 guys there blantently snagging, one guy even had the ole' weight below the hook set up going. When I first saw what they did there damming off that side of the river, I knew that was gonna turn into a nasty snag fest, and it has, hopefully those salmon don't sit there too long before they figure out the way around.

[steelbiten]

Just went to the Klickitat on Sunday for some Coho fishing. Where in the H E double tooth picks did all the snaggers ... oops .... I mean Jiggers, come from? There must have been 20+ boats with 4 jiggers per boat at the bouy. A friend and I were trolling along for some Kings and we hear this "crack!" :whazzup: I turn around and a jigger is holding half a pole. He was jigging so hard he broke his pole in half. We saw around 15 or so Kings foul hooked during the day. Some of these so called "fishermen" were dragging the fish to deep water and turning the boat so you couldn't see them put the fish in the boat. That has got to embarass all legitimate jig fishermen? I was discussed to see that kind of stuff take place in one of may favorite places to fish.

Why not just outlaw jigging all together?