One Pissed-Off Snagger: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

So RedHook and myself met MickeyFin on the Nisqy this morning for a little Float & Egg Action. Things where going pretty good with Mickey starting off with a Jack and a nice Non-Cliped big Hen that he released. A few other guys got some fish and RedHook landed a beauty around 18 lbs. Chrome-Chrome-Chrome hen that also had one to many finns, so back it went. A few hours into the morning a couple guys show up, one of which I have watched down there year after year, with his heavy chunk of lead, 8' leader and size #3 hook with yarn. Cast and whip, cast & whip and sure enough Fish-on. So these guys get this fish in close and the other guy grabs the net. They net the fish, drag it to shore, remove the hook from its back and proceed to bonk it right there on the gravel bar in front of everyone. Well needless to say, at this point in my life ( at times) I have trouble keeping my mouth shut. I moved over to where they where fishing and took a good look at the fish. Oh, what do ya know, one to many fins. So I proceeded to let them know that they just killed a non-cliped fish, not to mention they are fishing illegally and this whole thing is Bull$#*t. The guy that caught the fish started yelling at me saying who cares, it doesn't matter, so we snag fish, what are you going to do about it. The Indians use nets and these fish don't bite, so we snag and nobody cares. I told him that plenty of us do care and the only reason your here fishing is because the Tribes run the hatchery program and produce the fish. I basically laid into them telling them how F-in Stupid they are, how they do more damage to the sports fishing community, how them to justify their snagging because the Tribes use nets is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I told them read your Friggen Regs and get a clue, and to consider this a free education. I can tell you that a lot of guys talked to me as the afternoon went on and said thanks for saying something. I just wish more guys would get after the snaggers when they show up and everyone is fishing, doing it right. They won't leave unless guys say something. I understand that starting arguments with guys at the river is not always the best thing, as you never know what guys are going to do. This guy is at least my age and was with a group of four. I didn't care, some times you have to say what's on your mind or you don't get heard. About ten minutes after we where done exchanging words, the guy throws the fish back into the river, after they had gutted it an then he threw the eggs in too. He looked up at me, as now I was fishing above them and said, there I gave it back to the F-in Indians. I said like that even matters at this point. They continued to foul hook about 10 to 12 more fish, never got a single one in, as they all came un-hooked or broke off ( go figure). I had some satisfaction in the fact that during the argument when the one guy said these fish don't bite, so we snag. It was about 20 minutes later fishing above them, drifting just eggs I tied into a nice little 8lb hen brought it in and bonked it, as it oddly enough was missing that all important fin.

FireFish Out...

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Member of Grays Harbor Salmon Management Committee:

1. Working to Unite Sporties to get Issues
Resolved...
2. Working Hard to Get Back Our 50% of the Bolt
Decision...

Edited by FireFish (08/26/07 07:27 PM)