The "eyes in the woods" program has some potential. I thought the reason the Samish was opened for Chinook was the creation of some kind of citizen overwatch group involing the steelhead club in the Skagit area. Is it still being used and if so is it working at least to some degree? Ackwowledged that there will never be a 100% cure...myself I have been working on converting the few. When that isn't an option I do like I did today and walk right into the middle of the snaggers at Rodgers Street...third time through busted a nice dime bright piggie which cooperated by blastin through the surface showing my black yarn fly solid in the dentures for all the "Honyachs" to see. Seconds later it parted my leader leavin the hole. Lots of Ooohs and Aaahs which I loudly replied to as I left for my solitary spot upstream..."Yep, that dam black yarn hooks em legal every time." Chased off a couple of idiots from my favorite hole who wanted a shot at my action. They took up station just below me. Released five good sized bright fish over the next hour....this really gets you some wierd looks. Headed back down to find my partner who was doing the same thing. Everyone who asked me how we did got the same reply..."released 5 nice ones all hooked legal in the beak with black yarn."
More wierd looks. Did this make a impression...probably not...but what if we saturated a good portion of the river with everyone doing the same thing? Now that should make an impression! Could the same be done on the Skok or other snaghavens? The bait idea actually is a good idea in that if you could use eggs on the Quil your catch rate of legal caught fish would be sky high. First fished this river in 1989 when you could use bait...that first hen really made my day and the next four.

No Longer Piscatorially Challenged
Always FishOn!
Gooose