If people only knew!

A lot of you sit here and complain how "terrible" snagging is, and that WDFW should ticket everybody for even thinking about doing it, and It's not sporting like to snag or attempt to snag fish, etc, etc, etc. You also say; "take away their car, their boat, fishing rod and everything else that is even near them when they are attempting to snag fish". Why? Is snagging really "that bad"? Didn't WDF support snagging 30 years ago?

How many of you have ever taken the time to really look into the history of "snagging" in our state? Thirty years ago, WDFW didn't even care if you caught your fish from the backend or from the front end, or for that matter, either side! Now, WDFW wants us to believe that "snagging" a deadly sin… what hypocrisy!

Isn't it a method that can be used to remove excess hatchery fish at terminal fishing areas? Thirty years ago; I bet that you didn't even know…no I know that you didn't even known; that WDF was doing it's best to promote a snag fishery at the Cowlitz Hatchery.

The only reason it was never developed was that there was no "money" available at the time, and they (WDF) couldn't talk Tacoma into paying for developing it. Tacoma didn't want WDF to sell all the "excess" salmon; they (Tacoma's Board of Directors) wanted to sell them all for themselves and keep all the money from the sells.

Tacoma had their legal staff produce a legal opinion for the board to see if they could indeed sell the excess fish. Luckily, their attorneys realized that the "fish" were actually the property of the State, and that Tacoma would most likely loose in the courts if they attempted to sell the states fish.

Here's a little history from the Washington Department of Fisheries (WDF) for this board to read: It comes from a "MEMORAMDUM" that was addressed to: Management and Research, Hatcheries, and it was dated January 29, 1970.

"Snagging - Rearing Pond Development"

"The development of a multiple use pond at the Cowlitz Hatchery site was discussed in detail at this meeting. The pond could effectively and conveniently serve as a jack snagging pond and as a rearing -release pond for the hatchery. Nearly 70,000 chinook and coho jacks passed through the hatchery fish facilities in 1969. This was twice the contribution realized from the first Washougal "snagging season". It is estimated that the total jack return in 1970 will approach 60,000 fish.

Within a few years, the annual Cowlitz Hatchery mitigation production obligation will be clear. Enhancement beyond stable annual production is of little interest to the City; however, the development of supplement rearing-release ponds could potentially increase the station production to a level approaching one million pounds annually. Two sites exist adjacent to the hatchery that could develop for rearing of salmon. The capital cost of the development would only be fractional by comparison to that of a complete station.

Those attending the meeting were in unanimous agreement that the development of the rearing ponds should be seriously considered. The Cowlitz staff and the development of a package for presentation to Administration. It was also felt that the legal staff should be consulted regarding the contractual commitments of the project."

Well, Tacoma didn't buy it, so it fell through! That's the only reason why there was not a legal snag fishery developed on the Cowlitz…it was all about money!

Just one more piece of history for you guys to remember.

As far as snagging itself goes, I am neither for it, nor am I against it. To me personally, Its just another way that some people do their fishing.

Cowlitzfisherman