Salmo g.
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Fun5Acres,

You said "It's all about money, nothing else." I'd like to know how you know that. I'm pretty well acquainted with many folks over at WDFW, and I can get a lot of reasons from them as to why there are lots of surplus fish stacking up below hatcheries, which tends to facilitate snag fisheries. But money isn't on the list of reasons. What do you know that they don't or won't tell ?

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Well, it's one of those common sense (dare I use the phrase?) issues. Picture this, please.

The limit of fish is four salmon in a two-mile (my approximation) stretch of water and there exists a "special regs" rule (barbless hooks, baitless, to protect the chum) and the hatchery is plugged, and LEGAL gear includes lead at the hook (but not directly attached), and the river is no bigger than the Cedar or Wind, is it even remotely reasonable to think that anyone can limit out by enticing fish to bite? Keep in mind that the entire length of river is lined with both fish and fisherman and the Natives are filling their coolers with treble hooked fish. (Not an exaggeration....not a judgment, just trying to paint a picture)

Now......you tell me why a warden would bother writing a ticket? To protect the fish? To enhance the fishery? Perhaps a power-trip?

I believe none of the above.....I saw one unknowing unfortunate novice receive a $650 ticket for killing a snagged dark coho. The guy really didn't have a clue. He had killed one previously...."fair hooked", so to speak. All the while, an under cover warden fished along side this fella. If it's not about the money, please do tell me what was/is to be gained by writing this oaf a monstrous ticket? The only answer that seems to make sense to me is the Green God.....Money.

Just a side note to set it straight.....I filled a punch card and a half off that river....all legally hooked with legal gear without any reefing my hook through the water or with my lead even remotely close to the hook. All the fish I kept were bright, healthy coho.....many with lice still attached. And only one of all those fish was hooked inside the mouth. Who's kidding who? I'm a very accomplished fisherman, and I know that there was next to NO chance of drawing a strike at any time.

Now perhaps some of you fine folks would have left to fish somewhere else, but I just kept my smoker going for a month or so and ate fresh salmon every way imaginable. Shared it with my neighbors and co-workers and enjoyed myself immensely. I have fished here in Washington for over 40 years, and I can say that I have not seen fishing like that since day one.

You want to stand in judgment? Feel Free....I'll sit here and read and eat my smoked fish. Regards