its hard for me to get worked up over people snagging hatchery fish snaggers when its perfectly legal for some foreigners to use the spark plug/treble hook snagging method, we allow unregulated gillnetting, commercial fishermen abuse the sport quota at will, a few priviledged people are allowed "charter" licenses, etc. etc. (see the CowlitzFisherman's last hundred posts), how is what they are doing any more wrong than a gillnet? At least they are snagging the right species... to allow hundreds or millions of dollars be spent to make hatchery fish for the primary (BY FAR) the primary benefit of gillnetters, commercial fisherman, & charters and be grudge a snagger his tiny percentage of the take is kinda silly...

Please note, i do NOT snag fish. I will not change the way i fish to increase the likelihood of snagging a fish. i don't like snaggers, in fact I like them about as much as i like gilnetters (neither is fishin'). I don't snag but, not because of political, legal, environmental, or emotional reasons, the main reason is I don't have to snag to get fish & if they are rolling and not biting, I accept that (get'em tomorrow)..... Also, a snagged fish takes a lot longer to get in and is hard on my gear & I get no sense of accomplishment from landing a snagged fish (other than the joy of getting my tackle back & not having to re-tie)...

Of course, from time to time i get one in the fin or a__ & it's easy to tell when they are foul hooked (you can't steer 'em) that's why I use hooks that straighten out, if it's foul hooked, thumb it hard until the hook straightens out, then there's no mess in the water for the next guy & the fish? well i'm hoping it's no worse for the wear......

I just can't seem to get worked up about snaggers when the VAST majority of the output of the hatcheries that we pay for goes to so few priviledged people through unregulated gillnetting & blatant abuse of the sport quota while the powers that be write BS tickets to sportfishermen for parking "violations" (what a way to save the environment)...

Gillnets have damaged & destroyed more of the places I fish (used to fish) than snaggers did (or even could) .......

PS: I'm ok with commercial fisherman that pull plugs, and charter & guide services, at least they are fishin' ....