Here are a couple of the proposals....

26. SNAGGING CLARIFICATION
PROPOSAL: This proposal would make it unlawful to possess a fish taken for personal
use from fresh water that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head of a fish is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate. This rule
would not apply to forage fish taken with forage fish jigger gear.
EXPLANATION: This proposal is intended to clarify the snagging rule for both anglers and enforcement officers. There has been some confusion in the past as to exactly what constitutes a legally hooked fish. This proposal, if adopted, should clear it up.

27. REMOVING STEELHEAD AND SALMON FROM FRESH WATER
PROPOSAL: When fishing in fresh water, (except in the Columbia River between the
Buoy 10 line and the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line) it is illegal to remove from the
water any salmon or steelhead required to be released.
EXPLANATION: This is expected to improve survival of released fish because they will not have the additional handling and stress caused by their removal from the water.

Proposal 26 is just plain dumb...it will undoubtedly lead to yahoos attempting to snag fish in the head, rather than actually trying to get the fish to bite, not to mention legalizing flossing, which is still snagging at this point, even if it takes more skill than jabbing a fish in the side with a buzz bomb. If looks like they're attempting to alleviate confusion that doesn't exist. The rules are quite clear that fish must voluntarily take the hook in the mouth and be hooked in the mouth.

This proposal was undoubtedly sent in by someone who wants to keep fish that are hooked in the gill plates, not by someone who is confused by the rule prohibiting that.

Proposal 27 is a little different...it's not really practical in some situations, but is doable in most. The only reason it's probably a good idea is that the majority of the fishermen out there don't seem to know how to catch and release a fish without grabbing it by the gills or kicking it up the beach. This proposal still wouldn't stop someone from sticking their hands in the gills of a fish to be released, so long as they leave the fish in the water. I wonder if you could net the fish, but leave the net in the water...looks like it to me.

Fish on...

Todd.