I hate this topic, but I must continue to clarify this issue for both myself and the people who are starting out with river fishing.
I beg the old timers and the experienced fisherman to join in to come up with the definition and put a lid on issue once and for all.

I will retain the mud slinging and the name calling because I feel that it is getting very serious now.
Why?
Because we have enough regulations to play with already.

Here are the facts:

1. 2003/2004 Pamplet Edition Fishing In Washington, page 16 states the definition of Snagging as "Attempting to take fish with a hook and line in such a way that the fish does not voluntarily take the hook(s) in its mouth.

2. 2003/2004 Pamplet Edition Fishing In Washington, page 20, paragraph 6 under the column, Tackle states "Where use of bait is prohibited, or where lures or flies are used voluntarily, game fish may be caught and released untile the daily limit is retained. If any fish has swallowed the hook or is hooked in the gill, eye, or tongue, it should be kept if legal to do so.

3. River -Special Rules where applicable.

OK, let us analyze each one of those two definitions above.

I will start with my definition.

1. Snagging - I wont waste your time with this one so I will use the Skokomish tribal fisherman as an example. This to me is snagging because the fish are visible and the attempt to hook them in any region of their body is obvious.
This also apply if a fisherman who repeatedly sets the hook hoping to catch a fish anywhere on its body; however it is also very ambiguous to find this act unlawful because it is also difficult to dictate what this fisherman's true intention. He might of feel multiple bites.
So it boils down to his reaction after he captures the fish.
If he lets the fish go, then it is legal.
If he keeps this fish which had been hooked other than the mouth, eye, or gills, then it is illegal.

2. To me, "In the mouth" means in the mouth. There is no definition for the hook penetrating from the outside region or the inside region of the mouth. But we can assume that it can be both taking for granted that the eye, tongue, and the gills are also in the same sentence of being legal.

Tell you the truth, I do not see the word "Flossing" anywhere in the book.
I don't even know how to prove if a fish is intentionally biting the bait/lure without actually seeing it in action.
Please correct me if I am wrong.

We all have our preferences in this sport.
Some of us are strictly bait fisherman, some are heavy metals, some are plugs, some are fly fisherman, some are corkies + yarn, some are drifters, and some are plunkers.
If we can't come to a concensus on this minor definition of "Snagging", how are we going to fight for more important issues.

Thanks