I think eradicating snaggers and snagging from the ranks of sportfishermen is relevant...

Our ability as sportfishermen to be more environmentally friendly, and our ability to impact the stocks more selectively, is one of the key elements of the basis of allocating resources to us.

It also goes to more than just harvesting fish...the snagfests, besides bringing out decidedly un-sportsmanlike behavior when it comes to giving respect to the resources, also come along with the garbage strewn along the riverbank, which might be one of the worst causes of fishing access being restricted...I haven't heard of a property owner closing his property to fishermen because they're too nice of guys, they respect the fish too much, and they respect his property too much.

There is a direct connection between the snagfest terminal areas, the snagfest mentality, and the garbage, fish guts, illegal fires, and toilet paper with its attendant piles of crap...and anyone who doesn't believe this is either in denial, or hasn't walked the banks in the snagfest zones.

It makes us all look bad, it reduces our fishing access, and frankly, it makes me ashamed to be associated with those "sportsmen" who think it is OK.

As with most things, how do we expect other user groups to change their ways, when we can't even get our own house in order?

Snaggers need to be taught to not be snaggers, and if they are unwilling to act like a sportsman, then they need to be removed from our rivers, and from our ranks.

I spend a lot of time in Olympia talking with legislators about sportfishing, and slobs, poachers, and snaggers are part of every conversation...heck, they are on TV every fall, running up and down the banks to the trunks of their cars and back, with terminal area salmon with bleeding tails and vents from where they were hooked.

It looks bad, really bad, and the fact that it is only a fairly small percentage of fishermen who act that way doesn't matter, because that is not the public perception of the problem.

I'll reiterate my points on this thread, and then I'm done with it;

Snaggers (of which flossers are included) have no place on our rivers. Report them, report them, report them.

Fish on...

Todd