Originally Posted By: FleaFlickr02
Rather than jeopardize our ability to use legitimate methods that employ similar setups to those used to floss fish, why not just legalize snagging (including flossing) in places called "The Hatchery Hole," for example? The name of the location implies that there will be a lot of hatchery fish stacked in there, presumably mixed in with some (but not many) wild fish. Once the nearby hatchery has reached its escapement goal, only bad things will happen with the fish left swimming in that hole: some may move upstream and spawn with the wild fish, and others will simply go to waste (not entirely - nutrients are a good thing), causing managers to think that they need to allow more commercial fishing opportunities on that stock the next year. Instead, why not let the guys who either don't think salmon will bite or who don't care and will do whatever it takes to get some meat have at 'em, no holds barred (or no hooks barbless, perhaps?)? Those "fisheries" would attract the snagging/flossing contingent, leaving the rest of the rivers for those of us who believe that fish need to be tricked into biting.

I'm sure there are big problems with this thinking, but it seems to me that it would benefit sport fishers and wild fish alike. Proposed benefits might include:
  • Reduced hatchery overescapement
  • Reduced mixing of hatchery/wild spawners
  • Reduced risk of snagging/etc. in other locations (and better fishing conditions for legitimate anglers as a result)
  • Better rule enforcement in other locations to discourage poaching, for example (as a result of decreased monitoring of the free for all fisheries)
  • More happy people (snaggers and legitimate anglers alike).

If, as eyeFISH, a man who single-handedly (if with two hooks) transcends the boundaries between legitimate anglers and flossers to achieve the best of both worlds with his hangback rigs, tells us, "All hatchery fish must die," flossing (and even outright snagging) may have its time and place after all.

Contrary to all appearances, this post is approximately halfway serious.


I agree with FF02.

There could well be an appropriate time and place for meat market flosseries.

There probably is a legitimate place for terminal snaggeries. Not a bad way to rid our rivers of hatchery surpluses before they go black and are no longer fit to eat.

But if they are to be implemented, such free-for-alls MUST occur in another place and time separate from where bonafide angling takes place.

Angling involves tempting the intended quarry into willful take of the fly/lure/bait.

Snagging is just meat-hook harvest with rod/reel, plain and simple. There is no angling involved.... the two activities are mutually exclusive and should be managed as such.

Designate well defined snaggeries, set appropriate limits, and charge an extra $50 or $100 endorsement to participate. Great source of fund-raising for the agency.... helps to insure that ALL hatchery fish MUST die.... puts a protein source on the dinner plates of those who sign up to participate.

WIN WIN WIN
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)

"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)


The Keen Eye MD
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