Lining sockeye in alaska is the standard and I don't think thats the end of the world when there is a gazillion fish in the rivers up there. Washington state is a different story altogether. What it all boils down to, at least here in Washington, is the tremendous lack of enforcement. We could substantially reduce snagging, lining, and illegally retained fish if we had more wardens. Simple, huh? Poaching will always be a problem when people can get away with it and no matter how much enforcement there is, there will always be some kind of violation present. Tyeeterror said "there is a gear restriction in effecet which eliminates the ability to line fish". I understand that lining is done with "long" leaders. I can't even see casting a 10-15 foot leader without a rod that's about 20 feet long. Why not make the regulations require leaders of less than four feet? You still might be able to line fish with a four footer but probably not as easily as you could with a much longer one. So? You'll have to stop using those long and light leaders for summer runs and other low water fish. Sure, that's not fair to legitimate anglers, like myself, thank you, but the dishonest few always ruin it for the rest of us. There are many rivers that require leader lengths of no less than somewhere in the 12 inch range to reduce snagging and if long leaders do it too, then ban them. These are just my thoughts as part of the new generation of steelheaders. My forementioned views are directed at Washington's problem and could be applied to other states but I haven't been there to witness it even though I'm sure it exists. Remember to thank the our politicians for the WDFW's meager budget and severe lack of enforcement.

Life is short...fish hard!!!