I steelhead here in N.Y. state and we have been having a huge problem with people lining fish here,its funny our local steelhead bulletin board www.steelheadsite.com sounds an awful lot like this board even though we are on different coasts. Lots of heated discussions,well here in N.Y. the powers in control finally got tired of the lining that it looks like they are implimenting a max leader length of 48" on our rivers .thank goodness because long leaders+small flies=snagging.

Isn't it true that NY. just got around to making actual snagging totally illegal just three or four years ago? I for one just love the hype oswego county tries to shove down my throught!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sorry guys but I'm not havin a good night with this freshet takin forever to drop. I'm just ready to chew some serious fishin a$$. Not to mention the broke down gangsta-mobile sittin in my favorite hole.
Go ahead-Give it to me-

Yes its true that N.Y. just recently god rid of outright snagging with weighted treble hooks,but at least they are trying to make up for lost ground with this new regulation,myself personnaly have never been a snagger and never will be.Most guys here fish 1 of 2 ways,either with loose eggs wrapped in mesh{egg sacs}or small estez flies and super long leader no matter the water condition{lining}.I have been steelheading here for about 15 years and I use what people here like to call "west coast techniques"ie. spinners,spoons,rags,corkies,CURED ROE,and most recently started going to the jig and float,It has been a long road to learn these techniques because nobody here uses them,but thanks the STS magazine I have learned true ways of angling for these fish.I like to say we are so far behind whats happening out west that we will never catch up.Hats off to Bill Herzog,Jed Davis,Dave Vedder and espically everyone at this site for there informative articles because this is how learned to angle.Hopefully someday I will get the chance to fish out west because thats where it all began....Peace.....

I've fished the Salmon and Oswego rivers and I'll say one thing for those guys --- they are the most skilled snaggers that I've ever seen. I've seen them specifically snag a bright hen out of a pack of adoring darker males by sight-fishing and deftly lining her. They are good, but it is still snagging.

[ 08-26-2001: Message edited by: thumper ]