Sorry to admit, I have been a lurker on this board, but I'm trying to clean up my act. I finally came up
with a question for you guys, so I got myself registered. Thanks for all the great information and
entertainment found here. The question was this: I remember reading a few threads about snagged
fish. It seems like you were saying in Washington a fish must be hooked in the mouth to be legal. Our
regs in Idaho say the head OR mouth is okay. The other day I was looking at the cover of the December/
January STS. Is this fish foul hooked? In Idaho, we wouldn't say it was, but I was wondering what you
people thought. (No Idaho jokes please--Ha!)

Welcome aboard,This topic was discused,
the jig feel out when the fish was landed,so some dork just stuck it back in ....Os

Thanks for the answer. I was afraid it may have already been discussed, but was still curious.
I'll pay better attention from now on.

Hey Os,

Some dork said he's gonna soak your a$$ with a little oar spray next time you're in the front of the dork's boat. :p

salmonriver, welcome to the board , and he said he was only helpin that sheep over the fence

If I recall correctly, the conclusion was that gill plate forward is legal in WA but the regs are unclear.

Sorry UFK the regs says the fish must voluntarily take the bait or lure.....that means in the Mouth!!!
No more "HeadShots".........Os

Oh sorry Danny Tell the Dork *@! *^

Here we go

Osprey, Does that mean you must release "ALL" Sockeyes? They don't vol take your lure. You floss their teeth with your line then hook em.

lead thrower,
You are funny and right!

Osprey,

Before all these snagging threads I always went per regs (as you mentioned) and I still do. But I remember someone asked about the STS picture couple? months ago and things got hot. I backed him up and said that it was a legit question. Finally it was concluded that the hook fell off during the picture taking and it was put back in a wrong place and made it look like that fish was snagged, but in reality it wasn't.
Also someone had an email from WDFW and it was concluded that gill-plate forward is legal and I said that if this is the case and we need to update/revise the regs.

I am trying to find that thread but am having a hard time. Stand by.

does it really matter?? some people will call a fish "snagged" if it isnt hooked perfect in the mouth to their standards, regardless of what the regs say, just check some of the previous threads and you will see who they are...

I found it.

Thread : "foul or fair"
date : 12-05-2001

Please read the thread for more details (2 pagaes)

"Pitch Pocket" got this email from WDFW

Received this reply to my email from WDFW:

--------------------------

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Fish Program.
Your question is a broad one, as it means different things per different bodies of water, and also is different per salt and fresh water, and per species. If you are referring to the difference of snagging verses legally hooking, the rules state that you must fish in such a way that the fish voluntarily takes the hook in its mouth. And almost without exception, you can keep a legally caught fish that has been hooked in the gill plate forward.

For more detailed information on this subject, you may contact Evan Jacoby in our Legal Services, directly at (360) 902-2930.

If you have further questions, please email again or call (360) 902-2700. Our Customer Service hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sincerely,
Fish Program

--------------------------

"Doug Kelly" and "Nebb" also said the same thing before on that thread. This was news to me but no one objected to it.

Osprey,
You were an active participant on that thread and you did not raise your concerns at that time!

Whats the big deal? You can almost tell its really a hac. fish anyway. Nice placement of the printing STS. Make s you think, huh?

I did a little work on this picture, took around 3 minutes to do with Adobe PhotoShop.

Cool, but I can tell #2 is the real pix. Not much to lose. Your photo workshop sucks!!

LOL...it sure as hell doesnt suck I just didnt want to put a bunch of time into it.

Show's.

SORRY...I showed what Pitch posted to several enforcement officers including a seargent and a lieutenant....conclusion was identical...if it ain't in the mouth...regardless of flossing...you will most definitely get a ticket for $500. Suggest any doubters reread that post....it definitely does not say that you definitely will not get a ticket. still doubt it well arrange to do it in front of an officer....I can help you if you want?

gooose

I had to do a little Gimping myself, but I think it will say volumes:

It's alive...glad to know our boards most cherished icon is still there!

Reconstituted out of a can Dave?

gooose