I used size 1 hooks the other day, and they worked fine. I prefer smaller hooks, actually, as you'll foul hook fewer fish. As for whether you should jig or retrieve, I don't think it makes a difference. I'm guessing you'll snag more fish in the belly by jigging, though, than you would with a slow retrieve.

I think MOST people that go to areas like the Zone are not going there to snag or floss intentionally. Their intentions are genuine, to legally catch fish. When there are so many fish in the water the catch rates increase dramatically and so do the ways the fish are caught.

Don't get me wrong, there are people who fish the Zone and all they want to do and try to do is snag or floss.

I have found most, not all, of the people who fish the Zone to be courteous, friendly, and polite. Most people are there to have a good time fishing.

Sometimes there is an A-hole in the bunch to stir the pot. On Sunday, there was a guy on shore yelling (constantly), cussing, picking fights, and being very disruptive. If I had been on shore I would have sent him for a swim.

What it boils down to for me is, DO YOU WANT TO FISH OR CATCH? I think catching is more fun than fishing any day.

EL,
That is the experience I have had at chico at the begining of the run in the past.The people that are there are a pretty good group of people.They are in the know and flossing and releasing chums.After a few days of hot fishing the snaggers come out of there holes and blatently snag.The people that come down at this point,and are not in the know have no choice at this point but to snag with the rest of them,or leave.

Unfortunately I hate to see a fishery that promotes snagging like these do.Like was mentioned earliar these people end up using there new found knowledge anywhere there are stacked up fish.I feel it degrades our wonderful sport and that we loose alot of respect with the general public with these snag festivals.What does a tourist on the canal think when he/she witnesses this spectacle.

Thes people that enjoy snagging chums are also the same people that get mad when the skokes strip chums for there roe.It is alright for them to stomp all over a fishery but it is wrong for the indians to net them and sell the roe to japan.I would really like to know how many of the boots drug up pn the shore and taken home get eaten.

It also amazes me how many people will travel a couple hundred miles to snag fish out of the canal.When the kings were dodging hooks on the skoke I drove buy and snickered as I was headed to a canyon somewhere back in them hills that believe it or not is full of trophy rainbows.I caught 23 trout that day and one summer run steelhead.On the return trip I smiled and thought these are the people in a month or two who are going to get on the internet and tell me about the canal.

I was there saturday and I dont think it was a zoo at all. I would say more of a circus. I have been crowds before but this was like opening day at mineral lake only put all those people in an area the size of a large mud puddle. Alot of a-holes out in the boat line. But finally got a spot to drop anchor next to some pretty nice folks. And I will have to say thanks to easy limits for his advise. It worked well for us. But I will say that my first chum ever was snaged and released. But I was a big boy and a great fight. And we did manage to get some hooked in the mouth and it swear that they bit the hook. But Im not an expert on this type of fishing. We did see alot of buzz bomb snagers . One guy a few boats away must have snaged 50 fish at least.

Hey EL, I know hwat you mean.
That A-hole screaming was a drunk.
He was annoying the hell out of everybody.
We left at 11:00 so we did not have to listin to him.

Also any one banking it at the zone fish inside the orange bouys.
Those markers are where the property ends for the WDF&G, on either side is private property, unless you are in a boat or any other floating device (since you are not touching land) don't tresspass on their property with out permission.

These people own tidal rights out to the last orange markers.
People who own the land next to Finch Creek are very nice if, you respect there property and ask permission I am sure they will let you fish in front. The people on the otherside of the hatchery are not as nice and they are trying to shut down the hatchery because of the tresspassing and it is why the orange markers were put in place. Just respect there land and there should be no problems.