WOW! 8 out of 10 times they BITE with there side or tail. Where do I get my hands on some of those awesome jigs your using, maybe you could even tell me how to get to Minter creek sounds like FUN!!!

hey bossman I'm just being honest, except flyfishing quite a bit are snagged as what I have seen.

"everybody else is snagging so it must be OK"

This is exactly the reason the Gammies should go down to fisheries like this and kick some a$$. Big fines, confiscate gear, confiscate boats.

Snagging fish is never OK!!!

First its snagging chums on Minter Creek to get the tecnique perfected.

Next coho season, its snagging coho on the Green (those closed mouth things never bite anyway).

Wow that worked so well for salmon, my freezer is overflowing with fish. Hey with the low clear water, why don't we go snag ourselves a steelhead or two on the Sol Duc.

Must be OK because everyone else is doing it.

hey bossman I dont go out fishing with the intention of snagging, what I 'm saying is that when you cast in a school of fish, alot of the times the hook finds a soft part of there side unintentional. I never just jerk away or at all like alot of people who go there snagging but mainly reel it in real slow. actually fish and catch a good portion in the mouth but the set up is so deadly I usually catch more fish than anybody around me. I have talked to game wardens on several occasions and all they say is "those are some sweet jigs you tie up there". and ask me how I get the heads to glow in the shade with minimal darkness.

Rockfish,

I truly respect your honesty... I, too, realize that incidental snagging does occur when fishing for Chums in an estuary. It is part of the game. If you using a jig, good on you. It lessens the chance of snagging fish intentionally. I'll be the first to tell you about a trip to Alaska a few years ago... Fish were so stacked up one couldn't help but flossing or snagging. And I paid good money for that trip! For goodness sakes at least you're not using a Buzz Bomb like 3/4 of fisherman down there. I tie flies intention upside down to reduce the unintentional snagging, but it still happens.. I must be guilty too! Keep your chin up!

Downriggin'

Rockfish,

You may tie up some sweet looking jigs. But if you're foul-hooking 8 out of 10 couldn't you do that with a bare jig hook? I think I might be able to line a bare jig into the mouth of a chum 2 out of 10 times.

If you're consistantly foul-hooking fish and keep doing it, there is just fine line between that and letting it rip every two seconds.

Downrigging,

Sure an occasional fish is going to get foul hooked, I've unitentionally foul hooked fish or two myself. But if you're foul-hooking 8 of 10 there is something seriously wrong. Even 5 of 10 is outrageous and time to think about doing something different.

I agree. Snagging a fish is sometimes unavoidable, it just happens. Especially, when there are a gazillion of them. As long as the fish is released unharmed there should not be any problem, right?. Then there are those people who intentionally snag and keep fish. I really don't understand that. Those are the people who should be cited.

tomorrow I'll try a single salmon egg hook with a few strands of marabou under a bobber.

I know snaggers and I dont consider myself a snagger. I dont have any treble hooks tied above the weights or dewatto flies in my box

I can honestly say I only snagged maybe 1 out of every 12 fish. Rest were cleanly in mouth. I actually saw 8 of the hits, fish came to fly before it submerged all the way, and one actually took it on the surface.

Yeah, I saw quite a few snagged that day. Funny thing is, most were trying to fish pockets stacked with fish. I tried to go to hiding spots and typicle lies were aggressive fish were and nailed them. Funniest thing of all, RG and I were all alone all day. Most were fishing the bridge or above bridge in snag hole or down around bend near Zep's area. And really funny how many guys left once tied came up, since they couldn't sight fish and throw on top of the fish.

Oh well. I'm pretty much done fishing it. I'm in dire need of a steelhead fix. Had about enough salmon for now. Now, need to convince RG to row the boat (since I can't until they fix my shoulder/neck) so I can fish. Hmmmm, sounds like this could fly.

Well....have to address a few issues here.Although not specified the waters within the bay are closed.I was told that this summer by a gamie.There shouldn't be any netting either.(I won't get started with that one The technique I have observed most is toss/splash/feel the fish swim into the line/rip.Accounts for 99% of hookups.Try floats.Fish grabs jig-bobber goes down.Jerry I'm with you,ready for steel.No hookups yesterday.Maybe I could row that boat

People sure do get excited about the snagging issue!!! How about this definition: No jerk = no intentional snag = no bad guy???

At Minter Creek the only way I could get a bite was to reel in very, very slow, stopping often. A normal retrieve = floss or belly hook.

Upon further review of the regs.... The mouth to 1000' (outter oyster stakes) is close 01 July - 30 Sep. See Carr Inlet closure.

Downriggin'

Hey Dave, just think after the next couple of years, you won't have to worry about any of all this after the Chum run dies out. Be glad there aren't any metalheads running up the creek cause someone might start another thread about that and get even more yahoos on the creek. And as for float fishing for Chums, yeah I'm the idiot with the 10/6 rod with a float on that bitty creek. Problem is after fishing around the canal, this is my last stop and the only rod I carry with me. Hate to admit but I still manage to foul hook at least 1 fish an outting, and still fair hook 16 to 35 fish. Kinda nice fishin' with a float cause people know where my line is and makes casting for them alot easier and is entertaining. Got guys rather watch the float in anticipation of a take down instead of fishing with their own gear. Should start getting better about now on the creek, but I'm too busy targeting steelies. See ya next season and hoope they haven't spoiled it out there where yalls' have to post no tresspassing signs.

Robert