I don't want to be united with snaggers. I don't know any legit anglers who do. What would the purpose of us coming together be? I can't think of one. Blanket statements and name calling is regular because it is in attempts to fight, what we feel, is poor justification for fishing. I know you probably don't like the generalizations and blanket statements about snagger behavior and such, but the truth is that by partaking in the practice, an angler is encouraging the destrucive behavior and culture surrounding flossing. I have never met a flosser or snagger, that I feel, can bring any substance to the "supporting" of our fisheries. In my own experience, flossers have a blatant disregard for the law and have given me no reason to want to have them as "team member." If they did lend a hand, maybe they would be more inclined to respect the fish. There is no "elitism" surrounding legit angling. We're just attempting to defend our sport.

As for all the PETA type arguments: the difference between flossing and fishing is consent from the fish. Sure we are both causing harm to the fish, and are both attempting to trigger deeply embeded biological responses within ourselves, but when the fish bite, the fight is a consequence of their own behavior. I think that snagging the fish completely devalue them. It's simply a value judgement that some people lack the ability to make, and thats why regulations attempt to enforce it. For some one to floss only because they think its "better" for the fish, is rediculous. They've just given up.

When it comes to impacts from hooking (not just mortality) I haven't read aything about fitness and fecundity, and little about hooking mortality (most evidence I feel to be inconclusive), impacting spawning fish. I still feel there isn't enough evidence to make any statements about snagging being better for the fish. Prove me wrong.

I'm done with this useless shitt. North Cal, don't start a thread just so you can gawk at it. And don't get defensive when we gawk back.

Aunty,

I could get pleasure and satisfaction from a (legal), Nevada whore...but doesn't mean I'm willing to travel there just to lower my principles/standards in order to satisfy a pathetic and misguided desire for momentary gratification.

There is a BC site dedicated to the "art" of snagging if you're interested NCD.

'Nuff said? Hardly. Snag away, but don't you dare call yourself a sportsman while you do, we have a hard enough time getting our image across to the rest of the world.

Start a snagger website, and you can all go there and pat each other on the back.

If this were my site, I'd ban anyone who tries to justify their snagging.

Fish on...

Todd

Semantics and 5 pages of BS.
The sport of fishing with a hook and line is defined by certain rules. Fooling a fish into acting on a natural instinct (biting at food) is one of them IMHO. Once you depart from that you are no longer fishing. Im sure arguments could be made out of context to defend a different position, but who cares? Might as well call it catching or takedowning and not fishing at that point.

Amen!

We're not talking about tribal fishers, or gillnetters, or deer hunters...we're talking about fishermen, and we're talking about snaggers...and snaggers aren't fishermen.

If they're too lame to be able to catch a fish, then they should take up golf...just make sure you turn your back on your golf buddy when you cheat on your scorecard.

Fish on...

Todd

Gangsta thugs!

Aunty M., would you consider gill netting a sport?

None of that has to do with snagging...and fishing is not a subsistence activity for sportfishermen, it is a sport..."sport" fishermen...see?

Yeah, we eat fish...some of us eat a lot of them, and only ones we catch...and I hope people that are eating fish they snagged choke on the bones.

Fish on...

Todd

Why we are sport fishing has nothing to do with why people snag. Becausesome one wants to eat their catch, doesn't mean they are more inclined to snag. If people were snagging because they are looking for food, they'd be bummed to find out that in most places, there is a gear that can catch more fish than snagging. And when a fish is hooked, it is much easier to bring in. Someone snagging for the purpose of food would find that it is more effecient to get the fish to bite.

Snaggers are just looking for a quick boner.

This thread isn't about morals, or ethics. It is about sports fishing, on a sports fishing website. There is a widely accepted definition of sports fishing which is the fish bites at your hook for some reason. We all realize that cnr sportsfishing could be considered torture for our own perverse pleasure. I consider it that way, and I do get immense pleasure from it (sorry fish).

Nevertheless cheating at sports is each individual's decision, and trying to justify it based on moral or ethical grounds is pointless. We do this sh!t for fun. For most of us, we have the most fun when we catch the fish using legitimate sports fishing methods. I don't like to cheat at Monopoly, Golf or Mario Kart either.

+1

i said "hook and line" aunty. Gillnets?

Marsha, I do have a narrow bias...and here it is.

Sportfishing is a sport, snagging is for lowlifes that give our sport a black eye, and snaggers should be eradicated from our ranks, by us, the ones who care about our sport the most.

Find fault with that? Too fuckin bad.

Fish on...

Todd

+1, and furthermore this thread was about "why all the hate for flossing" as a technique. I answered to that point with my opinion.

Nor Cal finally got his blessing from AuntyM....thanks Aunty.
Now Nor Cal can go back to Kali, break out the 8' leaders, tufts of yarns and snag with a clear conscience.

So, after all this crap this simple fact remains unchallenged :
Hooking a fish in absence of willful take is snagging.

+1 also. Whatever you call it, its not sport fishing. Though I 'spect you wouldnt call it gillnetting either!

DD - you assume that I floss. Don't assume - it makes you look bad. I am not in defense of flossing...I am in defense of those with opinions other than the self-entitled elite.

Unchallenged? I think not. This whole thread has challenged the concept of flossing = snagging. You may think the two are mutually exclusive, but like Aunty said, you don't own the moral high road, and never will.

Are you the moral high road judge?

1. Nor Cal, do you use a technique known as flossing ?

2. Your conclusion is flawed, but if it makes you happy, go with it.