Why snag?

  Just wondering because I don't know . . . is there a black market for steelhead? 
 
I mean are these losers doing this for "fun" or are they getting some cash somewhere for these fish or eggs?  I would think that there must be some financial payoff here.  And I don't mean the morons who run a little cleo over the backs of fish over and over again till they snag 3 to get roped and smoked and head home and brag to their buddies that they caught a limit of steel.  I mean the guys mentioned in the WCO report with the weighted trebles and the guys with nets at Trout Run and the Stop Sign Hole under the cover of darkness. 
 
And before you ask, I'm not looking to cash in.     Just wondering if there is some incentive for these schmucks other than the thrill of getting away with a crime?

They snag because they cannot fish.  They poach because they are not sportsmen.

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THATS WHY

Well said fishmonger.  Careful attention to a few details will lessen the foul hooking of fish.  If you do foul hook a fish, do not jerk the line and set the hook.  If you apply gentle pressure you can often get the fly to pop out.

WHY SNAG????  They are losers and cant catch a fish the right way.

Let me preface this by saying that I am totally, 100 percent against snagging fish, especially those who snag and then poach the fish.
That said...
I think some people snag because they have tried all other methods of legally fishing, but failed.  So, in their frustration of seeing lots of fish 2 feet in front of them, and lots of people catching fish, they want to get in on the fun and fight one.  I think probably 25 percent of the people on this board have done it at one time or another on purpose.  No one will admit it, but it happens.  Those who argue that it's not right, that it hurts the fish-yes and no.  YES it hurts the fish because it usually takes longer to land, and exhausts it. 
But also NO-let's all remember here that at the end of the day ladies and gentlemen, we are hooking things in the mouth with sharp objects!!!!  The lesser of the 2 evils-snag or mouth hooked?  Is that even a reasonable question?  Heck if I were a fish I would rather be hooked through the fin than through my mouth!  Just something to think about. 

I gotta agree with the first part of your statement.  Five years ago when I was a rook, frustration did set in.  I had been to the creek 4 times without even a hookup.  Finally, I asked this guy next to me (who was catching fish) what I was doing wrong.  He took the time to show me how to snag using a bit of nightcrawler.  I tried it once or twice till I realized this was no way of going about catching my first fish.  Caught my first one "the right way" a little while later. 
As for the second part....I think once a fish tires, it would be better to "glide" them in using their natural aerodynamics vs "dragging" them in sideways.  Just my thoughts

i agree with kayak99 they shouldnt be considered fishermen or doing the sport of fishing thats sad let them do what they have to do if you want to catch one catch it like veryone else i catch and realease so i dont like them but other people do just catch it legally. But the snaggers cant catch fish because they tried everything and they dont know anything so they snag it.

Yeh, sure. And China makes lead free toys.

from what i see a lot of people see these large trout probably much larger than what they are used to seeing on there home waters cant catch them legally (20 lb line size 4 snelled hook plastic eggs etc) they just lose all sense of decency probably same kind of folks who let jr run around with a full diaper they figure i spent x amount of dollars on a license by golly i am taking fish home by whatever means possible GREEDY PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!! plain and simple