Why do people do it

Well I had to go back to Pulaski today so I decided to check the spot where my buddy saw a few spawning the other day. I usually just walk back to look  as  it is a VERY small trib and  normally just a bit above a trickle, but when the water is up they get up there  and sometimes quite a few, especially to spawn.  There are some spots a running jump may get you across.    I see a truck in the lot..   Start walking back and go around a bend and I see them,  one guy in the water holding a HUGE net across the stream and another guy upstream splashing down herding a fish towards his partner in crime.   Poles on the bank, not even trying.    As I walk towards them they see me and exit the water and as I get closer they take off like bats out of hell almost at a dead sprint.  Probably thought I was DEC as I had no pole.   I walk back to the lot and I see them speeding off.   If I would have beaten them there or if they did not go back to their truck  I would have called it in.   So if you are out there and reading this, I will not forget the grey Tacoma with NJ  plates I saw today. 

Quite a few years ago I ran into a similar situation probably on that same trib. I was heading down it to fish the main river. When I ran into this group.
I couldn't keep my big mouth shut and almost got it shut for me.
Needles to say I have never been back to that trib.

Nice thing Clint is I have never had any issues as such on the ice or other great streams I chose to fish. So the real question is why are there so many issues there.

P.S.
Sorry lucky , I don't fish the fingers and hear there are problems as well.

Its nothing new, indians were doing it before this country was even settled by us... of course we came along and ruined rivers and strains forever along with the native inhabitants... so, what would stop modern man from doing the same??? Absolutely nothing... i dont see lake fishing or small trout fishing being a comparison at all... i think it has most to do with the size of these fish... its a common human nature to bend and brake the rules as you can see its quite apparent in the great lakes tribs... ive heard stories about certain rivers that get raided with snaggers for the walleye runs in early spring... take large fish, in abundance in a concentrated area and people will let their true colors show and will do whatever it takes to hold one of them... it even happened on the beaverkill where horton creek flows in to it... every year large rainbows and browns pile up as the cold spring water gushes out in to the beaverkill... after a few years of people snagging and lifting that section was closed due to the unsportsmanlike behavior that took place... another example of large fish congregated in a small spot...

another twist or thought is how the fishery first opened up... snagging and herdin was basically legal... its only been about 18 years since snagging was abolished... in which many of those same fishers are still fishing the river now that did then...

Clint you seem to have some punk rock in you... greg graffin from bad religion said it perfectly "modern man, a pathetic example of earths organic heritage"... or "we're only gonna die of our own ignorance"

Such great points and words he spoke and still speaks today. I believe he is a professor at cornell university still.. as much as the world sucks with the things that people do, ive leaned towards the opposite side i used to... theres not much i can do to change anything except myself, and if i can do better myself hopefully others will be influenced...

Well here is my take. Db, apples to oranges comparing harvesting food for necessity vs sport. Today almost all fishing ( at least lower 48 ) is sport fishing. Not going to mix commercial fishing in.
Yes I won't deny that bad sportsmanship happens on other waters but that is usually the exception and not the norm. Now givin the tribs of Ontario it is very common and sometimes actually "fishing" becomes the exception .
My take , again is that it's an accepted practice . Most folks good folks don't want an encounter with a bad practice so the blinders go on and we continue to mind our manners.
Again, acceptance..
While I can say the tribs have made strides , they are far from being the exception group.
Honestly I don't think things will ever change in my lifetime and grow very weary of acceptance .
Kinda like being at work today, we report issues but nothing gets done until complete failure happens. I have 2 dozers and a tractor down now.. :-(

No matter where it happens, all it takes is  for  good men to do nothing....
Stand up stuff , Clint.  I would like to think I would do the same.
 
Charlie

You're right on the nose with the food harvest v sport logic Tuner.
 
 
I have always been one to just mind my own business , hold my tounge and move on.
Never much of a make waves kinda guy.
One of the perks of dementia.
I forget what I was really like.
Hell being an old dude that has to worry about getting his ash whipped if the fight goes into the later rounds so now I really do just fish thru it.
I must say it is much better than it was.