snaggers beware

Hopefully the one of the town hike had permission from Dawn seeing it was on her side of the river.

5. any line lighter than 50 lb
6. no net or yellow rope
7. a hook smaller than size 01
8. soap

9. non alcoholic beer
10. split shot smaller than 3/0
11. rods longer than 7'

It's getting harder but,
15. Non polarized sunglasses
16. Water from the restricted zones above and below the upper and lower fly
17.  any fly that takes more than 20 seconds to tie
18. An octopus hook. (we all know you can't snag with those)

Alaska maintains snagging as the fishery is for subsistence . How many on the SR depend  on salmon and steelhead as food ?  It may be part of the deal, but no one needs to condone it and continue to turn a blind eye. In my area, as many people (who have more money) stay away as go because of what's tacitly allowed.  The economy wouldn't collapse; it'd be a better place. Have to respectfully disagree, rg.

When Region 8 Fisheries Manager Bill Abraham answered my objection to the snagging rampant 30 years ago on non-salmon steelhead streams like IC by saying, " A lot of people like snagging", I angered the old timers at the TU meeting where this took place, by responding, " A lot of people like raping and murdering, too, but we don't  condone those activities as a society or look the other way."  If you give Rome to the Visigoths, there is no more Rome!  But this is the American way anymore, when a nut case uses a tool to commit bedlam, take away everyone's tools, but when a bunch of low life no morals people create a thorny enforcement problem, well, there's no harm there, just ignore it and it will go away. 
 
L13

Which is why there was a move to basically close those tribs to fishing a few years past.  
 
L13

Wouldn't it be nice if, those responsible for law enforcement, had extra help (deputies) this time of year and their pay based on each ticket they write?   But, you might hear, we don't want to be harsh with our enforcement, we don't want to scare business away.  It would be such an easy fix if those who could fix the problem would stop hiding under................. "if it ain't broke; don't fix it" !
 
Don't fish for salmon, steel, etc. but, I sure feel your pain.
 
Enjoy your pictures and comments..............  Hang in there; better days are coming..................  some day!

Rg... I hear ya man. Its like trying to change the politics of this convoluted country we live in...

I agree with everyone's concern that something has to be done about the blatant infractions that take place on the SR and other LO tributaries.  I don't agree with BTDT's suggestion that the LE salary should be commensurate with the number of summons issued.  We will be on dangerous ground if LE is allowed to be judge, jury and executioner in order to line their own pockets.  Difficult at best to modify behavior without destroying the golden goose.  Conversely, skilled fishermen who know how to properly pursue their quarry are choosing to stay away.  Unfortunately the catch and release areas (fly zones) have done little to curtail snagging or lifting.  The problem is endemic throughout the system with little hope of turnaround without the solution starting and ending with the individual.  

It at least used to be that the fines went into the general fund.
The court got minimal amount for doing the extra work and the DEC LE got no return.
Kind of hard to get to fired up under those terms
 
Raised fines with a progressive fine structure (first fish $500, second fish$1000 plus the first $500 and so on) with the fines split between LE (for more enforcement) the court involed and the general fund might make it worthwhile and get results.
Anyone obeying the law has no reason to oppose this.

Certainly right on that BB.
Letting snagging in the first place was a huge mistake.
The DEC figured that out.
It has led to the instant gratification generation of fishers we have now.
Easier is better.
Watch the boober.
Get a fish counter.
Those are the people really fishing.
What else can we expect out of the people that don't care about the law or other peoples rights but only about themselves?
 
Again fine a few people a couple thou and take there equipment and maybe the message would get across that it isn't worth it.

The most disturbing part of all this to me is the slop over to steel head.  On the erie tribs the snagging is rampant.  Now i see it more and more on the ontario tribs.
 

Think closing the hatchery is kinda like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Not in the picture,
I do however, believe a one fish daily limit of any kind of fish would stop a bit of the madness.
That means if you have one on the stringer ya gotta stop-period- even in the private areas.
Also a two fish a year limit might help albeit  bit hard to enforce but it sends a message. Those freezing, smoking and guiding could be checked for ownership of fillets quite easily.
Imagine if each license came with two tags that MUST be placed on the fish upon keeping it-with a heavy fine and loss of fishing license and equipment loss for anyone possessing  an untagged fish.
 A similar tag system is  how it is for Atlantics in Nova Scotia. No more tags no more fishing.
Of course an improved enforcement effort would be nice but its never happened yet and unlikely in the future.
 There are only so many wardens and hunting seasons are open bout the same time the fish run so they get spread thin .
Closing tribs because of improper methodology is like closing the highway systems cause people speed. Cart before the horse and total unwillingness to face the real issue.

Do you speed when you see a patrol car sitting on the side of the road, (unless your DUI or a complete moron) not likely.  However, it's 'pedal to the medal' when the patrol car is outa sight.    We all know there is not enough enforcement personnel to watch every sq. ft. of field and stream every hour of, every day.  We all know summons issued for violations will, for the most part, be thrown out of court.  You should know those charged with law enforcement are certainly stretched to their limits.  You should know, the budget for these agencies, will not allow for a abundance of full time personnel.    Many of the cases being thrown out of court are results of no-shows by the arresting officer, faults found in the way the summons was haphazardly written and, the court being backlogged with other cases.  
 
In my book, fines received should be returned to the coffers of the agencies for use in that budget.  From that fund stipends could be used as a token of appreciation and, issued to those that work part time.   The idea, in this case, is to put more uniforms into field and stream where they will be seen and seen again.
 
Let's go back to the boy seen dragging fish and assumed to be snagging with, daddy standing across the stream.  Not likely anybody taking it upon themselves to confront the boy or, his father.  Not likely the boy will pay attention to what he hears from you anyway and, daddy may feel the urge to tell you to go mind your own business let alone, you could be cited for harassing a child.  Now dawn a uniform and replay the scenario, maybe the kid will listen maybe he won't but, he is left with a vision and there is record of him receiving a lecture.  Daddy steps in the way, daddy gets's a summons for interfering and because there is additional help the arresting officer can take his time and write the summons properly and, appear at the hearing. 
 
Also, there is a coalition with many states today that share in the information on the slobs breaking the law.  Losing your privilege to fish/hunt in one state, lose it in other states.  The more data compiled on an individual the more info to get a conviction the next time, regardless of what (member) state the info came from.  But that info does not exist if there is no one to write it.
 
Not trying to be long winded, just saying, 'seeing is believing' and/or 'ought of sight; out of mind'.
 
PS. You see me walking down the street and you just see another individual.  You see me walking down the street dressed in uniform.....
 
PSS. for those having visions of creating a 'Police State' scenario; what have you to hide?