Clint I think that statement is so very true ..  Seems a tough sell though and cant understand so much why.. My only thought would be that it's not always easy catching fish.. Fun as heck when we do and thats what keeps us doing it but sometimes the fish do win and tough as it is, we must except that fact..  To me it's all about knowing we gave it our best and had fun along the way..
"At least I'm enjoying the ride " 
 
 
 
 

Chartist1-
 
As a member of the Mad River Club up on the Tug Hill, headwaters of the Salmon, I was advised to change hats before entering any watering holes. Posted signs are not popular with a lot of folks up there,  Good luck with them seeing "Outfitters" and realizing the difference!  Get a camo Miller hat and you should be fine!
 
L13

Clint,I have been saying that for years.A Bluegill would n't "bite" if people acted with them like they do for Salmon. The Salmon will hit if you "fish" for them the same as you would a wild trout.Of course there are days that you have a hard time finding what the color of the "day" is and you can't get a hit.....but that's FISHING.
It all boils down to money,if the slobs aren't into fish all day long they won't come back and the McDonalds will lose their business.What they don't realize is that for every slob that stays home there will be a ANGLER to replace him.I know a lot of people that will never fish there again because of the slobs that frequent the SR.

Jack,  I think the State of NY bears some culpability in the "snagging/lifting" debate.  It wasn't that long ago the "snagging" was a practice protected by law.  Its unfortunate that those who engaged in that practice have never truly modified their behavior.  In fact, they probably taught their friends and children "how to" and the beat goes on.  The proverbial horse is out of the barn and it may take a long time before he is back in.  I dare say that some don't even realize that they are doing something wrong.  Good or bad, success often reaffirms bad behavior. 
Kudos to you for showing these individuals the right way to fish but I wonder if they reverted back to their old ways after experiencing a tough day on the water. 

Gerry,I can only hope they did n't go back to the dark side.They were not the only people that I tried to help,there's one guy from Conn. that I gave some tips a couple years ago and I see him every year since,we're friends now.
I don't think the State wants to end the snagging because of money as I stated.If they wanted to they could by first issuing a STONG warning and then follow it with lots of arrests with STIFF fines.The word would spread and those that want to FISH will come and the slobs would stay home.

If strong enforcement started there would have to be a Judge and Court set up in every parking all season long lot due to the volume of business- three in the Ballpark and one riverside in the Needle.
 Heck with the rip marks I saw on Atlantics last Summer even the UFZ would need one all Summer.
Kinda think they are allowing 'socially accepted' limits and just stopping the real blatant goings on.
 Like has been said - it was legal, acceptable and normal behavior just a few short years back- and NOT just on the SR. Wasnt a shop around that didnt have those weighted trebble hook snaggin machines not far from the Fly rack.

troutbum21

Jack,  I think the State of NY bears some culpability in the "snagging/lifting" debate.  It wasn't that long ago the "snagging" was a practice protected by law.  Its unfortunate that those who engaged in that practice have never truly modified their behavior.  In fact, they probably taught their friends and children "how to" and the beat goes on.  The proverbial horse is out of the barn and it may take a long time before he is back in.  I dare say that some don't even realize that they are doing something wrong.  Good or bad, success often reaffirms bad behavior. 
Kudos to you for showing these individuals the right way to fish but I wonder if they reverted back to their old ways after experiencing a tough day on the water. 

 
I agree completely, I was that kid at 10-14 slinging weighted trebles, that now fly fishes at 28. Unfortunately there are guys that I fished with back in High School that still snag and are scumbags that ruin the fishing for everyone. And they live here year around. They're the guys getting 25lb test and 12 foot rods standing on the wall wiping the rod around like Indiana Jones. But unfortunately they're to ignorant to want to learn the correct way, or spend the money to change their gear, its inevitable that the SR is gonna be known for snagging and have snaggers around. 
 
But my daugther, my girlfriends son and daughter wont learn how to snag, sure they'll know its wrong and not the right way, as long as everyone does their part and hopefully we can weed out most of the bad guys. 
 
What needs to happen in my opinion is tickets, fines and penalties for snagging and improper fishing. NYS can say they dont wanna lose the money from out of state licenses, but enough fines and tickets, they'll make their money back. 

Port Ontario.
Next to Golden Fish.
"BE A SMARTY BUY FROM MARTY,
SNAG HOOKS 5 FOR A DOLLAR!"
ah Memory Lane again.
Aguy could save a crap ton of monies stopping before he hit the big city of Poolasky

Even my favorite resterant -the 'golden fishie' is gone now.

As a retired member of the LE community giving a person a summons is not about the monies, fees and surcharges collected by the municipality or the state, its about behavior modification.  If it were strictly a monetary issue then God save us all because an over zealous cop then becomes a judge, jury and executioner.  
What you may not know is that the fines collected rarely go to the issuing court or jurisdiction.  The state of NY takes a lions share of the proceeds and they go into the general fund.