As most of you know, long leaders typically = hooks in the mouth. Hence, flossing... Do I floss on the Cowlitz. Didn't used to, but ever since last summer I've become pretty darn good at it. I also thought that it was a form of snagging. But you got to remember, the Cowlitz is full of fish that were meant to be caught. If they aren't, they are shipped back downstream so they will. Flossing on the Cow is no big deal and it's only effective when there are large concentrations of fish with swiftly moving water. I've never "snagged" a fish on the Cowlitz. Sure, I've got a few on the outside of the mouth, but never a body shot. I think that some of you feel that lining fish means hooking them in places "other" than the mouth. If I foul hook a fish I let it go automatically. I've snagged far more fish with a short leader than with a long....
Go ahead and bash me now but I know some of you can see what I'm saying.