Gooose:
Sinker may have hit on the real motive (locals wanting it all to themselves), but it is a fact that landowners who were supposedly okay in the past with fishermen are now complaining to JCCD.

I've worked on many conservation projects with that agency, and Al Latham emailed me with this info, to see if I might write about it in the Pt Townsend-Jeffco Leader (I'm their outdoor writer). I may do that, but this thread seemed a good place to mention it too.

I know the county doesn't regulate fishing, but a conservation agency could have more sway than we do.

I'll forward JCCD's email to you for your evaluation. If you call Al, he might give you some landowner names, and would also consider your thoughts on the matter. Neither of us is trying to shut down the river! (Personally I now prefer the beach fishing. Haven't seen a snagger there yet!)

Peace

Scaly
Thanks...just got home to read your e-mail and sent you a reply. I don't think there's much that can be done this year and it looks like the upper river action is dead leaving only the mouth and the lower river. Beyond the snagging issue we need to find some solutions. I haven't been on the upper river due to the huge posse up there and as you probably already know those big piggies in the salt or fresh from it are just too much to resist. Now that I know who you are I don't doubt your opinion or word...hope I didn't imply that? There needs to be some discussion between us and these landowners...all the years I've lived here they've been very kind in allowing us access. You've got my number so let's try to get something going.
Peace

Goose is pretty worn out so simply
to everyone!

Seen it all but just heard this one!
Did any one see the guy above the HWY 101 bridge with the crab ringnet? Heard he had like 10 on the bank! I'm thinkin maybe a barb wire enclosure with a stupid poacher cam for the internet for people to look at(similar to the Eagle Cam). Gawd it only gets worse. Time for a change...I'm thinking a Ghillie Type paid position that is based at all of these snagfests ....the Quil alone would pay for several. Change the law so that all fishing violation ticket money goes into a specific dedicated state fund and hire retired Fish& Wildlife officers, state patrolmen, sheriff deputies, etc. for part time seasonal jobs and require that they hammer these idiots into oblivion. H%ll I'll volunteer!

Peace to all
Gooose

From my post in the "Snagging" thread on ifish:

It's time for some properly performed vigilante task anti-snagging groups. Since there's not enough money for officers and the state's legislatures lack the nads to raise the fines way up to pay for more enforcement and deterence, I think it's time we do something to clean it up - or we will be hurt in the short and long run! I have a good hunch that WA guys like 'Yall, Os, TM, and Superfly would help out with this - and surely other Oregon guys than Trick and I would be willing to help out. This would be relatively quite safe, and very ethical and beneficial, in my honest opinion. I'd even do it with a couple of appropriate guys and I'd volunteer to be the spokesman; but a half dozen guys would be better. Here is what I would say: "Hi guys. We are from the Brotherhood of Ethical Fisherman (or whatever). We've been alerted that there is a snagging problem on some rivers such as this one. We just would like to show you a better and legal way to catch these fish. We also want to alert you that game officers and volunteer anglers are going to be monitoring rivers this fall to stop illegal snagging. It's important in order to keep the rivers open and to keep our future fishing rights intact. Here are some flyers for you that you need to read, about the laws and potential upcoming situations. Any questions?" Or whatever it takes in the unlikely event that proper approach doesn't do the job! ... Joe, let me know if you guys want to do a little fishing and snagger thwarting on the Quil or wherever it's needed. I will meet you there ASAP. For the bigger snagfests such as at the Barrier dam on the Cowlitz, we should alert the gammies (who would likely show up to add credence), and we should have a couple dozen guys go in with a bullhorn and in so many words tell them the snagging party is over for the season. We could spread out (with whistles at hand) and fish along side them and help the 'mentally challenged' ones to release snagged fish. It's legal to arm yourself while fishing, if you feel it's warranted. I doubt very much that any violence would occur under these circumstances, and it would do some good!

RT

RT, you are wise beyond your years, all 31 of them

It would be cool if you came up to fish the Quil. We would have Fly, Gooose, Parker, Timberman and 'Yall. Be a helluva posse and we could help instruct proper methods to snaggers. I'll even be kind enough to hand out rigs(that don't have the pencil lead below the hook).

[ 09-11-2001: Message edited by: Kid Sauk ]

It's closer to 41 actually. Hey, you can't handle being up this late Justin! Are you up playing 'find the salami' again? ...

I'm in! Run a 'clean up' day idea by the other boys and let me know when you want to get the brooms out. Fly will tell you how much scum we got out of the Wind R. canyon. That crap came out on our backs in bags though. I don't think we need to go that far on the Quil. Do you? ...

Nah. But it's high time for some education on this river and let's get after it. We can show them how to fish (bring some rigs as you suggest), or we can send them home to mommy if they don't want to play fair. We can also have some fun fishing while we are at it. This weekend might be a good time? I'm fishing the NF with Keith on Thursday, so Wed. or Fri. won't be my best days to clean. And more dirt will be there on the weekend; where we can send a message heard far and wide. E-mail or call me if you get the guys ready for the weekend. - Steve

Thanks all of you ! But if it's some fishin you be wantin to go with the effort wait for the next rain first. That's when we'll get the next and likely last big shot of fish. Although I've never met him someone the size of TM wading the river would cutoff the stream flow...it's that bad :p . I'll be hittin it this weekend the tides indicate there may be a mid-day shot through evening of really nice fish to enjoy...just not a lot and not all together. BUT! this POSSE thing is one of the best ideas and really needs to be used as a pre-emptive measure. This year we have upcoming snag fisheries on the Dungeness, Satsop and Hump in my area of operations. Small groups of at least three and more like six or so may be the most effective depending on the river. On the Hump I'd put at least six guys on the Ledge Hole below the hatchery....samething for the Ranier Bar Hole. I'm thinkin promotional gear like caps and shirts declaring a "Snagger Free Zone." Gather at the spot early and be friendly but firm...snaggers are not tolerated but share the best with the real fisherman. Work this through the hole season and learn from it. Then really hit them right off the getgo next year....Aug. 16th we hit the Skok and Quil and just prosecute these guys followed by each and every snagfest as it opens. Anyway I'll be on the lower river around 9 or 10 saturday morn...can't guarantee the fishin action...at least we can clean up the river,do a little education and all meet and all meet to discuss face to face what we have to do. Geez even the snaggers have thinned out from what I can see due to the lack of water...there was only 10 guys at the lower sanag spots on Monday...didn't fish...just couldn't resist stoppin to see what the evening run was like.

Gooose

I think blaze orange ballcaps or vests with the "Snagger Free Zone" logo are in order, maybe a couple of signs... would be a hoot.

Let me know if this is really going to happen on the Quil, and I will definitely be there if it happens on the Dungeness.

-N.

STORMIN geez you must be readin my mind! That's one of the ideas I've written down for my forthcoming post on this issue. Workin on it right now as I'm a little crippled up from "chasin wock wabbits."
I am also thinkin of something like "Real Fisherman Don't Need To Snag." Or how about
"Snaggers are Poachers?" Even without rain I'll be on the river Sat and likely Sun. Don't know about the "in your face" style of dealing with this as I'm more prone to chasin fish first and using my individual style of educating. The "Possee" in your face type method is going to be necessary but I'd rather see this level of educating used carefully and selectively where it will have the most effect. My thought is that this would be when these snagfests are just beginning...and it would be a well planned out action. The second type of Possee is the one where a group just quietly take over a stretch of river and exclude snaggers from comin in and snaggin and educating those who are willing to learn. This type of action doen't need a whole lot of planning other than a group of guys deciding to get together and fish. This type of action is appropiate any time and would deliver the message of presence on the river of real fishermen. More my style. Hey if a bunch of you want to show up I'll be up at my favorite spot...Superfly knows where to look.
STORM'N have you been on the river since monday and have you heard any reports of fish comin up in the mornin. With the tides this wekend I'm thinkin it might be a little good even without rain. You can e-mail me if you don't want to post anything.

Chasin Wock Wabbits is Not For The Old!

Gooose

One of the most proficient Quillabilly snaggers had a letter to the editor of the Port Townsend Leader published today. He's advocating making snagging legal. As good as this guy is he and all of his relations and friends likely have freezers full of snagged fish. Check it out and reply... sorry due to my lack of proficieny at the old computer you'll have to do a search. This guy is claiming that letting these coho spawn are actually endangering the listed run of chums and that not harvesting them is a waste of resource. He use's words like research! As a professional ecologist I love all of the dead fish left in the river as it provides the lifeblood of the entire freshwater/saltwater ecosystem! This is what historically provided the driver for all the NW salmon runs. God loves the illitrate and uneducated! This guy claims that WDFW is catering to a few voices in not openng this river up to snagging! Time for all of us to make it clear that we are not the few. E-mail this paper! E-mail WDFW! Get active or lose the battle!

Always FishOn!
Gooose

Thanks, Aunty. There's a news article on the Quil snagging in the same issue, actually a front page story. If the link below doesn't work, go to www.ptleader.com. The site also has a mailing address for anyone wanting to write a letter to the editor.
http://www.ptleader.com/news/010912bigquilrivercohor182.htm

Thanks a huge bunch Aunty M! Alls we need now is the members of this BB to e-mail the heck out this paper! Please! Patrol hammered the crap out of them today but the idiots still kept it up. Problem is that they can't be everywhere. My post on snaggin is pretty much ready for tomorow. Not a big thing but a start.

Gooose

A couple of us are planning a little litter control on the Quil tomorrow and a little fishin. Snaggers are still present but not in the previously huge numbers. There are fish available...a mix of dark and chrome...and some are real large. Fishin partner nailed a nice chrome hen this evening and Gooose went 5 for 5 fishon and fishoff! Could have had one but thought it was foul hooked... turned out Gooose's eyes are getting old and he promptly pulled the hook out when he realized the black yarn was in the right spot . Anyway there was some action in the evening. Don't know what the mornin action will be so I might try jigs under a float out at the mouth as there's a bunch there.

If you come this way bring garbage bags.

Cove RV Park Prostaff(1)
Always FishOn!
Gooose