We have all in the past few weeks, seen plenty of Neandrathal snaggers on the local rivers. Greed seems to bring out the worst in people. I had an opportunity over the weekend to hopefully educate a snagger.
I went to the Snohomish, under the 522 bridge on Saturday, and "set up shop" next to a young kid, who I noticed was using about a 1/2 ounce sinker with a hook attached, and employing the characteristic cast and jerk jerk jerk method. I informed him that if a game agent came by he would be greeted with a nice fine. The kid really had no idea that this was illegal. He had "been told" that these fish won't bite, and the only way to take them was to snag them. I took the time to show him my setup (spin and glo, shrimp etc.) and that I had practically filled my punchcard using that method. I then proceeded over the next couple hours to land and release 7 nice humpies. He did change his terminal setup after I talked to him. I think he learned something that day. Hopefully he will turn out to be a good, responsible fisherman, who can in the future, pass on the lesson to someone else.
I could have yelled at him, and turned him off completely, but I think, this time, the approach I took, was the right one.