I have read many articles on Salmon snagging here in Michigan. We have fought battles on the banks, everything from fists to knives and shotguns. D.N.R.officers have been assaulted thrown off bridges and shot at trying to stop snaggers from taking fish from Michigan Rivers. I have to agree with the other post on making a few spots legal. At least in the spots where they are allowed to snag they are not so aggressive. The problems were mostly between guys who did not snag and guys who did. And others who thought they owned the river. No one in their right mind would try to fly fish in a group of snaggers. It is a choice you guys will have to make and work with. I left the rivers when the troubles started and bought a boat. now I fish Muskies when the the Kings are running. I fish Kings when the Muskies are slow(summer) We do well. I wish all snaggers would quit then they could all buy spoons from me and I could retire ha ha ha . Tight lines to all you west coasters and have a great season. Kingfisher FISHALL LURES

It must be fall , all the snaggers are out in full force.
It repeats every year and we ***** and moan and call the F&G and the police.

Same thing, some will get caught and majority will not. There is not enough officers to cover all areas so we are stuck with snagging ass holes.

The reality of this is it will never stop but it sure would be nice to have it become more of a extinct practice then a circus show.

One thing that really irks me is there are people who will complain and say all kinds of crap about the snaggers but when the officers show up they are afraid of telling the officer who was doing what.
Next time you see it happen and the officer shows up escort him to the snaggers and tell them what you saw and relay to them that you will be a witness in court. Stand up and fight for your self and don't be bullied by scare tactics by these fools.
Take pics and get names and give them to the officer, complain everyday if you have to, soon or later there will be an WSP or F&G that will show up and then its pay day. Also if the officers get enough complaint with good info about the snaggers, they will know who and what to look for, and migh frequent the area more often and that might keep the snaggers away.
Little ZZ, I think what you purpose might be a good idea . This might keep the majority of them in the meat holes. I know when I fish area with hard to catch fish,hard to see or detect , you don't see the snaggers . The officers could less frequent these honest waters and concentrate more on the areas where the fish are easaily detected by snaggers. ( I know they try ding this right now) From experience in fishing the quiet waters to the meat holes you do not see the snaggers if they have to work to hard for the fish, they like the easy kill and prefer the meat fishery. So this can free up some officers and they can concentrate hard on those areas only.

Maybe they should go back to the old Wild West days and deputize people to write tickets. I'm sure there would be enough people to volunteer.

Steelyman, that's actually a good idea. I've actually talked with a few of the local WDFW guys (especially since I know a few since I deliver to a few of their offices). They kind of laugh it off. But I think it would be cool to be able to clean up some of the "garbage holes" that fill up with snaggers every fall. Quite a few come to mind.

I think the only way to combat snagging is a grass roots movement to make it unbearable to do. Too many look the other way. I've made one too many remarks fishing (especially in spots where my body would never be found again or a Deliverance scene would take place LOL) that could've turned bad. But I was only one to say something. Luckily I've noticed more and more speaking up. With better cell coverage and better law coverage, maybe we can clean it up.

SH69 know the feeling...I'm well disliked on the you know where...they just don't appreciate my style !

There's already a bounty on squawfish. Why not snaggers. Catch them on video, get their license plate #, they get fined, and you get 25%.
There's got to be some incentive if you are gonna risk an a$s whoopin'.

What is the going rate on fines for keeping snagged fish? Sounds like there would be a veritable gold mine on the Quilcene. I know there's good money to be made on the Carbon in the combat zone.

We could call the program "Snag a Snagger".

My 2 cents.

i was talking to a guy who fishes the carbon and he says there is a program called "eyes in the woods" , i think they deputize you to become enforement, ive never heard of it, maybe some of you have? bb