This weekend the straw finally broke the camels back. While fishing on the Willapa River I warned a snagger to get the %^& out of here. He went around the bend and continued snagging with 4 others, including the father who was using a net to "dip fish" the holding salmon.

Really pissed off with the situation, I left and called the fish and game poaching hot line which had only a recording. I then called 911 and reported a non-emergency fish and wildlife violation. The operator gave me the state patrol dispatch number which I called and finally was able to report the situation.

Unfortunately, on a Saturday, everybody is busy and nobody showed up by the time I had to leave. Had I known what vehicles belonged to these jerks I could have gotten their license plate numbers? With enforcement personnel so stretched and not available when you need them, what else can we do. It would be nice if volunteers could be deputized to enforce minor fish and game violations and write tickets. What do you all think??

Welcome to Washington state! I have done the same exact thing a dozen times. Thats the main reason I hardly ever fish for fall salmon anymore.

If I knew their cars for sure - they'd probably come back to flat tires and a friendly note on the wind sheild:

"Dear white trash poacher,
Learn how to fish or get off the ****** river!"

I have a nice little valve stem remover that does no permenant damage to the tires, but sure get's the point across...

I've done same thing. Normally though, the recording I've received told me to call state patrol since poaching hotline is closed on WEEKENDS!!!!!!!!!!! I called the WSP, gave them my location. I sat there and watched from the bank another 5 hours with no avail. Mind you, the river was totally CLOSED to fishing and I was simply standing there with nothing to do. Noone ever showed up. Like a waste of my time. Both guys had quite a few steelhead smolt each on their stringer. Well more then the 2 allowed under the rules when OPEN.

Same story here. tired of all the dudes around me spooking the fish by ripping trebs through the schools. Got my two and left. Back at the car I called the hotline number listed inside the front cover of the regs and got the same friggin recording. I guess noone poaches on the weekend.

Yeah when I was on the green yesterday there was a whole group of snaggers (20) across from the boeing acces bridge. I mean it was rediculios to see that many people just casting out and jerking there way back.

Ak_floater has a good idea. In 1980 or so, when I left the nest, the state of Iowa had a program, to deputized people, to help enforce the laws. I don't know much about the program or how long it lasted, but I do know alot of people voluntered for the program.

The problem is, you would need to get the support of every fishing club, and fishing person in the state of WA. The Bass clubs have the most members, I'm in the Spokane Walleye Club, and our newsletter is around #120, and there are 6,7,8 ? walleye clubs in the state. I'm sure that there are quite a few fly-fishing clubs in the state. There are at least 2 in Spokane. But you would need to get intouch with every fishing group and person in the state, for support. (those fly fishers have the buck's to fund the legal action)(lol), then, include it in YOUR FISHING LICENSE, yes, you wil pay for a few deal. (that's how WA state works)

Basicly, you need to get the "support" of everyone who buys a fishing license, then legally deputize a % of the people. The trick is to organize the movement.

Does anyone know a Attorney who loves to fish? Or, I know the guys at Walleyes Unlimited, they push for the Warmwater fishing program rules that you read in your Fish and Game Rule Book, they organize with all the of Walleye clubs in WA, Oregon, Idaho. Who knows the President of your local Fly-fishing club?

Where is it going to start? Or should I say, "WHEN". My .02 Jon

This whole thing is pretty ironic becuase yesterday I was down at the cowlitz not fishing but just checking it out from the parking lot when the ol gamei comes rolling in. he strolls up to the truck as we had watched him do to a few others before us and practically interigates us up one side and down the other. We had told him and pointed out people we had been watching snag and keep the snaged fish, he looks at us looks at the people on the bank turns around says "well we arrest alot of people down here but it doesn,t seem to stop them" gets in his truck tells us to have a good day and leaves . whats your opinion on this.

If you can't get though to the poachers hotline and the state patrol won't show up,just get the license number until you get home to your computer and fill one of these out to report the poaching.
http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/enf/poaching.htm

Those are some great ideas on how to actually snag the snaggers. I plan on contacting F&G about deputizing volunteer enforcers, as well as a couple of local fishing clubs for their support. I never knew there was an online poaching reporting form. It's time we all put more effort reporting what we see. Maybe with more reports, they'll see they need more help enforcing the current laws.

I wonder if a group of sportsman dedicated to sportsmanship could establish a program similar to the Guardian Angels of the cities. With the right reputation, there presence alone might send people away. Granted they would have to travel in groups and park their cars away from their patrolled rivers.

There already are plenty of "guardian angels" - like the guy in the drift boat who had a ca-niption telling me to release a Dolly I was landing, looking over my back and being a nuisance.

I think the state should go for a full closure on more areas of smaller hatchery rivers during Sept. Like they did this year on a river where I seen some idiots who said they were "trout fishing" below the hatchery diversion last year. More water = less idiots

We need to make the snagging issue more public. Most people who are non-sportsmen don't understand and thus don't really care. If we got some good video of a blood bath at a one or 2 meat holes and got them to run a story in the media, i'm sure it would cause quite a rumble. Well, maybe not, but it would be worth a try...

I totally agree with you PhishPhreak.

Once you tip the media off on the problem, and they run a story, the WDFW will have to formulate a public response.

Even if they just state they have a resource issue and cannot patrol all of the areas where this problem exists, that will still serve as a wake up call to the government officials and public in the area.

Floater and all:
Several of the larger sport fishing groups, like TU and PSA, are working on improving enforcement. Meanwhile, check out (and join) www.Eyesinthewoods.org

If you can't beat 'em, join em!

Keep a sturgeon rod in your truck. When you see snaggers, do a little snaggin' of your own. Cast across their lines, reel 'em in, and then cut 'em all off! We could even have a season for them, or have a snagger snagging derby. Whoever gets the most hooks or the largest from a snagger's line wins. I bet that they fight just as good as salmon too!

Just make sure that there are more of you than them. I would hate to see any REAL fishermen get hurt by a group of these a$$hole poachers.