Are we snagging or catching? |
Hi there, I was wondering if I am actually catching or just snagging fish when bar fish using bottom bouncing techniques on the fraser during the salmon runs. Some suggest that we are just snagging them and the only reason we usually get them in the mouth is because they swim with their mouths open and all we have to do is sweep the line across their path to create the opportunity for the line to be scooped up in their mouth. If this was the case, why do certain colors of wool tied to the hook work better than other colors or no wool at all. Is it all just a mis-perception on our part and not really necessary to have wool or certain colors of wool? Is the wool like wings to direct the hook a certain way or adding drag to keep the line tight and not really doing anything visually to improve the odds? Perhaps the wool is helping to camoflage the hook by making it the same color as the water or debret in the water so that it does not spook the fish? Inquiring Minds want to know
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Put it this way. last year to prove a point, I put no wool on at all one day. 2 cast's, 2 fish. I usually put wool on just to make it legal, but I get a laugh out of the guy's who ask what colour I'm useing- it doesn't matter. Take a look at your fish after you've landed it. The hook will be on the outside of the mouth in the corner where the top and bottom jaws meet. this is where the hook ends up as your line flosses thru it's mouth. Smelly.
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I do not use wool at all. Usually catch my quote in a half of hour - hour and leave…for barbecue. Hook (2/0) must be red, he, he, he…
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LOL!! That's right, a big red Gami... and 12 feet of leader.
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We are CATCHING fish here people, not SNAGGING! It doesn't really matter how you do it with the rod and reel, as long as the hook is in the mouth area, it is CAUGHT legally and fairly, not SNAGGED. If I do snag a fish, I let it go cause that's what you do. In fact, I've let many tail and fin hooked/snagged sockeye go for the last several years. Let me put it another way, how else are you going to catch these yummy fish that are not actively feeding?? My ancestor's didn't live here a long time ago... so I can't use a net or a spear as the law works against me in those cases...and I can't drift/float fish for those Fraser sockeye cause it plain won't work. So what alternative do we have? I've only been fishing a half dozen years or so and as I understand it, THERE WAS NO SOCKEYE SPORT/MEAT FISHERY (whatever you want to call it) in the 80's and earlier as nobody knew how to catch these suckers on a rod and reel combo. The only fisheries that existed for sockeye then were the natives and their nets, the trawlers and the gillnetters... that was it !(correct me if I'm wrong there, but I don't think I am). It wasn't until some clever (gulp) americans showed us in the early 90's how to bottom bounce/floss for them. It was a valid technique that caught on quickly and voila, we now had a every man's pole fishery for sockeye...amazing how things work sometimnes isn't it! So don't ever feel any bit of guilt for catching a sockeye by flossing for it..as there is simply no other way to do it with a rod and reel! If your guilt is to great or you are a purist at heart, then you won't ever be able to enjoy the barbelicious scent of a freshly caught sockeye on the barby. If you think eating a store bought that was trawled or gillnetted, or an illegally sold "not for resale" fish is going to give you any more satisfaction than a flossed one, then go for it. I question your logic at that point, but it's your life? Capisch! Does anyone agree with these sentiments? (purists need not respond)
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I agree 100% , it's about time someone has the balls and the proper way with words to tell it like it is. I have been fishing for sockeye since we have been aloud to , and all the same •••• comes up all the time. I don't know but it seems pretty simple to me , if you enjoy it than go out there and have some fun , if you don't simply don't go , and keep your mouth shut about to people who enjoy it. If the DFO decides it's wrong then they will close the fishery or make changes to it. Myself , I'm gettin pretty pumped and Im not about to let some selfproclaimed "real fisherman" take that away. I have been fishing the fraser for almost 25 years now so I think I'm entitled to my opinion. Dan , thanks for the comments they made sense to me and enjoy that BBQ this summer.
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