Not long before the "Gong Show" shifts over to the smaller systems and similar topics flood the forum.
It seems that year after the year, the attempts of a few to educate and convert anglers to proper and ethical fishing tactics is getting far outdone by the fast spreading fine art of flossing/snagging. I'm only guessing, but I'd think that flossing has been around longer than most people realize. Where the problem lies today is in the increasing popularity of the sport and the lack of proper direction for the new anglers. While certain programs do exist (Fish for the Future) and help tremendously for early development of ethical anglers, it's all downhill from there as these kids are exposed, by friends and family, to current flossing scenario on the Fraser and the later run of salmon up the smaller systems (Vedder, Stave, etc.).
The inherent problem with salmon fishing in fresh water is the lack of a feeding instinct, which presents all sorts of problems for inexperienced and sometimes experienced anglers. This problem is amplified in smaller systems (Vedder) by the ever changing river conditions and the constant need for tactical adaptation and tackle selection. Throw in the fact that the river is full of fish, and it's not long before flossing tactics rear their ugly heads. Why? It's simple, effective, and to those who do it it's fun because it gets fish to the shore. Why do experienced anglers do it? Partly for the reason just mentioned, and partly due to frustration of not being able to get one to bite while many around them are pulling fish to the shore. It's like a disease.
One thing that's new to me, is the recent act by "ethical" anglers who have resorted to flossing on the Fraser just because the fish won't bite. I am perplexed by this as they have taught themselves their whole lives to try to be innovative and never give up on attempting to get the fish to bite. And if in the end they are unsuccessful, they should never under any circumstance turn to an act that results in a possession of a fish which was caught for a reson other that willing biting of a presentation on the hook.
To me, the word "harvest" (used by many to justify their "entitlement" to sockeye), is something that legaly has no place in current regulations found under the Provincial Sport Fishing Licence.