Trash...and this.

[Archiero]

Buddy and I hit a Lake O trib for some steelhead fly fishing today. In retrospect probably should have paid more attention to the amount of rain yesterday instead of just the Raptors game as the water was brown and fast. Not a lot of action at all. However was picking up trash as I normally do when I came across this on the banks of a nice pool. Unbelievable what people do to try and get themselves a fish. Really, really sad!

[rayray89]

...

[Chevy]

Just brutal... slob fishermen

[Goshawk]

I tried my hand at some salmon in the Rouge in Markham a few years ago. I managed to land one that was about 22" and release it back into the pool. There were two guys in the same pool. When I got the fish revived and released, one of the guys yelled at me for not giving the fish to him. I guess he wasn't very happy when I said "it's in the pool right in front of you....catch it!
Anyway, when I was picking up my stuff and leaving, I noticed what bait he was using. It was a 6' fiberglass rod that looked like a small hydro pole because it was so thick. On the end of his like was a 1oz bell sinker with a barbed 10/0 treble hook. He wasn't fishing, he was snagging. When I got over the hill heading back to my truck, I called the MNR hotline (speed dial on my phone) and explained the situation and location. It was about a 100 yard walk to my truck, but when I got there and officer was just getting out of his car. I didn't hang around to see the outcome, but by the time I drove away, he was coming over the hill with the guy and his buddy in tow.

[metalbuckle]

It is sad to see these rigs used by snaggers.

I think the lure in the picture was actually sold at one time,
under the name "Michigan Cricket"

Brutal.

[FatRap]

Well played Goshawk

Some people have absolutely no fishing respect.

[outdoors4life]

Unbelievable.... Makes the rest of us look bad

[sabmgb]

I have a buddy that had this happen when he was fishing a pool. He went back to his truck put his stuff away, walked back down to the pool. Say hi, remember me. Guy said yes as my buddy pulled out his badge. Didn't end well for the guy, especially after he tried to push my buddy in the pool.

[BillM]

What's sad is that rig is still legally used in Illinois during certain times and in certain places. Still lots of snagging going on in Michigan as well (the practice was legally banned in 1994, but some old boys still do it)