Flosser

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A Flosser is an angler who uses the method of "flossing" to catch fish. His catch is mainly from the Salmon species.

"Flossing" is an angling term used to describe an unethical method for catching fish. It is also called "bottom bouncing". The method employed uses leaders as long as 12 feet (3.7m) or more with a 4 oz. (140g) lead weight called a "Bouncing Betty". Due to angling regulations in British Columbia, hooks void of any dressing whether artificial or organic are illegal. To work around this law, Flossers often tie on a piece of wool or Corkie to the hook. The technique of Flossing is to position the long leader such that it crosses through the fish's mouth. The hook attached at the end of the leader then pierces the fish from outside of the mouth as the weight pulls the line downstream. The fish does not willingly take the offering and is hooked outside but anywhere in the mouth. This is considered by many to be unethical as the fish are forced to be snagged. Flossing is commonly practiced in the summer months on the Fraser River as Sockeye and Chinook Salmon return to spawn.

In other words, a flosser is commonly known as an intentional snagger. Snagging any fish in the waters in British Columbia is illegal as stipulated in the B.C. Fishing Regulations. It is however hard to enforce this law as the flosser must be caught in the act of intentionally snagging the fish. Signs of intentional attempts at snagging a fish is the act of soildly and sharply draw the fishing rod back at the end of a drift.

An angler who is flossing is often referred to as a "Beeko".