Post
by AdsBot [Google] » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:07 pm
Education, enforcement, education, enforcement. It's really that simply. Some people you're never gunna change, and you know who you are....even some fishermen/women commit the folly crime...oxymoronic if you ask me. Here's where we step in...yes, us the angler. If we see someone litter, which is a misdemeanor is the state of WA we need to speak up and educate the person who committed the acts of littering and trashing our favorite fishing hole. I, for one, am most annoyed with people who leave behind empty powerbait jars at boat launches (you know who you are) and worm containers floating on the surface of a lake.
But, I'd like to point out that the WDFW does a poor job of providing trash bins at certain locales (lakes/rivers). For instance, I'll take Lake Margaret, a fun, clean little lake on the whole. There is a toilet up top and enough parking for around 10-15 vehicles, give or take a few. There are no trash cans in sight...something that is very alarming. Simply raising our taxes is NOT an option for this problem. We need to get our heads out of our...you know what...and take some action here. I hate seeing passionate fishermen become passive observers. Let's go now! Get off your rear-end and speak up, spark change! I have the WDFW enforcment hotline number on speed dial on my new cell phone and will use it if I have to this Spring. Let's be the change we want to see out on the water. We can't wait and SHOULD NOT get more government involved with raising taxes (because G-d knows where that money goes...certaintly not to more enforcement or improved waste removal). We need to bring along pastic bags to pick up after other people who simply don't give a darn about the environment.
Earlier today I saw a picture post by one of our members that showed fishing line making it's way in on the fishes' upper head/body. This was not only sad to see, but very disheartening. For one, think about all the leaded line, and mono that sits at the bottom of our area lakes; one just need to bottom bounce Pine Lake for brown trout to figure this one out. As one we aren't going to make much of any progress...but as a cohesive unit of fishermen/women we will spark change. Let me give you one quick example. Last year I floated down the Cedar River in the dead heat of summer, it was around 100F outside and people (teenagers) were floating the river too. We were fly-fishing, they were wasted. I could have filled up a hundreds of garbage bags worth of beer bottles, energy drink cans, needles, old bbq grills glued onto the riverbed, among many other strange things (clothing, etc.)...it's where things break down. We need to enforce this the best we can, and educate other anglers who are ignorant enough not to pay due respect to our area waters...not just lakes...but rivers, and Puget Sound, too.
In conclusion, I hope that people will take a little extra time this Spring and think ahead, bring garbage bags and pick up what you can. If you see someone litter, call them out. I urge the WDFW to adopt a trash system at all their facility sites...they have the resources and they should supply us with the proper means of waste disposal. The last thing we need is another tax to keep our fishing areas clean...we have what we need already to make this happen -- it's you, the angler. I hope to run across some of you polluters this summer and then we can have a face-to-face talk about why you do what you do. To a clean, safe, and fun start to the 2008 fishing season!
