Cleaning Up After Someone - Bring A Trash Bag

[kutthroatkilla]

Not sure how many of you already do this, but I thought it warrants a mention. After having traveled to 10 local lakes in the last 2 months I have observed a problem with trash (old shoes, old batteries left behind - even in the water, leaders, powerbait jars, plastic bottles, etc)...you get the idea. I have started bringing a trash bag with me wherever I go and pick up all this stuff/garbage that I do find littered along the shores and by the launches of our little lakes we love to fish, rather it be fly fishing, or lure/bait fishing. I've about had it up to my neck with purposely left behind garbage and trash at our lakes.

KTK

[kevinb]

Not sure how many of you already do this, but I thought it warrants a mention. After having traveled to 10 local lakes in the last 2 months I have observed a problem with trash (old shoes, old batteries left behind - even in the water, leaders, powerbait jars, plastic bottles, etc)...you get the idea. I have started bringing a trash bag with me wherever I go and pick up all this stuff/garbage that I do find littered along the shores and by the launches of our little lakes we love to fish, rather it be fly fishing, or lure/bait fishing. I've about had it up to my neck with purposely left behind garbage and trash at our lakes.

KTK

Great idea and thread. I will start bringing a bag..much better than picking up trash and putting it in the tacklebox.
Besides,its sad to say but the box won't even come remotly close to carring all the garbage I see

[leahcim_dahc]

...

++

I always carry trash bags...they're cheap and fit behind the seat of my truck nicely. It's not hard to pick up after ourselves.


Chad

[Dave]

When I am out fishing I see a fair amount of trash lying around which is frustrating and I also usually pick it up. I would definitely cite someone if I saw them walk away from their trash and get into their vehicle to drive away if I witnessed it while on duty. Too bad there aren’t more officers available to check these lakes on a more frequent basis. It's an infraction under 1 cubic yard so it has to be witnessed by a commissioned officer.

[A9]

Best ones to throw in the tackle box are the produce bags from our grocery stores. Soon as you run outta apples or whatever you filled em up with, don't toss em out. Save em for the tackle box. They squish down to practically nothing and can hold a good amount of trash...

Smokers: Try and not throw your butts in the water...That pisses me off major....

[leahcim_dahc]

Smokers: Try and not throw your butts in the water...

I've been guilty of that before...never did think about the consequences much.

I don't do it anymore...toss 'em in a trash bag, or in my pocket until I can get to a trash bag.

[A9]

Smokers: Try and not throw your butts in the water...

I've been guilty of that before...never did think about the consequences much.

I don't do it anymore...toss 'em in a trash bag, or in my pocket until I can get to a trash bag.

Everyone's probably guilty of someone, it's now all about changing our ways...
No one's perfect and never made a mistake. It's just about how you handle it and change your ways....

good work leachim dach

[Derrick-k]

Best ones to throw in the tackle box are the produce bags from our grocery stores. Soon as you run outta apples or whatever you filled em up with, don't toss em out. Save em for the tackle box. They squish down to practically nothing and can hold a good amount of trash...

Smokers: Try and not throw your butts in the water...That pisses me off major....

I always use those produce bags they small and work great.

As for butt's in the water I caught a fish a couple weeks ago that had a cigarette butt that was having trouble passing through it, (halfway out its butt).

[gpc]

The trash really gets to me as well, I don't understand how someone could be so careless to leave trash around. I tried the caring trash bags thing, but usually my hands are all ready full, I just fill up mu net with what I can.

But when I go camping, every piece of trash in my campsite, and the surrounding campsite comes back with me. Sometimes it takes awhile to pick up everybody's litter, but it is worth the time and effort.

Sam is right to, it may be convenient to throw your buts in the water, but it takes 15 years for those things to disintegrate. It sucks filling your pockets full of cigarette butts, but thats what you get for smoking

[fishaholictaz]

Down in Oregon I was involved in some waterway cleanup projects and it was fun and helpful!! We have a pretty good number of people and we could start getting together and cleaning up at hard hit areas. It would cause some good press and help the fisheries:cheers:

Let's do it,
TAZ

[A9]

Styrofoam is a big no-no too if I remember right. I think 8th grade or something we learned in our science class about how long it takes certain articles of trash that are commonly found to decompose and break down completely. Styrofoam NEVER does....

[northfork]

I always carry a trash bag in my backpack and always have my backpack. Pretty sad sometimes the amount of garbage left behind, even when I hike in a couple miles.
All my butts go in my pocket to dispose of later at home or a garbage can.

[fishnislife]

Down in Oregon I was involved in some waterway cleanup projects and it was fun and helpful!! We have a pretty good number of people and we could start getting together and cleaning up at hard hit areas. It would cause some good press and help the fisheries:cheers:

Let's do it,
TAZ

As I was reading the topic I was thinking the same thing. It would get a lot of press if we did it up right and had a profound effect. A couple of people could do some serious clean-up in a little bit of time. Something like a "fish-in and clean-up" would be cool. Clean-up for awhile and then fish that lake. Might be something to go along with this years WL.com Extravaganza after the fishing and BBQ, we could do a little clean-up.



kevinb - this is something cool to do with your little one. Teach them young to respect the outdoors, and if they see you doing it, they will appreciate it that much more.




fishnislife

[kutthroatkilla]

Down in Oregon I was involved in some waterway cleanup projects and it was fun and helpful!! We have a pretty good number of people and we could start getting together and cleaning up at hard hit areas. It would cause some good press and help the fisheries...
Let's do it,
TAZ

As I was reading the topic I was thinking the same thing. It would get a lot of press if we did it up right and had a profound effect. A couple of people could do some serious clean-up in a little bit of time. Something like a "fish-in and clean-up" would be cool. Clean-up for awhile and then fish that lake.

fishnislife

I like the idea TAZ. Very good point. In fact, I would venture to say if we went about it the right way even the local media might take a keen interest and make a news story out of it. I think it would best be done on a weekend where our presence could be felt and then team up. In this case for example, let say we had 5 teams. Each team had 4 guys/gals on the team. One team with those 4 people would hit up like 2-3 area lakes in the area. Example in King County would be: Beaver Lake, Lake Alice, Rattlesnake Lake, and Pine Lake. Get my drift? The same would apply to Pierce County and Grays Harbor County, etc. I believe this would be not only a good way to clean up our lakes, but it would also be PR push for WL.com and a personal satisfaction knowing "we" did the right thing and worked together as a team. This would not be too hard to organize. We could call it "Washington Lakes Clean-Up Day." Heck I'm open to suggestions about how to do it...but I believe the team system would be fun and rewarding, especially if we got our grandkids, and kids involved in this. I'd be down to do it...then afterward have a BBQ and fish the lake together. Sounds like a really good idea TAZ.

KTK

[fishaholictaz]

I am a BIG believer in leave it better than you found it:cheers: I will do anything I can to support the project! We should start a new thread for this and see what people say!! I like the county idea Thurston will be a fun crew!!:dwarf:

[leahcim_dahc]

I would be up for something. Would have to be done before mid-July, and would take a bit of creativeness between work and drill weekends...but that would be easy to overcome. Something like a 4th of July thing...???

I'd be willing to bet my kids would really like to help out, as well...and would actually enjoy it.


Chad

[A9]

I would be up for something. Would have to be done before mid-July, and would take a bit of creativeness between work and drill weekends...but that would be easy to overcome. Something like a 4th of July thing...???

I'd be willing to bet my kids would really like to help out, as well...and would actually enjoy it.


Chad

I think a lot of folks would have plans for the 4th of July, but it would be fun to get out on the water in June/July/August and just get a bunch of folks who can make the drive to have a little clean-up and fishing day...I'd be down to go anywhere in King County to meet a few folks, clean up a launch/park and fish for a day...

[leahcim_dahc]

I'm sure they would have other plans, I was just thinking fireworks, bbq's, fishing...clean-up. I don't normally do much for the fourth...besides bbq, fishing, and watching people burn money. That date was the first thing that jumped in my head...

I have A.T. for a month starting around mid-July, then I deploy shortly thereafter. I would rather pick up trash here...it doesn't blow up. :bom:

[Marc Martyn]

This is a great idea. Let's kick around some ideas as to what lakes need the most attention. I know that there are a couple of lakes in the Spokane area that need immediate attention. Probably #1 would be West Medical. The entire west bank was littered all the way up the lake when I was out there last weekend. Both West Medical and Medical could be done in the same day if enough people showed up. The clean up could be accomplished and then meet at Medical Lake Park for a BBQ and then fish at either of the two lakes.

I am thinking that the lakes without private property on the shoreline are probably the worst.

How about dividing up the state by regions like the game department has. There could be a region planner/coordinator to gather information and be a contact person. Each region group would vote on where the project day would be based on priority need.

Trash- how do we dispose of it? Who will cover the cost, county, park, city, state? On lakes without an access road around it, you would have to have a boat to transport the bags of trash back to the launch area.

I will start a Thread in Announcements to start setting up the planning process.

[fishaholictaz]

One lake that is blinking in my head is McIntosh in Thurston co. I was down there and it is BAD !!