Here are some pictures of the clean up. The report can be found from a front page link over at WashingtonLakes.com. Special thanks to the cleanup crew - Jack, Mark, Rick, Sue, Carl, and CowlitzFisherman. Way to come through for a job well done!

Mike, Thanks for organizing the Blue Creek cleanup. I almost didn't recognize the place when you guys were finished. I've fished BC for 15 years and it still amazes me to see guys trash their fishing hole. I always take a backpack and a garbage sack in with me and always leave with more trash that what I came in with yet the prevailing don't-give-a-crap attitude seems to override the few that do care. It's sad really. Thanks again, R Ridgeway

Good to see fisherman with hearts to match their mouths. Wish I could have been there. You guys are remembered as do'er and represent the best of us cyber fisher people. Always hearing about the takings from BC(fish,opportunity etc.,) but never about giving back. Way to go guys and also a big thank you to Bob for having this board to organize it.

Not to sound bad,but while you were all picking up the garbage left by others,did any of those that were fishing in the pictures stop to lend a hand. I don't fish Blue Creek as I don't know where it is,but I had to ask that question.

Great job Mike!

I was glad that I got the opportunity to meet the people from our board. To bad that's there is not more people out there like you that are willing to "take the ball" and run with it (thanks Mike)!

I can't remember if we did we find any "balls" out there or not. I know we found just about everything else!

Thanks again Mike, James, Mark, Rick, Sue, Carl, and anyone else that helped clean up that "pig pin" Maybe there is still hope!

P.S. to the guys that lost their cameo glove, his boot liner, 1000 feet of line, his rubber boot, his 300 batteries, his 2 front axles, her 3 dippers, his fork, his 9,000 baggies, their 400 bear cans, their 200 beer bottles, their 100,000 ketchup and mustard packs, his coffee cup, his lighter fluid cans, sun glasses, pens, straws, plastic bottles, and cups, and 5 thousand miscellaneous other things…we found them!

You can reclaim them now at the "Tacoma's dumpster"!

Remember, pack in…pack it back out!

Great job people!

Cowlitzfisherman

One gentleman who was fishing did stop to help us clean up. A young man (kid) also jumped in to help. Thanks to both of you!

A couple of fisherman did help us lug a few of the garbage bags out. Thanks!

Very Well Done!!

I have changed a little something I do, that maybe some others might try as well. I carry two plastic bags when I go to popular parking spots, one small white one for on-the-river pick up and one large black garbage bag for the parking lot. I tie the big bag in an obvious place (usually on a low hanging branch) and throw some of the local garbage into it for a starter......then I go fishing. It's amazing how much garbage ends up in the bag by the time I return. It seems that most people will throw their garbage in a bag if it is handy.

Superb work guys good for you! may your next fishing adventure be as equally rewarding

Thank you very much for a job well done!

I just hope that some of those slobs fishing the "Ghetto" will take to heart your efforts and pack out thier trash.

Thanks go out to the whole crew,

A job well done, we thank you.

GTood job everyone ... remember, the Fish Gods aalways repay those who take care of the waters!

Oh well, happens to me all the time. I've been getting forgotten by waitresses, bosses, and pretty women my whole life. I think I'm the one Mike C called James although my name is Jack, the old dude on the far right. No biggee.

But you know what Bob I had the same thought and we were both completely correct. Three nice bright ones for my partner and myself to the truly ancient Don Hill on bait divers and plugs. Are there any other clean-up crews being organized?

Great job to all... very commendable!

Downriggin'

Thanks again for your

No sweat Carl.

But then, we did sweat a bit there didn't we? You and I are built for comfort rather than speed, are we not? For those of you who haven't had the extreme pleasure of meeting Easy Limits just let me say that he could easily be mistaken for a NFL defensive end; or maybe a small giant.

Like I said before, I think you and Mike did the hard work getting it organized but it appears to have for your blackmouth crew as well.

Man, I had a busy weekend! A feel good weekend for sure.

JCW, anytime you wanna come north and knock some blackmouth around let me know.

Opps, sorry Jack! I'll blame it on the medications.

We did get a good amount of help from the anglers that were there, and I think some of them may be a little more mindful of their surroundings in the future. The 9-10 y.o. in the picture actually stopped fishing and helped out the whole time we were there. I was worried because he would grab big chunks of mono tangles and I quickly found out - there's hooks in these tangles!. But thankfully no one got hurt.

One thing that really got to me was when I spoke with the Tacoma Power guy before the clean-up, his comment to me was "I have a pretty low opinion of anglers". And he was only talking about the parking lot garbage, he hadn't seen the fishing area! So thanks again to everyone. Now lets go back to catching fish.

Hey Mike,Sue and I hope your feeling better.I know as rough as you were feeling,none of us would have blamed you a bit if you backed out.Quite a trooper to follow through considering the shape you were in.
The rest of you guys,Mike too, it was a real pleasure meeting you.Its great to see people come through for a cause.Especially when they had nothing to do with the reason behind it.
I couldnt believe how much better the place looked when we left.
In one of the pictures there is a kid in a green stocking cap.He helped Sue fill a full sack of garbage.Plus pulled lots of line up.Sure would be nice if some of the so-called adults learn from this little guy.
A few fisherman stopped for a few minutes to help out.And as was mentioned a couple even helped pack out bags of garbage.
I was planning on doing an engine swap in my car instead of helping with the cleanup.I'm glad I made the right choice and showed up to help out.
Its kind of a different way to enjoy your time on the river,but we really did.Next time I enjoy it,its going to be fishing though.

Mike,
I just read your article over at Washington Lakes,about the cleanup.Great article.just one small problem.Actually not a small problem.
The thing is, that you were the one who put this whole thing together. Without you and your organization it never would have happened.So,what I'm saying is take credit when credits do.And you definetely deserve the credit and recognition on this one.
GREAT JOB MIKE !!!!!

Thanks. That kid in the green cap was awesome, wasn't he? His dad should be darn proud. I agree with you, next time lets go fishing.