I am pretty sure this does not include 95% of those who visit this site but if half of the other 5% listen, then it is better than nothing and I haven't wasted my time.

Ok clean your fish and leave guts, head, eggs, blood and slime on the rocks and the bank ...

Bad things about it:

1- Looks VERY nasty.
2- Slippery and can break someone's legs.
3- Smells, attracts flies, etc.
4- Did I say it is disgusting.
5- Women and children hate it
6- Real men hate it
7- ...

Also don't leave fish eggs on the bank for "other fishermen to use". Thank you but if you think others need bait, let them worry about it.

Clean your fish near water and dump the stuff in the water. It is also good nutrition. I also wash the blood off the rocks but that's me. Leave no TRACE. Also when you have line twist or bird's nest and re-spool, take your old line with you. Is it too heavy for you to put it in your back pocket.

Now how about those who clean the fish in the parking lot. Please use your brain. With all the fish you eat you think its good for the brain. LOL

I'm sure this has been hashed an rehashed here. The guys on the bank haven't been reading here.

By the way, in no way am I intending to be "Holier than though" below. My message is intended for those who don't seem to know better. (Not the regular members here, I dare say)

Someday I'm gonna print up little biodegradable signs and leave 'em in the ground at places like Cowlitz, Skokomish, Satsop, Wynooche, Humptulips (You get the point) With a message regarding litter of the inorganic/organic type. Beer cans, styrofoam, a rubber sandal, diapers, fish parts, etc...

Something to the effect of "YOU STUPID M.F's....You're the reason this place is a mess"
PACK YER SH@# OUT!"


The guys selling nightcrawlers, eggs and shrimp should be using a recycle system when they sell those little white styrofoam eyesores.
Those things are everywhere.

Maybe I'm boisterous and extroverted. Nonetheless, I make a point of reminding people (on the river) that they should pick up their crap when they leave. Most of them are offended that I had the nerve to gently, and politely, 'remind' them.
Is it possible that some people (it appears a lot of people) don't even realize they are making a mess?
Can't be.

A little conscious effort can go a long way, No?

Thanks for the lesson, Dad. Now I'm sure all of us dumb-ass fishermen will have learnt whut u wuz talkin' 'bout and be cleenin' up after'n we'z dun feeshin'. Cuz we ain't smart enuf to larn it on we own tym.

Sounds like you need to find a new place to fish because these people you have described are always going to be there no matter how hard you pound your head into the wall trying to "fix 'em right."

Luke;
It's worth a try.
Perhaps we should try beating "their" heads against the wall!

Right on gutz

This time, it didn't take someone directly calling people from SW washington 'crackers' before someone got a lil overly defensive....

....hmmm, guilty conscience??

If the shoe fits.....

It's not a phenomenon restricted to SW WA although if that's the only place you fish, that's where you see it. Styrofoam bait containters, beer cans, wads of 25lb. test mono (who is using this stuff??), Keystone Light cans, and humpy guts are found regularly around here, too.

Luke-
Come on now, mellow out. I was speaking to those WHO DON"T KNOW BETTER. Did you read or just rant? Geez, get a grip.
You are not the only person who reads these posts.

I dare you to find a "public" fishing area anywhere around, salt or fresh, with absolutely no fishing garbage; line, wrappers, styro, cans, whatever; You won't.

If I follow your sarcastic advice and fish somewhere else, I would have to fish in my living room to get away from the trash.

I do admire your opinion, and find great humor in your heavy-handed attempt at vernacular writing.
It would actually BE FUNNY if I were the backwoodsman you are cleverly trying to portray me as.

Too bad I'm not a cracker, just a guy that gives a sh@t about the places WE enjoy.
As always, peace man, peace

Up here in Chilliwack some anglers started a clean-up group,the Vedder River Cleanup Co-alition.This Sunday is our BC Rivers day,we will be having a river clean up ,we will be meeting at Thompson Park on Chilliwack lake rd. at 9:00 am,there will be a few prizes given out ,including a 8 hr guided trip with Bent Rods Guiding Co.(me) .Then we will have a BBQ (salmon and hot dogs),followed by a afternoon of great fishing. The River is much cleaner now than it was a couple years ago ,with alot of credit going to the quarterly clean-ups and the awareness they have brought.I'm sure this would be nore helpful at cleaning up your rivers than hoping the filthy few ,who were raised poorly ,change their ways .Good Luck and great fishing.

DYNOOOMITE,
sounds like a good effort, if there was anything like that for the snohomish riv, I would be more than happy to participate. (especially for the chance at a guided run). If there is something like that, somebody please let me know.

Some times you just wonder, what the H*** people are thinking about when they do stuff like that!

A plastic grocery sack with the air squeezed out will compact enough to go in a 2” X 3” ziplock bag, the ones I use for packing jigs. A couple will fit in a pocket, vest or gear pack and are handy for picking up trash on the riverbank. I always carry a couple.

AuntyM
Thats a great idea

I approve this message

Dynamite-
That's the way!

Now if we could do this, that would be sweet!

I think the point is to educate or fine people into cleaning up after themselves, so there doesn't have to be a 'clean up day'. I dirt bike around the mountains as well as fish, we just can't get around this problem. Look at the freeways. There is a certain set of people out there that believe if no one can see it, it's not littering. Nothing worse than burning through your favorite mountain trail, or heading down your favorite isolated 4wd boat launch to find a refrigerator in your path......AAARRRRGGHHHH!

In my environmentally passionate 20's I even took the idea to King County to see if a 4wd club could get free passes to the County transfer stations to dump the garbage we collected on 'clean up days'. We were met with a resounding 'NO'.

Kyle,
That sounds like bull$h!t red tape. Im sure somebody with the right connections could get around that. We just need to find that one "yes" man amongst the "no's".

Sorry for being so negative, but the "Liter Bugs" are born and raised to be messy.
It is too late to educate them.
You just got to fine the crap out of them, that's it.

Civilized fishermen will be civilized 99.999% of the time. They don't need to be awarded with anything. Their only award is a gratifying feeling of being able to fish and enjoy the clean outdoors each and every time.

What is so difficult about picking up your own junk and not making a mess of the environment?