Our Responsibility as Anglers

[basswest1]

Well guys, I want to point something out that we, as anglers, should begin paying attention to:  PROPER DISPOSAL OF FISHING LINE

I find that for the most part anglers, hunters and other outdoorsmen are very thoughtful when it comes to whats best for Mother Nature.......but i have found that one of the most dangerous materials we use as anglers is also the one thing we dont dispose of properly.

My dad used to nurse injured birds back to health when people would bring them to him.  He has seen it all when it comes to injuries to wildlife.  

One day I was re-spooling my spin-casting reel, when i was real young.  After taking off the old line I didnt think twice when i took the huge wad of tangled monofilament to the trash can, and when my dad saw this, he was very angry with me.  He explained to me that the most common injuries to birds of all species is getting entangled in fishing line.  

That day my dad showed me the correct way to dispose of line.......he showed me that it is extremely important to take the wad of used line and cut it into sections no longer than 5" each.

He told me that even if it goes directly in the trash, it is still as dangerous to birds and other animals...because when it goes to the dump there are hundreds of birds and animals that could get entangled.  

To this day, i feel that that is one of the most important things ive learned as an angler, because i take pride in respecting nature and doing my part to preserve it.

Fishing at Okeechobee the other day, I saw a long, tangled mess of monofilament.......at one end wrapped around a dock.......at the other, a great big, white Pelican........with the line wrapped around its beak.......its wings and its feet.  Every movement it made to escape the tangled mess it would cut deeper into its flesh.  It was probably one of the saddest scenes ive seen in awhile, and it reminded me of my fathers lesson, and made me realize that others have never even thought of how to properly dispose of line.

I really feel that fishing line one of the most dangerous materials to animals.  It is so easy to get tangled in......and it is strong enough to cut through flesh easily, yet i see more huge lengths of line hanging from trees........telephone lines and tangled in cover.

As Anglers we have a really big responsibility:  We are responsible for protecting the environment and making sure that we preserve it for future generations.  By taking the time to cut a wad of fishing line, you could really save a life.  So please, cut your line, and when you get hung up.......please for God's sake dont cut it at the rod tip.........break it at the lure..........braid is no exception to that either...........it is the most dangerous........for the environment and for our d**n lower units on our outboards!!

Please just respect the environment which brings you so much joy.

[Redlinerobert]

I'm pretty sure that most of us do.  If you take a cross section of the majority of the members of this board, we are helpful and willing to go out of our way for fellow members.  That, in my book, translates to being responsible when we are on the water.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Ahhhh yes.  This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to fishing and feel pretty strong about it.

I do my best to remove line I see at the lakes I fish.  75% of it comes from my trolling motor > >

[Catt]

I'm pretty sure that most of us do. If you take a cross section of the majority of the members of this board, we are helpful and willing to go out of our way for fellow members. That, in my book, translates to being responsible when we are on the water.

Bocephus got it right  

[justfishin]

I keep one of those plastic snap lid Folgers Coffee cans in my boat just for this reason. If I catch a wad of line or need to dispose of some in my boat thats where it goes.

[Grey Wolf]

I remove any and all line I find , both land and water.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Yea I always take any discarded line back to the trash MOST OF IT OTHER GUYS LEAVE OUT THERE :-/ I also go along shore and pick up those ^*&& Styrofoam worm containers that seem to be too heavy for certain people to carry off Just what anti fishing people need to see plus I respect the land too much to let it pass by.

[vaparrothead]

Berkley has a recycle program for monofilament see link below.

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/about_conservation.php#brp

[=Matt 5.0=]

I wish more people in RI would participate in trash removal. I can't even explain how agravating it is to get to a spot and find trash EVERYWHERE! It doesn't matter if I'm down at the ocean for stripers, or at the smallest pond around...Dunkin Donuts cups, cigarette packs, fishing line etc etc.... > Makes me sick

[Bankbeater]

The Mo. Conservation Dept. has put canisters near the parking areas of several of the lakes I fish on. They are specifically for used line.

[basswest1]

I know that most of us on the forum......and as bass fishermen as a whole, are concerned about the environment.

One of the key points i was trying to make people think about is not just throwing away line in the trash..........it was about cutting it into peices too small for an animal to get tangled in.  

When it goes in the trash it goes to a place where more animals.......especially birds......are susceptible to getting tangled in it..........THE DUMP.  

Throwing line away is just part of it........throwing it away properly so it doesnt have a chance to harm anything elsewhere is the key.

I dont think that most people think about cutting their line.....its just not something that is taught.

[georgiabassfisherman]

great topic basswest i have always thrown my line under the console of the boat and then disposed of it at home and another thing is line in your props i have personally had to pull my boat to the edge of the lake to cut line out of my trolling motor and it sucks.

GBF

[justfishin]

You got line rapped up in your trolling motor. Wow, I never did that before.   ;D

[radiob]

You all  got me thinking about this topic. It really erks me to pick up fishing line every darn place that i fish. I fish off the shore a lot and i cannot beleive the amount of fishing line i can aquire in a week. Is it good practice to take used line and put in a plastic zip lock then into the trash. i hope so cuz that is what i do.

the radio guy

btw, this is another great topic for my show, tuesdays and thursdays regional radio for the ozarks, kjel 103.7