WA Fisherman please tread lightly

[Luvtofish2]

I was out visting the Seattle/Portland area between 5/25-6/8/02. Fell in love with the Columbia Gorge and spent about half of my vacation there, what beautiful place. Everyone I came in contact there was really helpful and just plain nice. I was however horrorified on one fishing/hotspring excursion along the Wind River outside of Carson, WA. I didn't mind the crowds, hey I am from New Jersey but the most of the people fishing were pigs. Plastic bags filled with eggs, lunch bags, yarn, hooks, mono, you name it littered the stream side. It was really bad even by New Jersey standards. I could not even bring myself to fish that day as this sight turned my stomach and made me ashamed to be a participant the fine sport or fishing. It was even more unfortunate that I had my girlfriend who is new to the sport but developing a healthy interest. The sight of all the litter left behind really spoiled the natural beauty of the place and temporarily turned her off to the sport. So please pack it in but pack it out and preserve the amazing resource you have.

[steelheadslayer]

BRAVO, couldn't have said it better myself. :hoboy:

[Get Bent]

Welcome to iFish! And, sadly, welcome to the Wind River Experience. This river has an incredible run of spring chinook salmon that sees an amazing amount of fishing pressure. Due to the remoteness of many of the fishing spots some of the less-ethical anglers who frequent the area feel that it is okay to lighten their load before hiking out of the area by leaving their trash and gutpiles strewn along the riverbank. This remoteness also means that the already-limited game enforcement officers don't hike down there very much, so there is a lot of intentional snagging that goes on.

You are right about the Columbia Gorge. It is a beautiful area that can take up days in exploration. There are other rivers to fish around there that aren't as abused as the Wind, so don't be discouraged by what you saw there. The Wind represents the worst in sportsfishing, and is a black-eye on anglers everywhere.

[Cool Texan]

C'mon, most rivers i have fished are like this. The Sandy Hatchery areas are a joke they are so littered. Clack, just as bad. :mad: graemlins/berry.gif

I often wonder what lazy ***** feel that they shouldnt have to haul their own crap out of the fishing holes. I am always taking my trash back out as well as a lot of crap from others. :depressed:

[GutZ]

The litter is truly disgusting.

There have been a number of organized efforts by members of this board and others to clean up various areas. The Wind River included.

Please do your part by not littering, and pick up what you can for the inconsiderate slobs.

[Cool Texan]

Been there...as a spectator, not a fisherman. My friends parents in law live right across the street from the wind. Now that I fish, i need to go visit those folks more often!

[Drachir]

I would have to say the Blue Creek area on the Cowlitz is really bad as well. We were there 3 weeks ago, and it was a awful, junk everywhere. I can't imagine what the Bank Fishing area looks like. We only saw the debris @ the boat ramp, YUK!!! :hoboy:

[Thumper]

Nope, Cool Texan, no place is like the Wind. If you really want to see fishermen at their worst, take a hike down into that canyon. Yuck.