Trash on the River

[JPSFISHY]

Three time now in the last month, I have picked up beer bottles/broken glass/paper cups/garbage left at Feildheimers on the Clackamas. All this is left while there is a County supplied garbage can about 25ft. away. Total disrespect! I'm sick of it. I know some places we frequent, are out of the way places, and unimproved, but we all need to be more proactive in policing OUR rivers. I just missed some kids by minutes last night, that left all their S___. I keep a camera in the boat at all times anyway-- so I'm thinkin if I offer a trash bag to folks when I see them, and take a picture of them/their vehical w/ lisence plate number while they watch, they might get the point. Although I can see some potential negatives, I hope that I can convince some more IFISHERS to help out as well. Just keep a small roll of trash bags with you, and use them. Confront and offer to help folks. Maybe if we stay after it for a while, at least these Pigs might get tired of having to deal with us, and go someplace else. Keeping an eye out for theives is in line with this also. This isn't just Feildheimers realted. It's everywere we go. There's so many other points to this I could bring up it's not funny. I don't want this to turn into a nutso post, just want to ask everyone to help out a little when ya can.
Even a pig is very smart and can be trained!

[Lazy Drifter]

JPSFishy,

Be careful taking pictures. Some of those "people" don't play nice, if you know what I mean.

LD

[Dakotan]

I was very surprised at how dirty our rivers get from fishermen/women leaving food wrappers, bottles, tackle packaging, old fishing line, etc lying around on the bank. It is kind of discouraging to see. Having moved to Oregon from the Midwest, I had impressions that Oregonians and Pacific Northwesterners were enivironmentally conscious. I never expected to see the amount of litter that I see everytime I drive to work or go fishing. I'm sure it is the minority that are the root cause of the litter, which is too bad. I think we are all must pick up the slack or litter in this case for the unfortunate few who think the river bank is there garbage can. Now, I am far from being an activist of any kind, but do believe that if you can physically carry it (whatever it may be) down to the bank or wherever you are fishinkg, you can certainly carry it back to the garbage can. Sure would make the fishing experience more enjoyable for everyone else. Thanks-Dakotan

[Snakebite]

Unfortunately this a problem that will not go away no matter what you do. Back when I did the creel on the Upper Rogue, I picked up around three dozen styrofoam worm container per day as I walked the banks of the river. The supply was never ending. The Fishin shop in Merlin had a 5 cent deposit on their containers. I wish every store did that! Now that I'm reminded, I found disposable diapers in the parking lot at Casey Park not ten feet from the garbage cans. In my opinion, shootin' em wouldn't be good enough!

[ 02-24-2003, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: Snakebite ]

[Fishalot]

Most of the trash is let by people that come down to the river to drink and eat, I wish they would think of the reason they came down to the river in the first place . Some bank fishermen leave a lot of the trash and I use the word fishermen lighty [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] . I like it when the same people thet get used to leaving trash leave good stuff, stainless steel coffee cups, bobbers, pliers, once I watched some people for a long time and they left a lot of trash along with a bag that had a lot of fishing stuff. Well you know the rest of that story :grin: I have yet to see people in boats throw thash in the water, I'm sure there are boaters that do.


Fishalot

Fishalot

[esfshnhnt]

that kind of thing realy get's to me also. during the summer months it get's real bad.

[bucketmouth]

I belong to a club where many members volunteer their time every year to help clean up the trash at waters edge on various bodies of water. I wish there was a merit badge or award for boy scout troops for doing the same.

Some visits to the water can really bum a guy out just because of the trash. Im packing a trash bag in my tackle box these days.

[JPSFISHY]

I know the picture thing could cause a problem. I just get so fired up over this. I know it also takes away some of the enjoyment of my customers as well. Sooo, I take 5min. or so and pick it up. I watched a fly fisherman w/ a $500 outfit/new vehical-I drive an old 77-/ walk right past me as I was picking up the kids stuff. He was there while the kids were still there throwing their stuff out. Nothing said, no offers, didn't care.
There's always some, but it seems to be getting alot worse. Peoples attitudes are worse also.
I promise to do my share, so that when you come to my river, you can enjoy yourself.
Most of the places we go have cans set out.
I think it's a full time job for all of us.
Thx for listening

[sparkleboy]

My dad and I always pack in garbage bags, and almost always pack out one or two bags of trash, almost everywhere we go.
Anyway, we've talked about possible options for those we catch littering, especially on the river.
We came up with either:
A: Eat the garbage
B: Get shot

Simple enough.
Just think about some of the stuff people would have to eat...I bet they'd never do it again.

[Jet Drifter]

I have it that Clackamas County Sheriff's are gearing up... code enforcement of trash and dump sites now

[ 02-24-2003, 09:37 PM: Message edited by: Jet Drifter ]

[Spoiled Daddy]

The worst I have seen is the past two falls on the Salmon River near Lincoln City. The trash there really builds up. It's like their arms are broken when it come times to leave.
When we talked to a group walking out near dusk one night, we asked if they would stop and help pick up a pile of trash near the 101 bridge. One guy did stop and help, but another in the group informed me that it was supposed to rain hard the next couple of days and that it would flood it all out anyway. 1 out of 6 stopped to help and he was the only one with a fish.

Disappointing to say the least... [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] SD

[ChuckDog]

I remember an island that consisted of nothing but monofilament and styrofoam - Bradford Island. I haven't been back in a couple of years; I imagine it's the same...?

[The Fishing Geek]

Originally posted by bucketmouth:
I belong to a club where many members volunteer their time every year to help clean up the trash at waters edge on various bodies of water.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">So do I. Maybe you've heard of it?