I just returned from Rudy's "favorite urban puddle" and I am pissed. I'm not pissed because I didn't catch a fish in the 45 minutes I fished. I'm pissed because of the litter I encountered. I realize that this urban lake will get its fair share of litter from the BBQ'ers, picnickers, and boaters. But litter left by "fishermen", who are supposed to love and appreciate the outdoors boggles me. What makes me sick is to walk the bank and see the Storm Wild Eye bag and the Blue Fox 3/8 oz rooster tail packaging. I know it's not Rudy because he uses 1/6 oz rooster tails, this is basically his "home" lake, and he has class. Clearly, somebody read Rudy's post from late last week, figured out what lake he was fishing, bought a few rooster tails, and tried to copy Rudy step for step. I doubt any of the "locals" fishing with their Coke bottles and mono line were using brand new Storm Wild Eyes. The worst part about this is that this is not only a lake I like to fish, it's my neighborhood. My wife and I walk our dogs along the creek of this lake, and you can imagine the buildup of trash in the creek. So, next time I find fish at this lake, the Elm Fork, White Rock, Helmet, or any other local spot, don't expect to see any posts telling the TFF about it. I'm happy to share with those of you I know and trust, but that's it.

Matt

P.S. A special thank you to those losers that screwed up Las Colinas for those of us that enjoyed that honey hole.

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thats a shame some ppl dont appreciate how beautiful and fragile the enviroment is. They have no plans for their children and the world they will live in. Knuckleheads!! Wake up and clean up after yourself!!! I also see this when I fish- AND I get tired of picking up trash that isnt mine also!

Amen. I looked at the trash at one fishing spot on Ray Roberts on Sunday and knew why most of the spots where you could park and fish are "state park" that require an admission fee or park pass.

Over the past 30+ years I have seen most of the trails to fishing spots being blocked or barricaded. Many have been closed due to meaness and drug users populating the area. Many more have been closed due to envionmental slobs.

Plastic grocery bags make wonderful free litter bags. Have one for trash and one for cans. Take the cans home and sell them or give them to someone you know that saves cans. I even keep a few extras in the suv for putting the fish in for the trip home.

Someone has another thread about state parks at Ray Hubbard being closed and barricaded. If people would not destroy public property to get their jollies, they could let the public have access to these areas. The other problem is people wanting to sue if they fall and hurt their beehind. We are doing it to ourselves.

TRUE TRUE i see the same at the trout fishing at the hurst park an trash cans right there. just to lazy? they come with nice fishing gear and big boxs and leave trash/fishing line where they seat.AND at white rock creek too .i figure if you can take it with you TAKE IT HOME .


LOVNTREE

Any area that has general public access is gonna get trashed. The litter problem is everywhere around the state of Texas. I try to pick up as much as I can but it is really overwellming.

i encounter the same problems at a couple of my spots. total lack of respect mixed with laziness.

Trashy people are just that, trashy and without class. I wish the ones that got caught, would get a fine or maybe to do jury duty picking up trash at local creeks for a whole weekend. Sounds like a great solution to me. Maybe someone with connections could get the ball running on the White Rock area

Did you pick up any if the trash??

barndoor

No. Maybe I should have. Sometimes I will. But as a rule, I don't like to pick up after grown ups. Besides, if I started picking up the litter at this particular lake, I'd be there for a lifetime. Like I said earlier, I understand and have come to accept litter. I don't like it, but I believe there are enough lazy slobs in this country that it will always be an issue. What amazes me is the "outdoorsmen" who claim to love the outdoors that litter... IN THE LAKE IN WHICH THEY ARE FISHING!!! Maybe next time I go fishing I'll leave the rods and reels at home and take a dozen sixty gallon trash bags. Or I'll just fish private land and clean up after myself.

Some of the private land I fish and hunt on is littered along the road...I could go there now and find at least a dozen wal mart bags and fill the back of the truck with cans and bottles where folks try to toss them at road signs.

I hate seeing trash laying around....at least I know when I am on private land that I keep it or leave it cleaner then it was when I left it, but would hate to pick up after grown ups.

We had or have a dove lease, not sure if I will get back on it. One simple rule, do not leave trash and that includes shotgun hulls. I understand that you will miss a hull or two, but it is not that hard to shoot a limit and pick up your hulls. The second weekend of the season, I picked up over 600 hulls...the idiots left them in piles, so it was easier for somebody else to pick up.... Anyway, not a one was mine as they were all 12 gauge and 20,,,i had been hunting with a 28 and a 16.....

I wonder if you are talking about the same place me and my pal fish. We're also disgusted by the garbage left at our favorite spots. Not only that, but the new problem of every one showing up with buckets and nets and taking home everything they scoop out. Dammit, it pisses us off. I swear I'm gonna get a fake badge and pretend to be a wildlife warden and kick people out of there that do that kind of stuff!

You know I hear people bitch about this all the time. I even see people bitch about it when I am fishing. They say look at all this garbage.

I have made a pollicy of doing two things.

1. If I am gonna stay a while I build a little camp fire and toss some of the burnable **** in it while I am there.

2. I take one small bag of trash that won't burn when I leave.

I know I am the only one doing this at an urban puddle I fish. I have never seen anyone else do it yet and some look at me cross eyed when they seem me make the effort.

I fish this place may be once a week more like once every two weeks and ya know it already looks better from one guys SMALL effort.

So I guess my point is if all of you feel this way what do you do about it? Do you pick up one small shopping bag of trash at every place you fish often? Do you burn some of the **** when you have a camp fire?

I am sure some do but MOST DON'T. I have started watching people too. When they fish where I am at. If I seem them leaving trash I say (REAL NICE LIKE), hey bud you didn't mean to leave that garbage did you.

You know if all of us who don't litter took a little proactive stance and did just a little more then not litter ourselves we could make a big difference,

I know exactly where you are talking about Skippy. Was there the other day for the first time and noticed the trash laying about. The people in this instance, IMHO, are not "outdoorsmen" fishing for the sport and fun of it. They are there catching food and have probably never heard of the TFF. They are of the same ilk that keep illegal fish and disregard any other reg's that may affect their cheap food supply.
Only other reason I can think of is ignorance. Because this could be an extremely beautiful, pristine place smack dab in the middle of this city.


My 2 cents.

I hate to be a pessimist, but after years of watching the circus at public fishing places, I've gone private...build and manage my own ponds. It isn't easy and sometimes poachers take their toll, but it is well worth the effort.