I have to say something here...It's not just bank fishermen/women that leave thier trash, a LOT of Boat fishermen/women throw trash overboard so it will not clutter up thier boats. Now I am talking about larger lakes open to the public...I have not been lucky enough to find anyone with a private lake that will allow me to fish on thier property because of the "trashy" people that DO leave trash. It does ruin it for all of us. But you can go to any larger lake and see trash that is being washed up on shore from boaters... Trash is trash and it is wrong no matter where it comes from, but I agree with the person that said "it's not fishermen, it's people that fish" (not a perfect quote)

You are correct Cooter54 and it is not even always fishermen. The trash that gets thrown out of vehicles driving down the road ends up in our creeks, rivers and lakes. It is a total disrespect for our planet and environment, whether it is a cigarette butt, a coffee cup or a sack of trash.....it all adds up.

Also, a lot of trash is washed down into the creeks from the roads...
BUT, when fishing is a drinking sport, the inebriated lose respect for all...IMHO.

There are alot of bank fishers who are VERY bad offenders sadly to say. It does ruin it for alot of us as well no one is gonna let people fish private land and not just out here but all over the place. I almost always have a plastic bag when I hit the lake for a day and ALWAYS leave the place cleaner than it was when I got there but it will never be enough with so many idiots on the water.

Picked up about 50 yards of red mono line the other day at least I brought home something!

Why don't TFF members in different cities..I'm in San Antonio, get together once a month and do river/lake bank get together and clean ups!?

I'm in, who's interested in San Antonio.. Things only get done by those who do!

That would be great if you can get something started like that newflyguysa... and you could always start Geochaching as well. Create a cache called "cache in trash out?" Its just a sneaky way to get people to pick up trash! There is a geocach series by my house called the Fishtrap expedition....

http://www.geocaching.com/cito/faq.aspx

Now don't get me wrong I pick up allot of trash that I did not take in.
But getting a group people to go out and clean up a place don't address the problem at all. What needs to happen is the tarsiers get caught and served a hefty fine. But we don't have the man power to do just that.
I for one don't want to get in the habit of cleaning after others.

I know it does not addres the problem.. yes there should be stiff penalties for this.. but these are things one can not fix.. i figure it is easier to get a group togeather to clean up some areas you all like to use.. hell i would rather fish a clean place than a dump! Never going to solve the issue, but if something is not done it will just get worse.

I have kids.. im use to cleaning after others.. haha

Maybe IT starts with the music we listen to.You know get in the mood,for what ever.

Well I dont have kids LOL

Excellent idea, I'm in!!!! My motto has always been, take only pictures leave only foot prints and pack out more then you packed in. If even just us reel fisherman did it it would make a huge improvement. I don't see the point in starting a fight and flexing muscles to try to get others to change. Change takes intellect and they have already showed you they lack that.

Just my .02

I don't mind at all gathering trash from some of my local haunts. Lets do it!!!

Heck I'd even offer up a free package of baits each week to the biggest haul!!!

I figured this would get a bigger reaction?

Well some of us just don't want to clean up after others.
I for one go out to fish and not pick up others stinking trash.
I for one think the guy that leaves a pile of trash should be pushed into the water with the trash in his ummm well I cant type that on this forum But its not GOOD!

i went to this little city pond lyons i think on the eastside of san antonio to see if there was anything worth bringing my daughter to catch. I caught one catfish and a hubcap and took a bag of trash home with me. I dont think it makes a difference where your at it happens everywhere. i seen more trash in, on, and around these to inner city lakes in Colorado the water was so clear but when you put your polarized glasses on you see all this [censored] under the water. PICK UP YOUR TRASH