Ice litter

How can we change the way people respect lakes when they are fishing? The sw side of Leech lake was a pit this past weekend. I did not even get close to town to see what Walker bay looked like but I could only imagine. I realize this is a special event but none the less the amount of garbage left behind is way to much! This is nothing new and it seems to have become so over looked that good moral people do not even bother to pick up other peoples trash anymore. I know I do not mind doing it but I am guilty of also ignoring the issue as well. The random trash piles hold true for numerous other lakes and it is worse in the metro area. Ideas on a legit solution?

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How can we change the way people respect lakes when they are fishing? The sw side of Leech lake was a pit this past weekend. I did not even get close to town to see what Walker bay looked like but I could only imagine. I realize this is a special event but none the less the amount of garbage left behind is way to much! This is nothing new and it seems to have become so over looked that good moral people do not even bother to pick up other peoples trash anymore. I know I do not mind doing it but I am guilty of also ignoring the issue as well. The random trash piles hold true for numerous other lakes and it is worse in the metro area. Ideas on a legit solution?

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We have to police ourselves. When we see someone littering confront them or take pics and get a CO involved. I agree, most of the lakes around the twin cities are simply disturbing.

i totally agree with you! i did some community service cleaning up a local lake in rochester and the amount of trash we picked up was unbelievable.

i try not2 be a hippie or preach anything….but when i see people litter i try2 tell them not2. because most trash blows around in the wind….until it ends up in the lake AND SINKS!

on a last note…i have noticed that cigarette smokers are more often people who litter. not trying2 accuse. but just an observation. they get used2 throwing out cigarettes and pieces off their packs fly out the window! then next thing u know pop cans and everything else. i wish somebody would do a study on my idea?? haha

hope something gets done about this. bring it2 the news maybe

I always got jacket pockets full of Beer bottle caps and a ice house sled full of empty of bottles

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How can we change the way people respect lakes when they are fishing? The sw side of Leech lake was a pit this past weekend. I did not even get close to town to see what Walker bay looked like but I could only imagine. I realize this is a special event but none the less the amount of garbage left behind is way to much! This is nothing new and it seems to have become so over looked that good moral people do not even bother to pick up other peoples trash anymore. I know I do not mind doing it but I am guilty of also ignoring the issue as well. The random trash piles hold true for numerous other lakes and it is worse in the metro area. Ideas on a legit solution?

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This is the problem with ice fishing the the calibre of people that pursue our fish – on ice.

The easier the access – the lower the common denominator of the person that shows up.

Imagine what their house, car, etc. looks like. Pigs.

Sad people think it is ok to mess up our resources.

One of the reasons I can’t stand metro ice fishing – the company it attracts is a bit “gamie” here in the metro.

Dog

It I a shame that this post comes up as often as it does. I wish I had the answer.

It doesn’t only happen ice fishing. I believe the trash is just more noticeable out in the open. Saying it is the caliber of ice fishing people is just not true. The shorelines during open water season collect there share of garbage also. I do my best to pick the crap up whenever I stumble across it.

I have no problem when I do see someone tossing things to walk up on them and give them an ear full. Sometimes you will get an “I’m sorry, wasn’t thinking” and sometimes you just get that look like who the he!! are you. The later of the two are the people you will never be able to change. I still do my best to lay into them though so maybe they will think twice the next time they go too throw there trash down on the ice or ground.

My girlfriend gets mad when I miss a butt in my pants and it stinks up the laundry room. All my butts end up in my pocket during open water and ice fishing. Of course bottle caps too.

I also will always pick up as much trash from other people when I see it. When you shore fish from a river, that can be a daunting task.

For the most part, people who liter and leave trash behind have no self respect and the world owes them something.

Try this the next time you see trash. Pick up what you can and leave knowing you are a better person and have a better life than at least the person you just picked up after. Nothing like a little self affirmation and smugness to make your day a little better!

I fish a couple lakes that are in “Metro” regions and they get more than their fair share of pressure. Like old analogy of the 90/10 rule. 90% care and do their part. Its the 10% that makes the other 90 look bad. I think Bret and Pug have some very valid points on the origin of trash and what “we” can do about it. When I’m hole hopping for pannies, I find plastic soda bottles, film containers, snuff boxes,….plus garbage bags, realtor signs, and other debris that comes from landowners yards and so on. I just pick up what I can and toss it into a spare bucket in my sled. Most of the public access sites have a trash can and I empty it there, if not at home. But I have noticed that once you start picking up crap off the ice, a lot of people that observe you will do the same. Peer pressure, that nudge of good will, or what ever you want to call it. Fact is, just be the one to do something about it and hope others will follow your lead. Better to proactive, than reactive.

All my walleye/sauger fishing is at Old Frontenac.I will say that for the most part everyone does a prety good job of cleaning up after them selves. Anything that gets left behind gets picked up pretty quickly. The last dozen trips, I haven’t picked up any thing. Now the landing is a different story. It’s a private sportsmans club landing. They have 2 trash cans and I still find trash everywhere. They do a good job on the river, Let start doing a better job on shore. Another thing, they ask for donations for upkeep and I personally see only myself putting a couple of bucks in the can. We’re lucky they don’t close it down to us. You guys know who you are, We’ve got a nice place, start pitching in.

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The easier the access – the lower the common denominator of the person that shows up.

Dog

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I will aggree 100% Down here in Rochester, we have just a limited number of places to ice fish (mostly small reservoirs). The few places with the hardest\longest walk access are also the places that see a signifigantly lower amount of traffic AND trash…

Litter bugs and fish hogs. Selfish people that literaly dont care about the rest of us. Its never going away.

I don’t know, place trash receptacles around the area? handcuffs? leg irons? Public spectacle, advice them of the $1000.00 FINE? Take their license number, make & model! Take photo’s

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Litter bugs and fish hogs. Selfish people that literaly dont care about the rest of us. Its never going away.

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Then the best we can hope for is some of us being the better stewards and hopefully, like it was said, people follow our lead.

It is bad in IA also. I agree with Weiss on the smokers. It seems like the whole world is their ash tray. It is good to hear from Ryan that he picks his up, but I think it would be fair to say he is the minority. The place I work has plenty of smokers and the sidewalk outside our front door is horrible as they all flick before they come in. I really love the piles from their cars/trucks in the parking lot.

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It is bad in IA also. I agree with Weiss on the smokers. It seems like the whole world is their ash tray. It is good to hear from Ryan that he picks his up, but I think it would be fair to say he is the minority. The place I work has plenty of smokers and the sidewalk outside our front door is horrible as they all flick before they come in. I really love the piles from their cars/trucks in the parking lot.

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A good friend of mine that fishes with me often is a heavy smoker. At the end of the day it’s a pyramid of butts.It’s of no use to say any thing to him because he has a short fuse. If Hansel and Gretel were with him, they would never get lost.

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A good friend of mine that fishes with me often is a heavy smoker. At the end of the day it’s a pyramid of butts.It’s of no use to say any thing to him because he has a short fuse. If Hansel and Gretel were with him, they would never get lost.

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Pick them up in front of him…Maybe he can be shamed into doing it ..If not ,just pick’em every time…it still needs to done.
If he gives you any grief just tell him it’s litter and NEEDS to be picked up….
Worked with my litterbug buddy..

I am out spoken to say the least so I do not have an issue jumping folks that do not pick up after them selves on the water. The problem is that we find their litter after they are gone. Taking pictures is probably a good idea if a person lives on a lake. People come and go so often it is hard to pin point the dink(s) most of the time though. It is not a shock to learn others on here also pick up after people…it is a normal reaction to help out in such a manor but it just should not be that way. It is amazing that people can take the things out there with them but they can not take stuff home. Not like the DNR does not have trash bins at the public accesses if you really do not want to take it all the ways home haha! If it was fish it sure the heck would not get left behind! So far this year I have picked up an ice skimmer, 24″ rod combo, and an led puck light. The list of beer cans and food wrappers is unreal. My pops recycles the aluminum so it is a plus for him. But all joking aside the litter is really getting out of control as the sport grows. Thanks to everyone that picks up after the slobs and lets keep on it for a hopeful outlook and a moral victory.