Keeping Trash Out of the Water Helps Keep Tackle Bans Away

Tighter regulations are hitting our bodies of water. I fear for the day a lead ban comes to the midwest. I also fear the possibility of soft plastics becoming banned at our fisheries. We can point our fingers all we want, but at the end of the day our actions will affect what happens.

Taking care of our fisheries is probably the best ammunition we have against these threats, not picket signs. For this reason, I like to carry a small grocery sack with me whenever and wherever I go fishing. Instead of chucking frayed line, empty bottles, used plastics and bent hooks in the water, I try to keep all of my trash in the bag I take with me. I'll even pick up trash I see flying around at the boat ramp.

A wise old bear said, "Only you can prevent forest fires." I think the same logic can be applied to various fishing tackle bans. We're not able to control the actions of other anglers, we can only control our own. So make this a lifetime tip; it'll help keep your fisheries clean and help keep fishing tackle bans away.

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