They Came From The Canal!

Environmentalism might seem pretty boring, but life is what you make of it. If you really want people to start taking the environment seriously sometimes those people need a little creative kick in the pants to jailbreak their thought processes into reality. This poster from Earth Day 2010 created by students at the University of Chicago catches your eye as a 1950′s style horror poster, but instead makes a commentary both about the dangers of the asian carp, but also the hysteria surrounding their possible spread to the great lakes.

“We wanted it to be fun. Environmentalism can be all gloom and doom…and sometimes our students too…”

…And that’s certainly true. Admittedly, we greenies can be at times…un-fun. And, U of C is not exactly considered a party school…

“We were looking to engage in a different way. The hysteria over the carp, while hundreds of other invasive species threaten the Great Lakes, can sometimes feel like one of those 1950’s movies…”

via NRDC

Earth Day 2009

So today is Earth Day. I wish it was a public holiday so I could go fishing, but its not. It is a good day to reflect on the impact you make on the earth though. As fishermen we spend a lot of time outdoors, and there plenty of things we can do to help the planet. Here are six green fishing ideas!

6. When packing food and drink for a fishing trip, skip the bottled water. Stick with cans or glass bottles if you can, better yet, take your own flask filled with desirable liquids. Glass and aluminum and be easily recycled over and over, where as plastic eventually breaks down during the recycling process. You can even buy bottled water in a can now! If helping the environment isn’t reason enough, think about how much money you’ll save by using tap-water.

5. Pick up used fishing line. I filled a grocery bag full of discarded fishing line (and coffee cups) last week. Most people don’t realize that the line will still be sitting there well after our grand children have passed away. Its an easy thing to do, and many fishing stores offer a recycling program for old line, so check with your local bait shop!

4. Make your own lures and tie your own flies. One of my big complaints with fishing tackle is the amount of plastic used in packaging. I’ve been making lures for a few years now, and have not only saved money, but created less waste as a result. There are dozens of great sites to buy lure parts for everything from crank baits to spinner baits.

3. Use a canoe, or downsize you boat motor. If you are a big bass fisherman, not doubt you know all about the latest high power, gas guzzling bass boats. Downsize your motor, or go with a four-stroke and you’ll be saving gas money and the environment in the long run. Even some major fishing tournaments are starting to go green, just check out the worlds first carbon neutral sailfish tourney.

2. Fish with friends! If you are going out in the boat, invite some fiends along. Call it boat-pooling – theres no need for you and your buddies to be out on the water in multiple boats, meet at the launch and fish in the same boat.

1. Try biodegradable fishing tackle. Berkley has had a line of lures called GULP! that are completely biodegradable and many other companies, such as Trigger X, are following suit. You can even switch to biodegradable fishing line!

If you have any tips for greener fishing, feel free to share them with us!