I’ve posted images about the serious pollution problems in Indonesia in the past, but Indonesia isn’t the only place in the world facing this horrifying problem. Here are a few examples of how waste mismanagement can destroy a beautiful environment. I bet you cant guess where each photo was taken…
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!
Ever Wonder How Invasive Species Get in to Our Waterways?
In an epic tale of human kindness our hero rises to the challenge. While this guy certainly gets an “A” for effort, I’m not sure the outcome of the story was too successful. Jake Bronstein writes about his efforts to save a large Asian fish from a supermarket by releasing it back into the wild. A noble act indeed, but potentially damaging to the local environment. Every year invasive species such as the snakehead and zebra mussles are released into North American water and havoc is reaped on the ecosystem.
What is an Invasive Species?
An “invasive species” is defined as a species that is
1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and
2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms.
Human actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions.
This story ends with the release of the fish, but judging by the photographs the fish appears to be dead already. Even dead, an invasive fish could cause potential problems.
For more information on invasive species visit www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov and www.invasive.org

















Re: World Record Pike