Practicing L.N.E. Leave No Evidence

Spring must be getting a little closer because I'm getting that itch. No, not that itch. I showered this week. I mean that itch to fish!

The first week of March usually is a great time at my favorite hybrid Striped Bass spot too and that's getting near. In addition, I picked up one of these neat Tackle Trolleys and in sorting my gear I remembered just how long it has been since I've been on the water. I also remembered something else. I remembered that my favorite hybrid Striper spot has an ongoing major problem: litter.

You've seen it, experienced the disappointment of heading to the water for that precious time of wrestling with nature and found nature adorned with trinkets nature didn't design. Soda and beer cans, candy bar wrappers, balls of fishing line, empty cigarette packs, bait containers and just about anything else you can imagine.

Here's what I've been practicing and something that I hope you'll adopt as well. I like to call it "Leave No Evidence". The idea is that when we hit a spot to fish or to hunt or whatever reason, we leave it without evidence that we or anyone else has been there. What I mean is that we carry a bag with us for trash and not only use it for our own garbage, but pick up something that someone else left behind. It doesn't even need to be a full sized trash bag that you bring. It can be one of those small grocery bags that you're using to carry your soda and sandwich. What you use is up to you.

Don't throw your trash on the ground or in the water. Put it in the bag and keep it 'til you reach the nearest trash can, or take it home if you don't see one. Don't stop there! Pick up something someone else left behind. Make the place you use better for your having been there. It just takes a little effort and helps everyone, including the animals you are there to find.

A little addressed fishing issue that I include under "L.N.E." is proper treatment of fish. Don't do like some folks do and handle fish abusively. If you aren't going to keep them, throwing them 20 feet so that they make a big splash upon hitting the water is a good way to kill them, and that leaves evidence. Release them gently so they can grow bigger and be caught again someday.

If you're using minnows, remember that it's bad for the body of water you're fishing to release baitfish there which weren't caught there. Those foreign minnows could be carrying diseases or parasites for which the natives have no defense. This is an illegal action in many areas too, and you could end up with serious fines.

So, leave no evidence that you've fished a spot, except, to leave it better than when you arrived! Feel free to leave your ideas in the comment section. :)

in PA news

Increased poaching penalties...a youth dies while hunting raccoon...a Steelhead seminar tomorrow...and a meeting of Trout Unlimited....check it all out here!

Hunting with Eagles, see eagles catch deer and wolves

Absolutely amazing. Ok, I know this is off-topic, but it was too stunning not to share and I aian't startin' a hunting blog. ;)

On this guy's Flickr page, a video clip of hunting deer using an eagle!

This Youtube video is of ancient hunting techniques using eagles to hunt wolves. Wow, this so dwarfs my memory of being 9 years old and watching an eagle grab a kitten just about 3o yards from me. Warning: the Youtube video is not for the faint of heart, some scenes will be disturbing for some people!