Is it laziness? Ignorance? Lack of respect and stupidity? The correct answer is all of the above. I’m worn out on the amount of trash I’ve seen along the creek this spring, particularly Yellow Creek, which is an any tackle regulated trout stocked fishery. I’m not going to be cute about it. The reality is you’re most likely to see this type of behavior by the bait fishing crowd. When I’m fishing the fly fishing only section of Little Mahoning Creek, you don’t see this. When I’m fishing Spring Creek in the State College area, or the Little Juniata River in the Tyrone area, both of which are primarily fly fishing streams, you don’t see this.
The obvious trash is cans, styrofoam coffee cups, bait containers, and hook or tackle packaging, but it’s more than that. Several times I came across yards-long monofilament stretched across the bank or through the brush. I’m not afraid to admit that I sometimes leave small pieces of mono behind, which is inevitable, but never more than a few inches in length. Longer pieces are dangerous for birds and other wildlife, and it’s just irresponsible. I even found half of a fishing rod on my last trip out, and who knows how it got left in the water.
The bottom line is, there’s no excuse for it. There’s nothing trashier than littering and I have zero tolerance for it. Several times this year I found myself hauling out other people’s trash because it’s the right thing to do, but I get angrier with each occurrence. Chances are if you’re the type of person who’s willing to leave trash behind you didn’t stumble across this article, but I feel better writing about it! I’m sad that so many people lack common decency and show little respect for landowners and the environment. It’s embarrassing as an outdoorsmen and I have zero respect for the people who do it.
Stay tuned for my next rant about people who don’t use barbless hooks and are needlessly injuring fish. Yes, looking at you bait fishermen! #OfficiallyOld #OfficiallyGrumpy