Reply #0

[Grumpy]

for stir-crazy chrome seekers...like me.

With a month and a few days to go before I can legally wet a line from my favorite local rock, today I duly noted the USGS readings and then went out to see what the snowmelt was doing to the river.

While I was there, I picked up the dregs from the winter season that Hatchery Guy missed. He does his part, but it must be tough keeping ahead of the litterers. (I don't think the mess was all from fisherpersons. Partying kids (and adults) bring and leave more than their share of trash. Doesn't  matter.) Three (small) garbage bags later, I drove home with lots of styrofoam (sand shrimp and worm containers), empty small gear baggies, some hopelessly tangled mono birdsnests, a bunch of glass and aluminum beer and pop cans and bottles and six-pack rings, some pieces of someone's upriver cabin awning, as well as some aluminum flashing and some scrap paper...all of which went into our local dumpster.

When Hatchery Guy thanked me for the task--definitely NOT a requirement--I noted that, since I've never taken a fish out of the river, at least I could pack out stuff so others could enjoy the area. Anyway, trash on access trails and the riverbank won't bug me quite as badly when I make that same trek on June 1. Maybe. The litter will undoubtedly be back.

Why not hit a local riverbank and pick up junk that isn't supposed to be there? Find a legal place to dump it. You'll feel better, and at least you got to see what your zipperlip looks like before the Summer season opens.

Dress to combat budding blackberry and salmon berry vines, take good gloves, as many garbage bags as you want to fill, and one of those manual "grabber arms" to snag stuff if ya' got one.

Just a thought...