What a mess

**Coastrider** · January 17th, 2012, 02:23 PM

Does nobody think about where they are tossing there garbage anymore. This is only a small portion of what I saw on my last trip to the Englishman River

**Zane** · January 17th, 2012, 03:19 PM

Virtually every time that I go out I run into lots of garbage. Some people are completely inconsiderate of their environment while others are just plain criminal.

**BCBound** · January 17th, 2012, 04:32 PM

Last time I was at the Englishman River it was the same way. I was at Norrish creek towards the end of the salmon run this year and I have never seen anything as bad. I started picking stuff up, but ended up not being able to carry any more in the bag I was using. It was brutal. There was one spot that litteraly looked like someone had turned a trash can upside down. I swear it was a pile of trash about 2 feet wide. Strangest thing.

**Magnum** · January 17th, 2012, 07:33 PM

I went out the other day for some Spey casting practice and understand your frustrations and your hate for this kind of mindless pollution but this is urbanization in action!! Unfortunately the outer areas of development has to be expected to live with and accept these kinds of pollution (so I was told by a city council member of sorts). You just ask any land developer and their partners (that you and I voted for) and they will tell you that after their wage hike or pension increase this is the most important item on their agenda. Well that's my rant and this is my list of things from my "used to be" favourite river system. Oh Ya this was from just the other day!!! Countless numbers of beer cans and "energy" drink bottles, 2 pairs broken sunglasses,1 snorkel,1 diving mask,1 plastic raft and parts,1 knee support,1 glove.1 sweat shirt, 1 camp chair. 1 baseball hat,2 lighters, 1 length of electric cable, numerous plastic shopping bags, who knows how much fishing line, 1 electric cattle guard battery container and wires, 1 tire rim, 1 spoon, a couple of plastic what ever's, a golf tee and golf ball, 3 strips of metal (30 + cms long) and 1 toque? All this is within (guessing here) one kilometer of my start point and we wont even talk about how bad the public parking lot gets!!! This is not my idea of a clean province but hell I'm just an old hick and was told that this is the way of the future!!!! So Enjoy!!

**btree** · January 17th, 2012, 10:33 PM

I hear you guys. When I first moved to the Island and fished those nice streams you mention, as well as the Qualicums, I would carry a shopping bag and pick up some of the trash on my walk out at the end of the day, but eventually I just gave up. It was an unbelievable tide of trash every day I fished no matter what river I tried. The Stamp was worse! One new the the area might think that river is sponsored by Tim Horton's by the number of coffee cups on the river bank.

I'd love to say that things are so much better up island in McNeill, but there are still plenty of examples where trash is an issue on the river banks. A sad sight for sure. Not sure what the solution might be - perhaps volunteer groups that are into regular stewardship events and generally having a strong presence on the water, but even then, it seems that humanity is an overwhelming force in it's ability to litter.

Gotta love our disposable society...

**Slim Diggity** · January 19th, 2012, 06:46 PM

So if all of us are on here talking about how much we hate the trash on the rivers, who are these idiots throwing it? I guess I just don't understand the mentality behind littering.

**Finslap** · January 19th, 2012, 07:27 PM

It only takes one Dbag a handful of fishing trips to leave the garbage you see. Don't give up and keep packing it out, the fishing mojo you'll get is worth it.

**eagledays** · January 20th, 2012, 04:27 PM

Definately, do not give up.

Besides carrying a back/chest/hand/waist pack.

Always carry a plastic bag or two with you somewhere, for easy access.

I'm not talkin green garbage bag size.

The little white ones from the grocery etc. are good.

It is nothing to fill and pack out.

I like winding up old fishing line in rivers and onshore into a nest, and just stuff it into pockets.

It's our job, to be cleaning up the mess.

To be better than the rest.

And that's enough reason for me.

**professori** · January 20th, 2012, 05:10 PM

I couldn't agree more. I have picked up other peoples garbage for as long as I have been going camping, hiking and fishing. I don't like the fact that I have to do it, but I see it as my duty to help keep my world clean. One of the good benefits I have received: I have seen my sons religiously do the same thing from the time they were preteens till now (they are 28 and 24 respectively). The world won't change unless we change it.