Now is the time.

[KTapper]

I am starting this thread in hopes that I can encourage everyone to give an hour or two helping clean up our area lakes. Now is the time being the snow is gone and it is fairly easy to spot trash. I am in the process of cleaning up German which is half done, and so far I would guess I have about 100.lbs of trash! Keep in mind I am half done. Here is a list of the things I have picked up. Carpet someone had a big big fire on, lots of bags with feces, bottles, cans, bags, dead fish, cups, paper, cardboard, ELECTRONICS! wow, insulation, and much more. I have to say I am disgusted with what I have seen out there.

Here is a list of lakes I think would be good candidates for a clean up

-Washington
-Tetonka
-Jefferson
-Frances
-There are many more this is a short list of lakes I know where busy this winter.

[stevejedlenski]

this is a very good idea, ill have to do this if the ice will still support my truck.

[KTapper]

I would not advise vehicle travel. I have been using an atv with a trailer.

I also will be organizing something for next ice season so we all can help prevent what is happening I would like to have Clean up Get togethers during the ice season maybe once a month, and a big one late ice.

[101PROOF]

Great idea!

I was out catching nice sun fish this past weekend and cleaned up any trash I spoted.

[Woody]

My family and I used to walk along the beaches in the spring and pick up garbage.  At first it was just a walk to look for "treasures" (lost lures, tackle ect.) but unfortunately there always seems to be more garbage than treasures.       The way I see it, walking the beaches gives you good excersize and you're helping the environment.     And the treasures are just bonuses.    

*up here in west central Mn, there's still plenty of snow on the ground yet, but a couple more days like this and I hope it'll be all gone! 

[KTapper]

Well I finished up German lake. I would say I got close to everything but I could have missed something. I did not find anything good just 2 ice jigs, and a clip for a humminbird flasher, and a fortune cookie paper that said something about me finding wealth, I hope so!

[Woody]

Just remember-wealth does not always mean money!       But if it does...don't forget us at MNO!!    

[KTapper]

[stevejedlenski]

i guess when the lake associations complain we could just say that its more habitat?? that just really "grinds my gears" as peter would say. i cant imagine whats on the big lakes that are pounded every weekend.

[Jdrummer]

Could you report these pics to the DNR? i would ! Thanks Tapper for doing what ya are doing !

[stevejedlenski]

unless the dnr has mapped and recorded owners and saw themselves where this was left there is nothing they can do. unless the people were kind enough to leave a name with thier stuff.

i will tell you that some fresh hides that had a newspaper stuck to it with the gentlemans name on it led co's to his house. only to find blood on the doorstep of the garage and deer inside. these would have been ok had it been deer season.

[Woody]

Just a thought-good or bad (you decide)....

Keep all that crap/garbage you collect from your trips cleaning the lakes and shorelines.  Then get a newscrew from tv stations to come do a story on how you find all this stuff.  Lay it all out for them to see.  One of those "feel good stories" they run when there is a slow news day.   

[JCAMERON]

Just a thought-good or bad (you decide)....

Keep all that crap/garbage you collect from your trips cleaning the lakes and shorelines.  Then get a newscrew from tv stations to come do a story on how you find all this stuff.  Lay it all out for them to see.  One of those "feel good stories" they run when there is a slow news day.   

That's a good idea.
A great idea - keep it in the bed of your truck. Next time you see somebody toss some trash out on the lake, follow them home and tell them its just not their day as you dump it all on their doorstep! 

[stevejedlenski]

just be sure to make them include that its only a few bad people not the whole fishing community

[Woody]

just be sure to make them include that its only a few bad people not the whole fishing community

Exactly! A few bad apples spoil the whole damn bunch.  Not all of us are pigs and disrepectful. 

[KTapper]

Good ideas guys. Those pictures do not do it justice there are things in those bags that would make some men puke. I will be writing a letter to the German/Jefferson lake association. The idea about the news thing would be cool, and it would be even better if we got a bunch of people to clean up a couple more lakes and get all the stuff together and show people how this is a real problem, and maybe just maybe some of the people watching were those who litered and they might just realize how terrible it is to leave garbage on the lake.

[stevejedlenski]

i know people always think, "o its just one pop can and plastic bag whats the big deal?" well the big deal is 400 people say that same thing and thats a lot of fricken garbage!!

[Jdrummer]

unless the dnr has mapped and recorded owners and saw themselves where this was left there is nothing they can do. unless the people were kind enough to leave a name with thier stuff.

I was thinking more like the DNR might watch the lakes a little better around here!
Tapper , where did you find that rug? I never saw it out there?

[KTapper]

The rug? lol I found 4 or 5 rugs so I cound'nt tell you where because there was to many! and about 100 bags of feces, and the thing that made my blood boil the most was seeing all the gills and crappies nice keepers laying on the ice just killed for no reason just wasted..

[7outof10]

there is a lot of junk out there it is good to see that some peopleare out there picking it up ....i would but im out of state right now (fishing in fl ) lol .....one thing that i try to do is make a lake cleener when i leave then when i got there