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Litter isn't just ugly, it also can be fatal to wildlife
I agree wholeheartedly, and pick up not just my discarded line, but what is left by others.
I either stuff the mess in my pocket or creel.
Nothing is more annoying than finding your shoes tangled in discarded line. That same mess can be fatal to some wildlife.
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The farmer had Guinea hens, and we had to catch one whose leg was bleeding from line it had become tangled in. Catching that hen was a major task, but with the help of my muskie net and a lot of sweat, we got the line removed.
A wild creature is often not so lucky.
Few, if any, anglers would leave a lure behind unless it was caught in a tree. Those things are expensive. Hooks are also lost, but soon rust away.
But monofilament line does not deteriorate.
There are, of course, other hazards faced by wildlife. John Dino and I once spotted a deer along Chubbic Road in North Strabane Township that had a beer keg stuck on its head. It was one of those brown plastic bottles, and the deer couldn't get its head back out.
The deer could see through the bottle, and we couldn't catch it. But it also couldn't eat. I don't know if it ever got the bottle off its head, but we never saw it again.
It is just another example of the danger to wildlife caused by littering.
John has a good method for disposing used fishing line. He smokes and therefore carries a lighter. Not only does he place his discarded line in a wad and burn it, but he also does so with any he can find laying around.
You do have to be careful and not ignite leaves and such, but it does dispose of the mess.
I hate litter.
n Have you ever noticed that just when you think you know everything about a certain subject, you get shot down?
I was fishing a local pond and doing fairly well on bluegills when the landowner stopped to talk. He thought I should be catching them faster and asked what I was using for bait.
I told him red worms, which to bluegill are like ham and eggs.
He told me I should be using salmon eggs. Now it was my turn to laugh.
Salmon eggs for bluegill? You've got to be kidding.
With that, he jumped on his quad and told me he'd be right back.
Sure enough, he showed up with his fishing rod and a can of fire balls. He caught them more quickly on the fire balls, and I also believe he caught bigger fish.
I guess you should never argue with the person who owns the pond. Or maybe the bluegill just know him and like him better.
I'm still not completely sold on salmon eggs for bluegill.
Of course, the strange bait shouldn't have surprised me. I have heard of panfish being caught on pieces of hotdog or baloney.
Cat and dog food will also work in a pinch. So will corn.
Years ago, I used fresh shrimp to catch catfish, but wouldn't do that now because of the cost.
The reverse is rarely done. Fish might eat my lunch, but I won't touch their bait.
I do, however, remember trying a dough ball I made for carp as a youngster. I was hungry and, after all, it was made of corn meal and flour with flavoring added.
n Work is supposed to start on the Dutch Fork Lake spillway early next month. It will be wonderful to see this lake returned to the public.
I would, however, like to see some improvements, such as structure added to the lake before it is filled. The project could be done by a local club if the state can't do it.
All it takes are some truck loads of concrete from road repaving jobs or some other construction site.
George H. Block writes a Sunday outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.
Dutch Fork : 7/25/2011
George, I am glad that you have mentioned adding structure to Dutch Fork Lack before it is refilled. Back when it was drained, I was amazed how flat it was. The only structure that I could see was the old creek bed and some of the points, mainly the one by the backside parking lot. Also, the back road could use some gravel.
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