Tools to help

GLOVES! Protect your hands. Garden gloves work well. The hooks are sharp and the fishing line is dirty.

Grabbers - These can be useful for fishing line a little out of reach or if bending over is difficult or uncomfortable.

Available on Amazon.

Small bag to collect the fishing line.

Scissors or something to cut the line if it’s caught on trees or bushes.

Optional- Some of us wear waterproof boots if we want to get closer to the water.

Walk slowly and scan the ground. Clear fishing line is easy to miss. If it’s sunny, the line will shimmer when the sun hits it. If you’re near Sacramento, reach out to the group and see if someone can walk with you. People who do this often have been able to adjust their on the fishing line. It gets easier to see. They can help point and spot the fishing line and help you find it, which helps your eyes adjust.

Hot Spots: If you’re limited on time, no problem—go to the hot spots. The hot spots are usually closest to the parking lot or entrance. This is an area where you often see fishermen.

Groups or Solo

Picking up fishing line is an ongoing issue. It needs it regularly. Sometimes, we go as a group, and sometimes, people who live near a lake or frequent it will pick it up when they are there. You do whatever you can whenever you can.

The goal is to bring awareness and look on the ground for it whenever possible. People are often standing on it and don’t realize it. Once your eyes start to notice it, you’ll always notice it.

Why don’t they just pick up after themselves? You’ll find yourself asking this and even getting mad. Not all fishermen are bad. Many are very responsible and help us. There are always going to be those people who just don’t care and will not change their attitude. Trying to change people is not what we are about and is not productive. We don’t have tools for that. Our goal is to get it off the ground. Sometimes, it’s an accident when they cast the fishing pole; it gets snagged and unable to be retrieved. The wind and weather can push it to shore or along other branches. Sometimes, they’ll put it in their pocket, and when they reach for their keys, it falls out. Fishing lie is often found in the parking lot

How to properly dispose of it: Cut it up into small pieces before disposing of it. If it’s not cut up, it becomes a problem in landfills. Some people save it and put it in bins. When people see the amount collected in a photo, it’s very impactful. It brings awareness to the issue. It’s been posted in local FB groups, attracting more people to participate.

Why not have the recycle tubes installed? This is a good step, but it’s important to know that someone has to empty it out. You can’t install it without a plan or assume the park maintenance will be emptying and maintaining it. It does very little regarding how much fishing line is left on the ground. Some of the most problematic lakes have fishing line tubes all over the lake.