Broad and Reel

By default, every sportsman and sportswoman has a little tree hugger deep down inside. You kinda have to. Who wants to fish with trash in the water and any pollutants in the water that hurt a species ability to reproduce or live are just bad news for fishermen.

So in celebration of Earth Day 2008, here’s 8 things that really tick me off when it comes to the environment and careless people.

1. Littering. Throwing trash out of your car or your boat is just darn lazy.

2. Keeping every fish you catch even if it’s within the size range. Do you really need a freezer full of spot?

3. Fishing without a license and keeping the fish!! Grr Paying the annual license fee goes toward things that will make your fishing experience better…including stocking fish. The PA Fish and Boat Commission required you to buy an Erie stamp if you were planning on fishing up there. The money generated from that stamp went to buy more public property around the steelhead-filled Erie tributaries.

4. People who get territorial at the pier. It’s a public place dummy and you are not more entitled than I am.

5. People who dilly dally when they have the fish they just landed out of water. It’s one thing if you’re struggling to get the hook out…it’s another if you’ve just wiped all it’s slime off and run around showing your catch to everyone and their mother.

6. People who throw their cigarette butts in the water, sand and dirt. Gross! I guess this could be lumped with littering but oh well it’s annoying enough to have it’s own bullet.

7. Housing developments that hoard waterfront property. I love big houses on the beach but it’s pretty frustrating when 90% of ocean front property is “private.” More public water accesses are needed but it seems accesses we do have are being taken away.

8. Driving giant donuts with meaty tires in the sand at Freeman Park doesn’t make anyone cooler… I’m sure it’s a ball but unfortunately beaches you can drive on are dwindling so why give yet another reason to have them taken away.

9. To be continued…

10. To be continued…

I’m not an exceptionally grumpy person when it comes to people…which is why there are only eight reasons. I couldn’t think of another two for the life of me:)