B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Leads in Keeping Plastic Baits Out of Our Waters

Cody Bigford of Lakeland, Fla., collected more than 6,000 used baits. Photo courtesy of Eamon Bolten

This column is intended as a thank-you to the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation state conservation directors out there who have recognized the need for us to be better stewards of our fisheries and are doing something about it.

These guys and gals are volunteers with families, jobs, and other responsibilities, but they are taking the time to make a difference.

I’m speaking specifically of their dedication to educate and involve anglers in properly disposing of used plastic baits, or, even better, recycling them.

Ray Scott did a great thing when he extolled the virtues of catch-and-release decades ago. Millions of anglers bought into the idea, and, as a result, both the face and the nature of sport fishing were changed for the better.

But we’ve ridden that tailwind long enough. It’s time to do more for conservation, especially in light of growing anti-fishing sentiment in our increasingly urban society. When we don’t take responsibility for maintaining a positive public image, we allow others control of our destiny --- and that’s not good.

Why target used plastic baits? Here’s why:

At Florida’s recent Junior State Championship on Lake Okeechobee, Cody Bigford of the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters turned in 130 pounds of baits that he had collected from various events in his area. That’s one person, in one town, accumulating more than 6,000 used baits.

Now, think nationally and you easily can see the massive quantity of used baits that millions of anglers discard annually.

Too many of those are being tossed into lakes and rivers or discarded along shorelines. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some bass eat those baits and, as a result, suffer intestinal blockages, which leads to death by starvation.

The real problem with trashing our waters with used baits, though, is that it’s irresponsible, plain and simple. Leaving trash of any kind behind is wrong --- even if it is at the bottom of a lake.

But Cody and others are spreading awareness and building a new ethic worthy of the Ray Scott legacy. Of course, in the early going, incentives help.

In Illinois, Allen Severance staged a plastic baits weigh-in at the end of a tournament. The challenge, he said, “was finding a way to convince anglers to participate.”

He did that by convincing Bass Pro Shops to donate gift cards for the winning clubs.

Michigan’s Jarrod Sherwood tried something similar for his state’s championship tournament. He spread the word as early as possible that prizes would be given to the clubs that turned in the most baits. “I am sure the clubs have been ‘cheating’ and collecting baits throughout the year,” he said.

“Our course, that was the point of letting them know ahead of time.”

Wisconsin’s Ken Snow said, “Our guys really like the idea (of turning in used plastic baits). Our youth director, Jessie Heineke, took the baits to melt down and recycle into some hand-poured baits.”

South Dakota’s Jeff Brown added, “Our anglers are pitching in and getting the hang of keeping their plastics that they typically discard. We hand out plastic bags for lure collection prior to the tournament and have a receptacle at the weigh-in for used baits.

Brown also said that he has “worked out a deal” with Minnesota’s Mickey Goetting, who is also the owner of MG Lures. “He specializes in hand-poured lures and has agreed to re-manufacture the baits into something our youth program can sell.”

Adopting the name “ReBaits,” Florida’s Eamon Bolten was the first to envision a program in which used baits could be turned into new baits. Ideally, he would like to see it go national as a coordinated project, with conservation directors collecting and sending in used baits. Proceeds from sales of new baits would go to conservation.

But logistics of such a large-scale undertaking have yet to be worked out. Right now, he has contracted with one company, Reel-Feel Baits, to melt old baits into new. He then gives those baits to those who turned in used plastics.

“Maybe eventually we will sell them,” he said.

Meanwhile, he is encouraged by what he sees happening nationally, not only with other conservation directors but with anglers in general.

“People are starting programs all over the country,” he said. “Some are even using the ReBaits name.

“We’re getting the message across and keeping baits out of landfills and fisheries.”

(Reprinted from B.A.S.S. Times.)

Talking 'Trash' About Panties, Plastic and Fishing Line

I really need to do more night fishing at the little lakes near my house, especially those that have beaches.

Based on a recent finding at one of those beaches, I suspect that the “wildlife” is worth studying after dark.

Yes, I did find those unmentionables. I added my Activist Angler business card for proof that I didn’t just find a photo of a pair of hot pink panties by doing a Google search and make up this story.

And, oh yeah, I found a giant black bra last year at the same beach. Although I wrote about that discovery, I regrettably neglected to take a photo. Instead, I just picked up the bra with a long stick and carried it to the nearest trash can.

Four or five times a week during the summer, I walk down to the beaches and launch areas to pick up trash and treasures. I started doing it because of concerns about discarded fishing line, which can kill birds, but eventually started picking up other litter too.

And then I started finding the “good” stuff: Clothing, shoes, sunglasses, books, folding chairs, inflatable water toys, etc. Already this summer, I’ve found enough flip flops and slides to open a shoe store.

But all of that is just for entertainment value --- and to get you to read my real message, which follows.

Prime motivation for my walks to the beaches and access areas remains picking up fishing line, and other trash, especially plastics.

We have a big problem with plastics in our environment, folks.

Check out these links to learn more:

Waste and Recycling Facts

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Trash Vortex

North Pacific Trash Patch

Plastic Trash Island Disaster video

I’m doing what I can to make things better. Are you? 

Time for Anglers to Take More Responsibility for Health of Fisheries

The above photo shows another bass that is slowly starving to death because of ingested plastic baits.

My friend Carl Wengenroth, owner of Angler’s Lodge on Lake Amistad, sent the photo to me. Sadly, he has seen plenty of this.

“A 9-inch curly tail was pulled from the anal port,” he says.

“The angler wanted to release it so I have no idea what else was in there. But I am assuming there was more. No hook was seen.

“Thought about digging around, but figured it would kill the fish. It took some effort to get the worm out of there, so I know it was stuck.”

As I’ve shown with photos previously at Activist Angler, many of them from Carl, we have anecdotal evidence that bass are eating discarded baits and starving to death because of it, as the plastic blocks their digestive systems.

The sight of a skinny bass with plastics in its belly is gut-wrenching, no doubt about it. And we need to do more to keep them out of our waters. But we have no evidence that those baits are hurting bass populations overall.

So, it makes sense to view this issue as one more front on the battle to keep trash, especially plastic and man-made packaging, out of our environment. Six-pack rings, plastic bags, fishing line, and Styrofoam bits have killed plenty of fish, turtles, and birds.

Most anglers pride themselves on their conservation ethic, and here’s a great way to demonstrate that ethic through actions.

Don’t throw those used plastic baits in the water or on the ground, and encourage others to properly dispose of them as well.

Also, join Recycled Fish’s One Million Stewards campaign. Take the Sportman’s Stewardship Pledge and buy a Stewardship kit, which includes a shoreline cleanup bag and a booklet on how to better care for our fisheries.

Catch-and-release was a great first step on the road toward anglers taking responsibility for the health of our fisheries. Now it’s time for the second.

ReBaits Gains Momentum as Anglers Show Stewardship

More and more, bass anglers are doing their best to keep used plastic baits out of our waters. Next to catch-and-release, this is the best and easiest individual action that anglers can take to show their concern for our fisheries.

This photo comes from Chuck Lang, conservation director of the Oregon B.A.S.S. Federation Nation (BFN). He said this:

“The first Oregon BFN qualifier was held over the weekend at Tenmile Lakes on the coast. Only 22 boats. However, they each had a ReBait bag and turned in their baits at the end of the second day.

“I collected the bags and handed out the raffle tickets as they brought their fish up. Our president got donations for the program from Dick’s Sporting Goods.”

Eamon Bolten, Florida conservation director, started ReBaits earlier this year. Clubs throughout the nation now are collecting used baits at B.A.S.S. Open tournaments, as well as BFN events.

“We are really making a difference and people are starting to take notice,” Bolten said.

“Over the weekend, I was handed a bag of used baits that was so full the weight would not register on a 50-pound scale. The baits were collected by one club here in Florida.”

Bolten hopes to eventually set up a network so that the baits can be collected and recycled into new baits.

Activist Angler was the first to call on anglers to help reduce the plastic waste in our waters. Search “plastic baits” to learn more.

Biodegradable Baits Another Alternative to Plastics Problem

Both here and through my column in B.A.S.S. Times, I’ve been exposing the long-ignored issue of discarded plastic baits and the problems that they cause for fish, especially bass.

Bass anglers have responded admirably, mostly thanks to a campaign initiated by Eamon Bolten, conservation director for the Florida B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. His program is called ReBaits, and it encourages anglers to recycle or properly dispose of their soft plastics. You’ll be reading more about it on this website, as well as in B.A.S.S. publications.

Meanwhile, Recycled Fish recently issued a Stewardship Tip about plastic baits and the value of biodegradable baits. Here is an excerpt:

“Consider, though, that plastic, according to many surveys, accounts for 70% of marine debris.  Plastic is indestructible settles in the sediment of aquatic ecosystems.  According to noted angler, Keith Warren, ‘the bottom of Lake Okeechobee is said to be coated with enough soft plastic lures to make a pile large enough to cushion a tank dropped from a plane.’  In addition, discarded and lost soft plastic lures are often ingested by fish and become lodged in their gastrointestinal tract.

“We certainly find enough motivation to look for alternatives to soft plastic baits based on the trash issue alone.  As more fish are found that display reproductive abnormalities, we feel that it is important to consider the damage that phthalates may cause.  The future of fish is definitely in our best interest.

“There are numerous biodegradable alternatives to soft, plastic baits.  FoodSource, Berkley, and Fishbites all produce baits that work and that will degrade if they fall off in the water.”

Read more here.