Earth Day is tomorrow! As fisher men and women, backpackers, paddlers or outdoor loving people, let’s pause to take a moment to think about what we can do to be better stewards of our planet. Below I’m listing a few things I thought of we could all do individually to make a difference.

Take a Trash Bag to Your Local Lake or River

Plastic and other litter left at ponds, lakes, and riverbanks is harmful for many reasons. Plastic does not degrade even after hundreds of years and can leach toxins into water supplies. Many animals will even eat plastics and not be able to digest them, leading to their death in many cases. Other litter like aluminum cans can cut animals and hurt them, leading to infection and also possible death.

Instead of taking your fishing rod to the riverbank this Earth Day, take a trash bag and a pair of gloves. Pick up the trash on the river bank or lake’s shore line. Or go for a hike and take your multi-day backpack and grab the trash along the forest road or on your favorite trail. It’s a very simple activity that you can even do with a group of friends or family.

Replace Your Fishing Tackle With More Sustainable Options

Chiefly, this means avoiding plastic lures and lead weights. Some companies offer various materials other than plastic for baits, and you can find tin or brass sinkers to replace the lead ones in your tackle box. Who doesn’t love a trip to the tackle store and being more eco-friendly at the same time on Earth Day?

Donate or Volunteer to One of Your Favorite Conservation Nonprofits

Over the past couple years, I have volunteered for my local Trout Unlimited group to do river bank restoration and pick up litter along Forest Road 276 in the Pisgah National Forest. It’s a small part, but I always came away with a good feeling. If you’re working or have already made other plans this Earth Day and can’t take time to attend an event or go pick up trash at your lake, then you can always consider a small donation to a conservation-focused nonprofit of your choice.

Let me know in the comments if you attended any Earth Day celebrations or if you simply got outside and enjoyed the outdoors. After a few years of pandemic life, which forced many of us inside, the ability to go into nature and enjoy Earth Day is a blessing. I hope you have a wonderful Earth Day with those closest to you and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

Tight lines,

Troy