Friends live on a small lake in southern Illinois. Along with the usual kingfishers and Canada geese, they have been blessed with a pair of bald eagles and several great blue herons. A few mornings ago they noticed a heron down near the docks that was in obvious distress. When they approached it the cause was readily apparent. A loose wad of fishing line had bound its legs together and nearly cut through one of its wings. The bird died shortly thereafter.
Much has been said about slobs trashing launch areas, waterways, and ice - and I know there is no way to make them quit. It's just who they are. I would ask however, that next time you see a wad or "run" of line along the bank, just pick it up,(There might be a $7 dollar lure on the other end) and dispose of it properly. You just might prevent a kid from thinking fishing is gross, or save yourself the pain of a bound up prop, or keep a property owner from posting his access, or maybe even save a fellow fisher, who just happens to be a bird.
fish on,
rivereddy