While many people enjoy recreational water activities and sports, they may be inadvertently damaging bodies of water and the wildlife within them.
But with mindful habits and precautions, such as packing out what is packed in, the damage can be somewhat relieved or even prevented.
Catch and release and trash maintenance
Aaron Gordon, a guide for Middle Fork Salmon River Trips and the owner of Long Drift Outfitters on the Kootenai River, said his team works to sustain the population of fish in Idaho’s rivers. They do so by strictly following the practices of catch and release.
“We use barbless hooks, so that the hooks come out really easy and don’t injure the fish at all,” Gordon said. “Ultimately this creates much more sustainability across the population of fish.”
Idaho’s laws on barbless hooks vary based on location and type of fish, and are required in many places around the state. While fish health can be improved through the concept of catch and release, stream health is also important to the environment.
“One of the ways we promote stream health is by making a strong effort to clean up all of our, and others’, trash,” Gordon said. “There is usually a lot of micro-trash, which is a product of fishing, rafting or water sports.”
Although people can clean up after themselves, some of the pollution is simply under nature’s control, Gordon said.
“Nature can help out a lot because when the water comes up every spring it really helps to keep the stream clean, but unfortunately this flushes all of the trash and waste downstream,” Gordon said. “So, if myself or my guides with any company we work for come up upon a beach with trash we pick it up.”
Technology and tournament fishing
The University of Idaho Bass Club is a college-sanctioned fishing club in which students can participate in college level fishing tournaments. As stated on the UI website, the club holds itself to a high standard of sportsmanship, values and self-discipline.
These standards are not just reflected throughout the idea of fair competition, but also ensuring that bass fisherman will also take precautions surrounding the effects recreational water sports can have on the environment.
Aldair Rojas, a member of the Bass Club majoring in fishery resources, said there are a variety of ways fishing and boating activities can affect a body of water’s health.
“Excess fishing line can affect the organisms within the environment, a garbage dumb from a fisherman can create a buildup and dropping an anchor can cause fragmentation to the plants and habitat at the bottom,” Rojas said. “Along with this, wake boats can cause soil erosion and the engine itself can pollute the water which it is in.”
Rojas said he individually took precautions to avoid this damage to the environment.
“As a participant in recreational water sports I’m aware of some of the consequences that can happen in the long run,” Rojas said. “I can do my part by taking care of what’s around me throughout these activities. Also, I can inform others that I’m with of the detrimental impact these activities can have on the health of bodies of water.”
Although these actions and efforts made by individuals can have a positive effect on the environmental health of a river or lake, when fishermen participate in large tournaments they must also take precautions to prevent further damage.
Matthew Kavanaugh, the president of the Bass Club, said technological advancements of fishing and water sports have helped reduce the environmental impact at events. Especially with lures, more equipment is being made to be biodegradable and less is being forged from lead.
Kavanaugh said there has also been notable change to the fishermen themselves.
“It has become more of a culture not to litter because of the advances made, bass fishermen have realized that they do not want to ruin the lake,” Kavanaugh said. “Aside from littering, most fisherman who own older boats have begun to put more environmentally friendly oil in their engine, avoiding carbon emission and improving stream health.”
Ultimately, Kavanaugh explained that bass fishermen want to keep the fish healthy so they can continue catching them.
Along with this, Major League Fishing tournaments have implemented many rules and regulations to ensure the protection of fish and to ensure those participating are not littering or damaging the aquatic environment with carbon emissions.
Kavanaugh said these rules are enforced by Idaho Fish and Game and are implemented to regulate these organized fishing tournaments to protect fish populations.
The Bass club will be taking their first fishing trip of the year on Nov. 6 to Lake Pend Oreille.
Morgan McDonough can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho