Join In: Take The Pledge
All of the waters that we depend on to support our fishing and
boating are being threatened by invasive species that have the
potential to devastate natural habitats. These invaders are often
inadvertently spread by anglers and boaters who are carrying unwanted
hitchhikers to their favorite waters.
We must all take these simple actions to stop the spread of
destructive invasive species:
- INSPECT - carefully examine all of your equipment at the
end of your trip to see if there are any visible signs of unwanted
material attached. This includes any type of plant or mud. Remove anything visible.
- CLEAN - use water to wash your equipment clean. High pressure water works great to
remove anything that may be attached to your equipment. It's ok to clean with water
from the river or lake where you have been fishing or boating from because you will leave behind
invasive species that you may have picked up. However, never clean your
equipment at your put-in spot since you can easily be cleaning off
hitchhikers that have been with you since your last trip. If you cannot
clean before you leave a site, then make sure to clean at home where there is
no chance that an invader can reach the water.
- DRY - a thorough drying of your equipment will kill any
live invaders you may have picked up. Make sure that every bit of hidden
moisture is gone.
Take the Pledge
Fill out the form to the left and pledge to inspect, clean,
and dry your gear after each use. By taking the pledge, you join
a group of dedicated anglers working to keep our waters safe! Plus, you
will automatically be eligible for a free subscription to the Clean Angling News, a
monthly electronic newsletter that keeps you up to date on invasive
species news of interest to anglers. To receive your subscription, you
must reply to the email that will be sent to you automatically after
pledging.
