Discarded/Lost Mono

I was walking along the river and saw what looked like a bird hovering
in a strange manner over the water. I got out my camera to get a picture
and while taking the picture I realized it was a bird stuck in some mono.

I went down the bank to try and get it loose. It was hung up fairly high
and I couldn't reach the bird so I used the butt of my flyrod to pull
down the limb. The bird was thrashing fiercely caught by a loop of
knotted mono leader around its wing. The wing was bleeding as well as
it's mouth where it was trying to bite the line. The bird was frantic
and I gave the bird my rod to bite while I used my nippers to cut the
mono close to its wing. I was wondering what I was going to do with this
injured kingfisher but when I cut the mono, it flew off before it hit
the water. Hoping it will be OK.

We've all heard of the dangers to wildlife caused by discarded mono but
this was the first time I saw the results in person. It looked like the
fly fisherman had snagged his fly up in the tree and when he broke it
off, a good portion of the butt section remained in the tree dangling
down in a loop. The kingfisher must have gotten its wing caught while
diving for a fish.

I've left mono in branches with snagged flies before (sometimes there's
"no" choice). Made me think and will make me be more careful.

Willi

On Apr 28, 6:33*am, Willi Loehman wrote:
I was walking along the river and saw what looked like a bird hovering
in a strange manner over the water. I got out my camera to get a picture
and while taking the picture I realized it was a bird stuck in some mono.

I went down the bank to try and get it loose. It was hung up fairly high
and I couldn't reach the bird so I used the butt of my flyrod to pull
down the limb. The bird was thrashing fiercely caught by a loop of
knotted mono leader around its wing. The wing was bleeding as well as
it's mouth where it was trying to bite the line. The bird was frantic
and I gave the bird my rod to bite while I used my nippers to cut the
mono close to its wing. I was wondering what I was going to do with this
injured kingfisher but when I cut the mono, it flew off before it hit
the water. Hoping it will be OK.

We've all heard of the dangers to wildlife caused by discarded mono but
this was the first time I saw the results in person. It looked like the
fly fisherman had snagged his fly up in the tree and when he broke it
off, a good portion of the butt section remained in the tree dangling
down in a loop. The kingfisher must have gotten its wing caught while
diving for a fish.

I've left mono in branches with snagged flies before (sometimes there's
"no" choice). Made me think and will make me be more careful.

Willi

I carry a zip-top baggie in my gear. I can find mono on the ground in
most places I fish. I even find it in the "fly-fishing only" places.
How so much of it gets there is puzzling.
About 8 or 9 years ago I wrote to Berkly about modifing their battey
powered "line striper" for picking up discarded mono. I suggested
they put a female threaded appapter on the discharge side. The thead
would allow one to put a plactic pop bottle on it and all of the
collected line would go into the bottle and then into the trash. I
got the usual reply.

On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:33:51 -0600, Willi Loehman
wrote:

I was walking along the river and saw what looked like a bird hovering
in a strange manner over the water. I got out my camera to get a picture
and while taking the picture I realized it was a bird stuck in some mono.

I went down the bank to try and get it loose. It was hung up fairly high
and I couldn't reach the bird so I used the butt of my flyrod to pull
down the limb. The bird was thrashing fiercely caught by a loop of
knotted mono leader around its wing. The wing was bleeding as well as
it's mouth where it was trying to bite the line. The bird was frantic
and I gave the bird my rod to bite while I used my nippers to cut the
mono close to its wing. I was wondering what I was going to do with this
injured kingfisher but when I cut the mono, it flew off before it hit
the water. Hoping it will be OK.

We've all heard of the dangers to wildlife caused by discarded mono but
this was the first time I saw the results in person. It looked like the
fly fisherman had snagged his fly up in the tree and when he broke it
off, a good portion of the butt section remained in the tree dangling
down in a loop. The kingfisher must have gotten its wing caught while
diving for a fish.

I've left mono in branches with snagged flies before (sometimes there's
"no" choice). Made me think and will make me be more careful.

Willi

This is one of the reasons I've been against "light tackle" for years,
when "light" means marginally-light or too light for the targeted
quarry, which some consider sporting. It's bad enough breaking off at
or near the fly/lure/hook, but breaking off a bunch of mono is never a
good thing. FWIW, there are devices that you can use to get as close as
possible to an underwater snag and cut the line - you lose the "lure"
you were going to lose anyway (although sometimes they can free a stuck
lure - not so much smaller flies, but...), but you keep as much mono out
of the water as possible.

When mono is still attached, it's fishing line, when it isn't, it's just
more dangerous trash that ought not be left behind.

TC,
R

wrote in news:slfc14lee3ht71adj2msksn2rbmva5f707@
4ax.com:

t's bad enough breaking off at
or near the fly/lure/hook, but breaking off a bunch of mono is never a
good thing.

When we do stream cleanups, we OFTEN find whole unrolled spools of mono
left by the bait guys. Not to say, of course, that we shouldn't be careful
with our own stuff.

I know one TU chapter that provides cleverly rigged up PVC with screw caps
and strategically located holes near parking areas so folks have a
convenient place to dispose of mono.

--
Scott
Reverse name to reply

On 29 Apr 2008 00:43:38 GMT, Scott Seidman
wrote:

wrote in news:slfc14lee3ht71adj2msksn2rbmva5f707@
4ax.com:

t's bad enough breaking off at
or near the fly/lure/hook, but breaking off a bunch of mono is never a
good thing.

When we do stream cleanups, we OFTEN find whole unrolled spools of mono
left by the bait guys. Not to say, of course, that we shouldn't be careful
with our own stuff.

I know one TU chapter that provides cleverly rigged up PVC with screw caps
and strategically located holes near parking areas so folks have a
convenient place to dispose of mono.

If I may, take pushbutton torches (the homeowner-type plumbing torch,
but with propane, not MAPP in the yellow container) - give the
monomess a quick hit - you don't need to roast it - with the flame, and
it's a whole lot less dangerous and easier to deal with, plus, combine
the torch with a small pot, and you've got a stove...or, hell, carry
pre-made cremes and burn the sugar streamside...

But all should remember that all sorts of stuff besides line isn't just
trash, but dangerous trash - soda carriers, netting, poultry/fowl/bird
bones (never chunk 'em where dogs can get at 'em), clay pigeons
(dangerous to pigs, hogs, etc.) - all sorts of human sports-related
detritus can be pretty bad stuff.

TC,
R