I joined Boise Valley Fly Fishers in 2020 and volunteered for some conservation projects. I liked working on conservation projects and wanted to do more and volunteered to take over the #FillTheNet program from BVFF President Tom Old, who was inspired by a past club member Zeke Willard's #FillTheNet efforts. My role was to motivate anglers to use their nets to pick up a little trash each time they went fishing and to recognize them on our BVFF Facebook page to help make their efforts visible, with the hope that others would follow suit. 
Four years later our #FillTheNet program is going strong and I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has Filled Their Nets! Idaho Fish and Game even took notice and made an anti-litter advertisement in the fishing regs that asks anglers to Fill Their Nets!
Over the first couple of years of the #FillTheNet program our members started posting photos of discarded fishing line. In 2022, BVFF joined the Golden Eagle Audubon Society during one of their Boise River clean-ups and we found numerous trees and bushes with tangles of fishing line. Sadly, members and local birders have also found dead birds who got caught in the broken-off fishing line. Clearly there was a need for some fishing line collectors. Talking with John Cassinelli, the IDF&G SW Regional Fisheries Manager at the time, he encouraged us to use a bird-friendly design, as birds can get trapped inside when trying to nest in the tube. Members of the Golden Eagle Audubon club shared designs that had a slit rubber cover over the opening, and although that slit cover solved the bird nesting problem, it created another because people are less likely to put their hands into a "jar of sharps" when they cannot see into the container.
We found several fishing line collectors at a few local ponds that had been installed years ago as part of an Eagle Scout Project. They were getting used but were often found overflowing. Who was servicing them, we wondered? Full fishing line collectors were another problem to investigate. While doing some fly casting demos at Eagle Island State Park we saw they had several fishing line collector tubes around their pond and we started talking with them about their experience with them, which was the start of a wonderful partnership. The Park Rangers told us the current designs were difficult to empty, and they wished they could hold more. They gave us feedback on our designs, and 4 versions later we have something that is safe for birds, easy for users, has more capacity and is easy to service. The new collectors have:
- A bigger 6” tube, to hold more fishing line;
- A flip-cover to prevent birds from nesting but is easy for users to open;
- A clear main tube, which shows users the intended contents and helps the park easily check the fill level;
- And a removable bottom to make it easy to empty.
In December, with the help of Eagle Island State Park personnel, BVFF installed 3 of the new mono collectors around the pond. While doing the installation we picked up a lot of fishing line and noticed numerous fishing line and lures in trees. Later in the month club members returned with ladders and an extended pole cutter and retrieved dozens of bobbers, hooks, lures and tons of fishing line from the trees. We also removed an oriole nest that had a lot of fishing line and would be a danger to birds next season.
The old fishing line collector design had boating related stickers that didn't match the needs at Eagle Island State Park, so we are working with the Park Rangers on a small informational sign that can be mounted with the collector.
A special thanks for Johannes Giessen, Eagle Island State Park Manager, and his staff. It has been a pleasure working with a professional team wanting to do the right thing. Eagle Island State Park has been the perfect place for us to install our new mono collectors.
- They have a significant issue with broken off fishing line, from newbie fishermen;
- They are in a location along the river with lots of birds, wildlife, people and dogs that could get caught in the broken off fishing line or hooks;
- And are staffed and able to monitor and regularly service the fishing line collectors;
We will be featuring our new Fishing Line Collector at the BVFF Expo Booth, Jan 31 and Feb 1st. Stop by and check it out! And don’t forget to keep your eyes out for broken off fishing line and Fill Your Net the next time you’re out fishing. To help inspire others to fill their nets, consider posting a photo to our BVFF Facebook page, or you can email it to us at conservation@bvff.com.
Volunteering for BVFF is a rewarding experience. There are many opportunities to help our mission of Fly Fishing Conservation, Access and Education. I encourage members to get involved and make a difference.
Thank you,
George Butts
BVFF Board Member
Fishing Line Collector Lead
#FillTheNet Coordinator
#LeaveItBetter Member
