Remove Abandoned Fishing Line

Remove Abandoned Fishing Line - Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock

Remove Abandoned Fishing Line and easily, quickly dispose of this hazard to wildlife. All you need is a pocket knife.

Use this guide with instructions on disposing of abandoned fishing line. Take action. It only takes half a minute to take this death trap out of the environment. Super, easy and fast solution for anyone.

Remove Abandoned Line – share this guide with anyone who walks, exercises near water, fishes or hikes. Nature lovers, remote control boat clubs all can pitch in and prevent injuries to wildlife.

Watch this video and about the impacts of abandoned fishing line.

imply use a sharp pocket knife to cut the line at your hand opening. If you want to be very thorough, cut this pile of line one more time into tiny 6” segments. 

This cut line is now harmless and in fact will be used by birds to make their nests without threat to wildlife. You can scatter the line cuttings, minus any rusty hooks or lures underneath the nearest bush or tree. You can also take this line and put it in the trash. Either way, this will probably find its way into nests.

Long sections of line can become tangled on songbirds. They attempt to use the line and are very attracted to piece of stray, line and twigs of this size for nest building. The long lines are a deathtrap to these birds especially, because the birds become stuck and tangled in the lines. I have seen a bird dangling from the tree by fishing line. 

Aquatic birds and reptiles can become tangled also. Removing abandoned fishing line will save your local environment and make our world that much better. If you are a fishermen, keep track of your line, dispose of line immediately in this fashion and be better to the waters you fish! 

If we work together to remove abandoned fishing line from local ponds, lakes and rivers, we can literally save lives.

Win Great Fishing Prizes Worth $750

WIN BIG FISHING PRIZES – Like, Share, Follow and Win.

Many ways to get entry points – as seen above. Over $750 in prizes available from www.Gapen.com – www.livebaitfishingtackle.com & www.ChicagoFishingSchool.com – see rules for details. Winner must use the Guided Fishing lesson within 50 miles of Chicago. Winner of rod Combo must either pick this prize up or pay the shipping charge (approximately $18 – via PayPal, Venmo or Square – or cash pickup). Winner of the rod combo may elect for 3rd, 4th, 5th place prizes instead of paying for the shipping of the rod. Prizes after the rod & reel combo will be selected once combo winner makes decision and arranges pickup or shipping (their choice).

Ok – the winners have been selected and drawing video is up next – these are the finalists: These are the 7 finalists: 7 winners have been selected for the prize drawing and several from the YouTube channel are WINNERS. Here are the finalists by random draw: Elain Smith, Arami, Bear_ZR, AJ_S, @MashaLiokumovichRykova & Banana squad – I am going to set the prize up on a wheel and video the spins to see who wins the prizes from 7 to 1 for the grand prize. Drawing winner video will be posted here: Chicago Fishing on YouTube – as always, it pays to subscribe, share, like our fishing content to win some big prizes. Stay TUNED.

How To Fish

How to Catch Fish

How to Fish – New Fishermen Looking to Learn Fishing, will find more questions than answers. In our feature on learning fishing, we will share some links and give you a starting point. If you are new to fishing, you should avoid common pitfalls and get expert help.

Learn How to Fish - save money and do not buy tons of unneeded tackle.
Live Bait helps those new to fishing to get more action and learn way more about catching fish.
  • Don’t Buy Lots of Gear
  • Don’t wait to fish only in exotic remote locations (fish close to home)
  • Ask local professional guide
  • Hire a professional to show you how to fish
  • Don’t depend on store employees
  • Over-buying tackle will be a waste of money
  • Fish local ponds and target those fish
  • Practice your skills on local ponds
  • Don’t follow tv fishing – it is a huge mistake

Common Fishing Mistakes

We find that most of our fishing students have made the above mistakes when learning to fish. Buying a lot of gear is a big pitfall. Start simple and learn the basics. Try to get gear that will help you to catch fish as close to home as possible. It is a bad thing to go buy the most expensive rods and reels and to pile up tackle. Instead, simple fishing setups that you can quickly take to local ponds will teach you much more. Start slow! Inexpensive setups might even include a pole with no reel so that you can learn baiting hooks and handling fish. Once you get comfortable. We partner with LiveBaitFishingTackle.com and they offer a great setup for new fishermen and kids that is under $30. You can outfit a couple family members and learn together with this pole fishing setup.

Use Live Bait Before Trying Lures

Lures are more difficult to catch your fish. Fishing local ponds is harder than fishing a resort location or the television locations such as resorts. Fish are smaller and harder to find and often times the predator species are over-fished and much smaller than on tv. This leaves you with an assortment of fish that doesn’t respond to lures. For the new fisher, it is much easier to catch fish using live food. Live bait sold at the local bait and tackle store is your best bet for more fishing action and learning. Lures are expensive and often don’t appeal to local fish. This is reality. We suggest you learn your fishing skills on multi-species rather than trying to target one fish. All new fishermen want action. Live bait will get you 60% more action than lures constituently even at the crumby muddy pond at the end of the street. There is action waiting there for you to practice and learn your skills! More practice will mean more fish caught as you learn to cast, hook and handle fish.

Patronize Small Bait & Tackle Stores

A big box store offers you little. They are confusing, filled with equipment that will not help you and the sales associates have less experience than most small store owners. Call the store nearest you and ask when someone would be on hand to help you with a basic fishing setup to fish local ponds. The live bait at stores is of much higher quality than big box stores and gas stations (in most cases). Having quality live bait will get you more fish on the end of your line. Big box stores do not turn over their bait which often dies or is in poor shape. A small bait & tackle store will rotate and check their live bait. It sells faster and is more fresh. Other places have bait that is a month or several months old. The fish react to old bait – they won’t touch it.

Fish Local Ponds

Learning fishing skills is important to getting better results and more action. Local ponds will offer you a place to practice. Trying to improve your skills is easier if you have more reps, more chances and more casts. While the mud hole down the street might not look like an exotic Canadian water, it offers you your best chance to be a better fisherman. Angling is the art of trying to get fish on the line. Don’t make the mistake many make in the hobby. To become an angler, your practice is the key. Take the time to practice your knots at home and getting tackle (all the gear, line, hooks and setups) ready to fish. Learn a few key knots and how to tie lines. Prepare them at home and get better at this. Get to your local pond or stream and work at practicing. You will get better and this improvement in skills will help you every time you fish. Simply put, fewer mistakes will mean many more fish. A mistake takes your line out of action. Get to your local pond, and make use.

Hire the Local Guide

Check with your local fishing guide. Many guides will be glad to show you what gear they are using and give you specifics. What you might need to fish starting out, may not need to be guide-quality gear. The guide will give you the basics and can provide a list of specific line weights and bait setups that will work better for your local pond. Ask ahead of time when booking your guided fishing trip about expectations. That guide should be very helpful in getting you a minimal amount of gear and starting you with fishing equipment that really works. Just buying tackle will never help you. Expert help will prevent you from wasting money and save you hundreds of dollars.

Join a Local Fishing Club & Learn How to Fish

In your area there are several local fishing clubs. Tell them you are new and see if they help new anglers to get started in fishing. Some clubs might be more competitive and into travel or tournaments. Find out first and then if they tell you they can be helpful, try a meeting out. Have the club point you to one person or a local fishing guide to help you. This will jump start your fishing hobby and be the best way to learn how to fish. Multi-species fishing clubs are the best choice for new anglers like RiversideFishingClub in the Chicago Area.

How to Fish – Great Links:

Hire a Professional Guide

Learn how to fish online

US Fish & Wildlife How to Fish Guide

Split Shot Tips -Help With Split Shot

Split Shot Tips - Super Doux Split Shot Assortments

Split shot tips to help you fish better. This article and an instruction sheet for a split shot tool could help you with your split shot game. Whether you fly fish or float fish, split shot can help you with your rigs. So, if you want a tip or two – try these two fishing tip sheets out. As a fishing guide using split shot in competitions and setting up rigs for clients, I have learned a lot.

Split Shot Tips Article

Split Shot Tool Instructions

Our best split shot – always purchase pure, quality lead split shot. Non-lead shot is horrible to your mono line. It does not stay in place. The often-used tin weights used in “safe” or “environmental” split shots, damages the line. It is also hard as a rock and horrible to try and get on the line.

Don’t Buy Non-Toxic Split Shot!

These brands may also make the “non-toxic” brand or “environmentally safe” options – beware. They do not work well. And, they should be avoided. Use only the lead – pure products. Stay away from the No Lead Split shots! Did we mention it costs almost twice as much as good split shot?

Pure Lead Split Shot

Pure lead split shot is the only way to fish. Pure lead shot comes in these brands.

  1. Anchor Brand Split Shot
  2. Super Doux Split Shot

Split Shot Tips – Small Floats

These come in selection assortments as well as single-size split shot pots. Note that some of the split shot selections are very small. Anglers will do best with sizes .3 gr – BB split shot (.4 gr) for balancing their float rigs. These two sizes work for smaller floats.

Split Shot for Bigger Float Rigs

AAA Split shot is also a good size to have for medium and large floats. AAA size is .8 gr and for long-casting bigger floats. For nymphing and wet fly fishing, you may want the sizes that are smaller such as .10 gr and even smaller to make fine adjustments.

Good Split Shot Selections

Fishing F1 – AM September 26th – 8 AM

This fishing class is for beginners to expert-level anglers. It is an introduction and the first of a two-part class. Our fishing class – F1 will be held at 8 AM sharp on September 26th. This is the first class-the F1 – The second class is a double class and will finalize your lessons.

When we meet, know that our class will be held at the rock circle and there will be a smaller class – we will allow enough space for everyone to comfortably gather without worries. Outdoor activities are essential – let’s re-gather when we are all clear and free of worry about this virus. I will miss you until then. The class will be limited to 10 people regardless of what phase we are in. THIS CLASS IS HELD IN DOWNERS GROVE – PATRIOT’S PARK (Barth Pond).

In this class you will learn about fishing poles, fishing rods, the rigs, floats, bite indicators and live baits. The first class gives you examples of good tackle and bad tackle (the kind you find hanging from most stores!). Bad fishing is NOT your fault. The stores are packed with fishing gear that does not catch fish locally OR ON VACATION. I will teach you how to catch many more and larger fish in just 2 sessions.

You may purchase a class to reserve it and place this in your notes. We will meet : 8:00 AM. – F1 Class. (class one of the two-part series). Note we will have a two-class day (long day though on September 26th.) You may take the F23, the second class on September 26th.

Students must reserve a spot using our class registration. Discounts given for purchasing 3 or more class passes. Add a note at Checkout for which class slot you prefer – note you can change times, with some sort of communication.

Purchase a single fishing class here – tax is included in the price for single classes.


Save 20% by purchasing multiple classes – 3 or more at a time.
Want to register several people – OR – register for all 3 classes? You can register for classes F23 coming up.

Purchase multiple fishing classes at a discount here – tax is included in the price for single classes. Discount is calculated on multiples of 3 or more. Have a large group? Call for large family or large group booking discounts. (Or Book a Private Lesson)

Select Your Fishers

Gift Certificate + Purchased Groupon Registration

Have a Groupon? Groupons are good for Fishing 1 classes (only). Register your Groupon fishing class using the above pulldown. $1 registration charge – (you will get a free fishing tool for the registration cost.). Save 30% on your Fishing 1 class. Note this is a 2-class series. You will need to purchase Fishing 23 (a double session) separately and they can be taken at any time.

REGISTER YOUR GROUPON – OR Gift Certificate Here:

What you need for fishing classes. Camera or phone camera. A drink. That’s it. We provide everything you need for classes. Classes are good for beginners, experienced anglers and families including kids 6 and up.

F23 Fishing Class October 3rd 9 AM

** note today’s F23 class is being moved to October 3rd. Please email if you have a coupon and would like to register for that! Or text me 630.235 Two 162.

CLASSES ARE ON – we will meet October 3rd – 9 AM for THE FISHING F23 Class.
You may take the F1 the same morning, We will have a break between classes as the second class is a double class.

This fishing class is for beginners to expert-level anglers. It is the final class of the two-part class series. This second class is a double session and will finalize your lessons. This will be F23. Yes – please take F1 prior to taking this class.
THIS FINAL CLASS IS 2.5 HOURS IN LENGTH. PLAN ACCORDINGLY

When we meet, know that our class will be held at the rock circle and there will be a smaller class – we will allow enough space for everyone to comfortably gather without worries. Outdoor activities are essential – let’s re-gather when we are all clear and free of worry about this virus. I will miss you until then. The class will be limited to 10 people regardless of what phase we are in. This class is held in Downers Grove, Patriot’s Park (Bath Pond).

You may purchase a class to reserve it and place this in your notes.
We will meet : October 3rd. – 9 AM (parts 2 and 3 of our 3-part learn to fish series).

Students must reserve a spot using our class registration. Discounts given for purchasing 3 or more class passes. Add a note at Checkout for which class slot you prefer – note you can change times, with some sort of communication.

Purchase a the F23 fishing class here – tax is included in the price for single classes.


Save 20% by purchasing multiple classes – 3 or more at a time.
Want to register several people – OR – register for all 3 classes?
You can register for classes F23 here. Should class be cancelled for weather – your credit is always good for future classes (also if you can’t make it – contact us 24 hours prior to the class)! We will get you catching fish and help you out.

Purchase multiple fishing classes at a discount here – tax is included in the price for single classes. Discount is calculated on multiples of 2 or more. Have a large group? Call for large family or large group booking discounts. (Or Book a Private Lesson) Discounts automatically applied in the pricing for F23 for multiple fishers.

Select Your Fishers

Gift Certificate + Groupon Registration

Have a Groupon? Groupons are good for Fishing 1 classes (only). Register your Groupon fishing class using the above pulldown. $1 registration charge – (you will get a free fishing tool for the registration cost.). Save 30% on your Fishing 1 class. Note this is a 2-class series. You will need to purchase Fishing 23 (a double session) separately and they can be taken at any time. Discounts for 2nd class (Fishing 23) are applied for multiple fishers in the cart automatically. For larger groups-please email or text 630.235.2162 for assistance.

What you need for fishing classes. Camera or phone camera. A drink. That’s it. We provide everything you need for classes. Classes are good for beginners, experienced anglers and families including kids 6 and up.

Fishing F1 – AM September 20th – 8 AM

This fishing class is for beginners to expert-level anglers. It is an introduction and the first of a two-part class. Our fishing class – F1 will be held at 8 AM sharp on September 20th. This is the first class F1 – The second class is a double class and will finalize your lessons. This will be F23. F23 is coming up. F23 class is offered September 26th

When we meet, know that our class will be held at the rock circle and there will be a smaller class – we will allow enough space for everyone to comfortably gather without worries. Outdoor activities are essential – let’s re-gather when we are all clear and free of worry about this virus. I will miss you until then. The class will be limited to 10 people regardless of what phase we are in. THIS CLASS IS HELD IN DOWNERS GROVE – PATRIOT’S PARK (Barth Pond).

In this class you will learn about fishing poles, fishing rods, the rigs, floats, bite indicators and live baits. The first class gives you examples of good tackle and bad tackle (the kind you find hanging from most stores!). Bad fishing is NOT your fault. The stores are packed with fishing gear that does not catch fish locally OR ON VACATION. I will teach you how to catch many more and larger fish in just 2 sessions.

You may purchase a class to reserve it and place this in your notes. We will meet : 8:00 AM. – F1 Class. (class one of the two-part series). Note we will have a two-class day (long day though on September 26th.) F23 is at 10:30.

Students must reserve a spot using our class registration. Discounts given for purchasing 3 or more class passes. Add a note at Checkout for which class slot you prefer – note you can change times, with some sort of communication.

Purchase a single fishing class here – tax is included in the price for single classes.


Save 20% by purchasing multiple classes – 3 or more at a time.
Want to register several people – OR – register for all 3 classes? You can register for classes F23 coming up.

Purchase multiple fishing classes at a discount here – tax is included in the price for single classes. Discount is calculated on multiples of 3 or more. Have a large group? Call for large family or large group booking discounts. (Or Book a Private Lesson)

Select Your Fishers

Gift Certificate + Purchased Groupon Registration

Have a Groupon? Groupons are good for Fishing 1 classes (only). Register your Groupon fishing class using the above pulldown. $1 registration charge – (you will get a free fishing tool for the registration cost.). Save 30% on your Fishing 1 class. Note this is a 2-class series. You will need to purchase Fishing 23 (a double session) separately and they can be taken at any time.

REGISTER YOUR GROUPON – OR Gift Certificate Here:

What you need for fishing classes. Camera or phone camera. A drink. That’s it. We provide everything you need for classes. Classes are good for beginners, experienced anglers and families including kids 6 and up.

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