Belleville dam is the bomb.

[USMCEOD]

Or atleast one hit it, What a joke it disgust me and this pic does not even show the true scale of it.

http://c.imagehost.org/0919/297121137_1009512898_0.jpg

[SPITFIRE]

slobs, lazy slobs!

[Fox]

It's disgusting, but ironic. How many times do we read or hear someone say that they always carry out more trash when there fishing. Seems like we'd have some clean river banks, but that doesn't seem to generally be the case. I guess there's far more "slobs, lazy slobs" (hits the nail on the head.

[Michigander1]

Sad i dont see a trash can in the pic :rant:,Mich

[Fox]

Sad i dont see a trash can in the pic :rant:,Mich

It probably got ripped off or thrown in the river!

[SPITFIRE]

It probably got ripped off or thrown in the river!
more truth to that then you know.

[stelmon]

Did you clean the place up?

[kvrooom]

Do we need a trash can every 50' down every river and stream.
I guess I need one in my front yard, along with a dog waste container and ash tray. I see cops through their cigarettes out the car windows.
Lazy
Apathetic
The Democrat answer would be to elect a new committee to deal with the problem.

[wannabapro]

Last week was waiting in line at customs to get back thru to the US and behind me in her Mercedes SUV, some disgusting woman throws her cigarette butt out of the window. Just as I begin to roll my window down and yell "PIG!" a worker comes up from behind her SUV, bends over, picks up her butt, rubs it on the pavement and hands it back to her thru the window.

It was pretty funny to see the look on her face.

[Fishndude]

Yeah, and you don't want to walk onto the bridge over the river in bare feet, either - there is more broken glass up there than there is in most glass factories. I live in Belleville, and won't fish over there anymore. I have heard lots of stories about vehicles being broken into, as well; and on both sides of the river. FWIW most of the people I see fishing there are not actually from Belleville - I have asked.

I always get a kick out of the people who tell me that they catch Steelhead underneath the railroad bridge in Springtime. There is a gravel hump there, and that is the only place Steelhead spawn in any numbers, so people go down and line any fish that show up. It is kind of sad that such majestic fish have to fight their way up through that stinking river, to spawn on broken up concrete, and someone then lines them for their efforts. I have probably fished the area for a couple 100 yards down from the dam 20 times, when there definitely were Steelhead in (I saw some rolling and a few jumping at the dam), and have never had a bite of any sort.
I also crack up watching the folks who are leaving all those bait containers use a long handled net to land little crappies - usually 5" long, and keep them.:lol: Not my kind of place to fish, ever again.

About 15 years ago I was fishing down there in Spring, and heard a loud commotion, and some nut in a jeep came barrelling down the side of the dike that forms the earthen part of the dam. I thought for sure he was going to crash right through the retaining wall and into the river, but he swerved and stopped. He couldn't make it back up the hill, and when I left he was asking people if they would be able to pull him out with their trucks and some rope. Nobody was offering.

You literally could go down there every other day, and clean it all up; and people would just throw their garbage around again and litter it up in another day. They are just slobs. It is best to let the slobs fish in the litter they help create. That is how they like to live. Imagine what their houses must look like. :yikes:

[USMCEOD]

Thats the thing , I always take a grocery bag with me and clean up my area as I did tonight below the haggerty bridge which was just as bad. But actually belleville dam and around is the worst type of fishing one could do. Its not to much fun watching people keep everything they catch then there complaining nothings biting when all the yound stock is being removed.

You would seriously need about 20 contractor bags to pick up about half of the trash that is down there now. I mean for kids sake there are bunches of kids toys down there.

Then what did I see tonight fishing the haggerty bridge? Well not the trash that was down there which was just as bad but I saw all the trash going downstream.

I saw a 2X4, pop bottles, leach containers, worm containers, fresh dorito bag that I know someone threw off cause it was super fresh. Its sad.

[fishinthed]

Yeah, it's outright sickening. :rant:

Last time I was there I cleaned up a bit and left the trash bag for others to use.

But given slobs like that, if we were to leave a few large plastic trash cans and some bags of liners, they would probably soon be stolen. EEdiots!

[dobes]

I agree, I hate seeing the trash laying around also. As for the steelhead fishing comment, I have to disagree. I see no problem with someone going down there to try to catch a fish that is running up the river. Whether the fish are spawning a or not everyone has a right to catch them and trustme, those steel dont just hang in the gravel area, I know that for a fact. I personnaly know that there is not people lining them down there trying to get them and that there is plenty of fish that run that area and for someone to take a limit without affecting the population. Every fish I have or have seen taken down there have been on legit techniques by people who have the skill and knowledge to hook them legally. I also know that just like you not many people can pull a steelie from that area so it dont matter how many go down there only a few with the skills necessary will even hook a steel let alone land it. I personnaly do well for whatever species I target down there and have never seen a dent in the population or ammount of fish I catch. So with my knowledge and expierience with that area I would have to say you are way, way off with your comment. As far as the trash problem goes, I definitly agree.

[Shoeman]

A prime example for a substancial deposit on bait containers

50-75 cents should do the trick

[USMCEOD]

Shoeman thats a great Idea, They really should impose something like that. Maybe if we setup a swap meet or a titty bar down the street they wont even go there to fish.

[Gina Fox]

wow that is a shame, my husband used to live in Belleville and we used to go to that little lake and explore all around that area on our zodiac a few years back...it used to be really clean.

We have a place in Northern Michigan, there is a public access...on about 1/4 of the little lake we are on. We regularly go there and along the shoreline to clean up after the locals...those blue plastic worm containers and disposable diapers are a big part of the trash we pick up. Seems strange to me that people who take the time to enjoy the outdoors really don't respect it that much. Finally the DNR put a trash receptacle out there and it cut down the garbage a little, but you would need one every 50 feet since people are lazy... I agree that a deposit on the unsquashed/undamaged containers would be a good thing!

[Shoeman]

Squashed or not...

Let the guys selling worms dispose of them. It's not like they'll be reused. Simply to reduce the litter on our waterways

[DaveW731]

I am going to be in Belleville for business in a couple weeks, was thinking of tossing in the waders and trying to fish below the dam. Guess I'll look elsewhere:sad:

[MAttt]

Been that way as long as I can remember and have picked up my
share from time to time.
The only way to solve it imo is to have the township maintain it with
garbage cans, but that will never happen.

Now the park, on the opposite side of the dam is really nice nowadays
along with the attached metropark down the street.
At this point, I avoid the dam due to this and enjoy my time
on the other parts of the Huron which is still a beautiful river.

Mattt

[Rifleman99]

Does anyone know if that is the cities property, or does it fall in Van Buren Twp?

[gunrod]

Nothing new for that area. Unfortunately it's a party spot for the locals. Also watch out for your car tires/radio if you park down there after dark.

[sullyxlh]

...or does it fall in Van Buren Twp?
Belleville fell into the ghetto awhile ago.....

[bobcolenso]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237436

[oxender]

You are forgetting about the dead pitbulls people dump there. I am from Belleville and we call that stretch of river "The Sewer". Most of the people leaving the trash there are not outdoorsman. Those of you who have fished there know exactly what I mean.

[dobes]

Oh yeah, I know what you mean. I know it can look dumpy and have rotting smelling dead pit bulls. But it is still a good fishery. I think if everyone that goes down does just a little to pick up, it will make a big difference.

[USMCEOD]

WEll the city needs to get involved thats the only way there gonna clean it up. When I went I saw to Sheriff officers in there SUV just chilling out at Sandys Marina Im sure they could take a walk down there and let there presence be known.

[Rifleman99]

Belleville fell into the ghetto awhile ago.....

:hide:

So what office do we bombard calls and complaints to... I really thought that was apart of Van buren TWP

[Fishndude]

Belleville is a nice, pretty quiet, little town. The "park" on the west side of the river, right at the dam is in Van Buren township. The people who are down there fishing, littering, and dumping dead pitbulls (that is a new one on me, but I don't really go down there anymore) are not from Belleville, for the most part. I hate to sound like I think in stereotypes, but the cities those people come from pretty much look like that place - weird, must be the people, eh? They are filled with trash strewn everywhere, and nobody seems to care. I cannot imagine why the people of Belleville would want to spend any time or money to try to keep that place clean, since it just gets filled with trash again, right away. When I first moved to Belleville, about 20 years ago, I fished down there some. I would always pack out a bag or two of trash, but there was always just as much whenever I returned - which was sometimes within a day or two. I got disgusted, and quit working at it. Now I don't have any reason to go down there - there are always better options for me.

[USMCEOD]

Ya well I bet the DNR would have a field day down there wrighting tickets for no licenses. Along with the illegal taking of 1. Fish out of season and 2. Undersized fish.

I just called Belleville city hall and the land that is fished from is Van Buren Twp land. Which partly explains why nothing is done with the resources this twp has.

[stinger63]

Which partly explains why nothing is done with the resources this twp has.


Or lack of.

Thats too bad that the area gets trashed,Why in the world to people dump dead pitbulls there?The reminents of dog fights?

[USMCEOD]

Ya and I've seen it for myself, there was one dog up there rotting for like 2 weeks before it disappeared. And today fishing the bridge on Haggerty I watched a guy on the other side catch a plastic bag by accident. Did he take it with him when he left? Nope what a poor excuse for a human.

[Zib]

Wow! It's been 15 years since I last fished there & it didn't have nearly that much trash laying around. Damn slobs shouldn't be allowed to fish the rest of their lives.

[USMCEOD]

From 15 years ago I think just about everything on Mother Earth has changed. It really sucks to see fishing go downhill

[johnobub]

When I fish there I ignor the garbage and try to catch something. It's the closest fishing spot to my house but I hate to see the litter also. I only go there because it's close to where I live and I won't spend a lot on gas to do some fishn.....hey, may we clean it up or what's the problemo?
Good luck fishn.

John

[Ranger Ray]

A prime example for a substancial deposit on bait containers

50-75 cents should do the trick
Best idea I have heard in a long time.

[stinger63]

Have you guys seen the thread montauk monster,does that look like one of the dead bloating dog below Bellville Dam?

[johnobub]

I have seen the thread montauk monster and have not seen the dead dogs at bellville. The montauk monster appears to be a dead coon IMO..

[Vicious Fishous]

Wow,
What a lack of respect for everything. Fishing is a wonderful privlage we have in this country, and it's overly abused. If there were more CO's out there patrolling/ticketing the state could make a killing. On the other hand, I bet half the people who would get busted couldn't even pay the fines. I wish our judicial system were tougher. I know that might sound out of place, But what the hell are petty fines, and a cushy prison system teaching these criminals? How to be better criminals!!! Seeing the litter, cars being broken into, animal carcasses being left, fishing licenses optional(all at a fishing spot) makes me sicker than sick. we need to cut the welfare, pass out birth control, and educate, or exterminate.(not in that order) What wastes of human beings.

Some one posted something abouta dude keeping a 5" crappie, that's not fishing, that's survival. If they didn't keep everything they caught big or small, they might starve, sad but true.

Besides good sportspeople cleaning other people's crap up, what can be logically done? I love that deposit on the bait idea. But what about all the wrappers/packages lures come in, that's the other half of the trash. All these packages ought to be highly biodegradeble, lure companies should know that not every fisherman is a dork like me, and preps everything at home before going out.

We could use Fishers Education, like driving school or hunters safety(both of which you need to participate and hold a license). Might sound lame but if you can teach someone the proper ethics and respect for everything pertaining to fishing the first time, then hope it gets passed down the line to the youth, things might not be so bad. We have the money. Just cut a couple grand per inmate in the pokey(do they really deserve it?) We'd have a start up for the classes and we might even get some habitat restoration out of it so we don't have to follow hatchery trucks around. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Sorry for the rant. But when I saw that pic, I was like the old indian man walking down the side of the road when the trash got thrown out of the car, a freakin' tear.
Pick it up and pack it out,
PETE

[dobes]

Cut welfare, pass out birth control? Now your being stereotypical. I'm sure its not just people on welfare littering. I've seen whites, blacks, asians and all other races fishing down there that leave trash. They drive nice vehicles and dont look like scumbags. Its all walks of life doin it, dont get me wrong, I hate all the trash but dont pinpoint one group of people. It sounds like you need to hit the sound off forum with all you have to say.

[Vicious Fishous]

Yeah Dobes, maybe I was a little harsh. And sorry if I offened, that was the edited version. I obviously wouldn't make it far in politics;). But I see the same crap and crappy people in my area, and rich, poor or whatever it is a sick lack of education/respect. And sadly it seems that common sense is completely unteachable and getting less and less "common". And I can't help but notice our govt. seems to cater to some of these cats with paychecks instead of requiring any applied knowledge. I mean come on, most of these "adults" littering should know better, shouldn't they? Or Maybe they have thought this through deeply, and came to the outright conclusion that eventually, someone else will pick it up. Brainiacs as far as I'm concerned. If you haven't seen the movie Idiocracy, watch it. It's scary cause it's true.
That is all, I guess back to fishing/cleaning up after others.
Such is life,
PETE

[Carpman]

Its real bad down there, the only thing you wont see is bottles as they take them home for the deposit on them, I cant see why they cant take it all home with them.

[Team Spawn Bag]

I have fished there for the last few years. The mess seems to get worse each year. I have not been down there in a few weeks so I have not seen the dog(s). What is really sad, is the fact that the river looks just as bad as the surface in the photo. I see junk float by all the time. I don't understand what is so hard about carrying out what you brought in. The people responsible for the mess in the photo give ALL fisherman a bad reputation. :(

[sullyxlh]

Cut welfare, pass out birth control? Now your being stereotypical. I'm sure its not just people on welfare littering. I've seen whites, blacks, asians and all other races fishing down there that leave trash. They drive nice vehicles and dont look like scumbags. Its all walks of life doin it, dont get me wrong, I hate all the trash but dont pinpoint one group of people. It sounds like you need to hit the sound off forum with all you have to say.
It is one group of people,
it's the Ghetto crowd
The ghetto has no color barrier as anyone can join,
Their all trash,
Drive through any ghetto in any town and it looks like the area in question.
It doesn't take long for the ghetto to leave their mark once they move in to new territory.

[dobes]

It is one group of people,
it's the Ghetto crowd
The ghetto has no color barrier as anyone can join,
Their all trash,
Drive through any ghetto in any town and it looks like the area in question.
It doesn't take long for the ghetto to leave their mark once they move in to new territory.


Once again, your off on this comment. I'm sure some ghetto losers are trashin the place but its also all other walks of life. And who are you to judge people who live in the ghetto? Hey, I grew up in an area that can be known as ghetto livin and me and all my friends and family were far from trash. Alot of it was having single parents who could not afford to live anywhere else, this does not classify anyone as a loser. So calling all these folks trash is a harsh comment and kinda personal to me seeing that I used to be part of this crowd and I was nothing like your stereotypical comment. It just shows how narrow minded and shallow you are. Dont get me wrong, I am not stickin up for anyone but pinpointing is not fair. If you see someone leaving trash than say something to them or do your part to pick some of it up.