Mesh Little Bag

[Komoroski]

Where can I get a mesh litter bag, preferably for free?

[Cowper]

Best answer depends on where you live and/or work.

For bags with summary of the law printed on it
Conway area -- from me or debo
Little Rock area - Doug Webber has a supply (send pm to we66erno1 or me for contact info)
Benton area - Jim Krugger. (If u hurry he will be at rockport today; see his post)
Russellville - AGFC stream team coordinator (probably true for other areas of state too)

I will bring some to rendezvous, but may run out.

I can bring some to ualr pool sessions wed evenings or most other central chapter events with a little advance notice.

Many outfitters like saline river canoe have them cheap; maybe $1 per bag.

Remember mesh bags are nice but not the only option; from the law:

(B)(i) Carry and affix to the vessel a trash container or bag suitable for containing his or her refuse, waste, and trash materials and capable of being securely closed. (ii) The trash container or bag shall be either a sturdy container, of a construction similar to a sturdy container, or a bag of mesh construction;

[Jim Krueger]

I will have some today when we float, will be at the Ledge Boatramp about 12:30ish and again around 3:30-4 when we finish the trip. We live in the Benton area and I have more at home you're welcome to most anytime.

Best Regards
jim

[Cowper]

I forgot to add, all of the above options are for getting one or two bags for your own use.

If you're willing to be an anti -litter ambassador and hand out bags to others you see at the put -in, I 'll drive somewhere to meet you and give you a supply.

[rugger]

Those mesh bags that the NRS shoes come make a great trash bag...velcro seal, throw a small D-ring on it to attach to your boat and BINGO...your ready to float

[Owl]

Those mesh bags that the NRS shoes come make a great trash bag...velcro seal, throw a small D-ring on it to attach to your boat and BINGO...your ready to float

That's what I use, too. They're nice for kayaks because of their smaller size.

[Eric Esche]

And for those in NW Arkansas, or floating with me somewhere else like the Buffalo River, I always have a supply of bags in the Pathfinder and will bring extras if you let me know in advance.

If you go on a river clean up, you can usually empty the mesh bags supplied for the clean up in the waste bins at the takeout and then reuse the bags. I sort all the recycleables before I go home, to take them to be recycled, and then keep the bags. If no waste bins, I take them home full to sort later. That's how I have amassed my supply of bags. I now keep a supply on hand of about 100 washed bags ready for use. Mary and I filled another big bag today, our 104th of the year. I find you can get 10-20 uses out of each bag before they get torn up. Add a small caribiner and they do not get lost or blown out of your canoe. They do not weight much, and roll up very small, so I alway carry 3-6 bags with me. Crushing cans and bottles as you find them lets you get more in a bag, whether large or small bags.

If you paddle on the Buffalo River, you can almost always find several mesh bags in the waste bins at the take outs to take home for the next trip. Hose them out when you get home and they are like new and they do not retain odors.

I have also "found" about $100 worth of aluminum cans in the first 6 months of this year to be recycled on cleanups that have paid for several cases of "Fluid Replentishment". I found 45 cans today alone while taking an hour's worth of shore breaks on a day's paddle. Taking home recycleables means less waste for the park service to have to haul off as they do not sort or recycle. Just remember to leave no trace of your "recycleing mining" if you take things out of the bins.

Being in a canoe most of the time and regularly "picking up" on every water trip, what I use the most of and really prefer are the BIG mesh bags, although most of what I give away from the clean-ups are the smaller variety.

Eric Esche

I consider myself very lucky to have a canoe partner who dislikes seeing trash on the rivers and lakes as much as I do. I never balk when she says get something nor does she when I decide to pull over. We both use or shore breaks to patrol the banks. We do not get EVERY single thing we see that should not be there, but if we go there again, we probably will get it. Saw three tires today we did not get due to deep mud, high winds, my shoulder, and a battery fault, but we probably will get them on a future trip. The very nice head ranger for Beaver Lake has an agreement with me that they will recycle any tire I bring in from the lake, rather than waiting on their contracted service for large items.

CONFESSION: I had to get towed back in the last 3 miles today for first time in 44 years when my big marine deep cycle battery died for the trolling motor that I am using while my shoulder heals and I am not allowed to paddle. I had not carried my second battery which was also fully charged and ready. The VERY nice fishermen who towed me back to the landing after Mary asked them would not take a penny when they saw all the trash we had picked up, and THEY thanked me. River karma actually does work. I owe those guys big time and will look for them again. I know I would have been really hurting, although Mary could have paddled back with me in the canoe towing her sea kayak. We had 20+ Kt winds for half the day, enough that I had to carry 10 gallons of water in buckets and 40 pounds of gear up front to handle the chop from the start. Beautiful full sun day and wonderful temperatures. We went all the way up Ventris Hollow from HW 12 and back. Smart charger said I had 30% charge left when I got home, but it wasn't doing it in the winds and currents today for a 30 pound thrust 30 year old Minnekota. Going to get a larger trolling motor and a third battery for dual canoe cleanups, and going to carry at least 2 batteries from now on when I am solo. First time I have ever used more than 30% of the charge on one battery for 4 hours run time at MAX, so now I know not to plan on using more than 50%.

[Shark Attack]

Eric, if you have the opportunity, go ahead and upgrade your trolling motor to a newer one. The newer ones available can go 20-30 hours on full charged medium size deep cycle you can get from Walmart.

BTW good carma to you guys for always going out a picking up on the lake. I'd like to find a group willing to pick up on Lake Conway around HWY 89 and the dam because when people come around to check out the lake, that's where they look and it it usually a mess.

[Cowper]

On trolling motors I'm pretty sure you have to look for one with the digital maximizer (Minn kota 's name) to get those really extended run times. The feature helps most at lower power settings. I've got one and like it, but to make one battery last all day you need to stay around 50 percent power or less most of the time. If you run at 75 or higher then with a 45# thrust motor you're going to drain the battery faster than your old 30# motor did on high speed.

On lake Conway cleanups, pick a day, Debo and I will make every effort to join you!

[Cowper]

Update: Got some more bags from AGFC today.

To the list of places to obtain, add:

Fort Smith Area - Dr. Steve Yaney now has some

Rendezvous - a supply will be available