Leave No Trace was built for hikers and campers. But the principles apply on the water just as much as on the trail — and most anglers are only halfway there.
You pack out your lunch. You don't carve your name in a tree. But fishing line? That's where the habit breaks down for a lot of people. Here's how to apply Leave No Trace thinking to every trip on the water.
1. Pack Out What You Pack In — Including Your Line
This is the core principle, and it applies directly to fishing. Every piece of leader, tippet, or monofilament you cut belongs in your pocket — not on the bank, not in the water, not tangled in streamside vegetation.
The Leader Eater Mini makes this automatic. It clips to your vest or waders and gives every snipped piece of line a home, right at the moment you cut it. No fumbling, no forgetting.
2. Minimize Impact on Streambanks
Wade with purpose. Streambanks and riparian vegetation are fragile ecosystems — the insects that hatch from that vegetation feed the fish you're chasing. Stay in the water where possible, and step on rocks rather than soft substrate when you must exit.
3. Handle Fish Properly
Wet your hands before handling any fish. Keep them in the water as much as possible. Barbless hooks make release faster and less traumatic. A fish handled well lives to be caught again — and to reproduce.
4. Respect Other Anglers and Wildlife
Give other anglers space. Don't crowd a productive run. Give wildlife — herons, ospreys, otters — a wide berth. They're fishing too, and they were there first.
5. Leave It Better Than You Found It
This is where conservation anglers separate themselves. Spend 60 seconds at the end of each session scanning your immediate area for discarded line — not just your own. Pick up what you find. Carry a small pair of scissors and coil any line you collect.
The Leader Eater Max is built for exactly this kind of cleanup. It handles larger volumes and fits any cup holder on a drift boat or kayak — so you can collect as you go, all day long.
The Angler's Creed
We fish because we love wild water. The best thing we can do for the sport is protect the resource that makes it possible. Leave No Trace isn't a burden — it's a standard. And it starts with one piece of line at a time.
Get set up right with the Pack Out More Kit — Mini and Max together, for every situation on the water.
