Perhaps you have heard of Keep It Clean.  It is the organized effort to educate, promote and enforce keeping trash and various forms of waste off of the ice.  A small Minnesota tackle company, Tom’s Tackle, has developed a brand new color of one of their most popular jigging spoons, the Stop Sign, to drive awareness and support the cause.  This proven walleye slayer of a lure has a brand new color and you may have guessed it’s name, “Keep It Clean”.

The Lure

The Keep It Clean color is glow white combined with the green, yellow and blue logo.  Developers of this lure believe it will be a hit for a number of reasons.  The base of the lure is glow white, a perfect color for stained water lakes and night fishing on any lake.   The Keep It Clean logo which is on top of the glow is green, yellow and blue, mimicking the colors of both perch and small bluegills, a natural forage in many bodies of water. 

Want to purchase some of the Stop Sign jigging spoons in the new Keep It Clean color?  Simply order from their website or check them out at a retailer, typically in northern Minnesota, who carries Tom’s Tackle products.  The lure sells for $5.99.

Click Here to order the new “Keep It Clean” Stop Sign Jigging Spoon.

Interested in carrying the new Stop Sign color in your bait shop or store?  Simply contact Tom’s Tackle at tomstackleinc@gmail.com.

Tom’s Tackle Wanted to Help

Todd and Sharon May, owners of Tom’s Tackle, wanted to do their part in not only getting the word out, but also enabling the program to receive some revenues to keep the messaging and promotion of this noteworthy cause moving along.  20% of the profits of this lure will go toward funding the effort of the Keep It Clean group in ultimately curbing the amount of garbage and waste that ends up polluting our waterways for ice fishing, snowmobiling and other winter outdoor activities on our lakes and rivers.

Things are Moving Fast

The Keep It Clean effort initially started in the Lake of the Woods area about 10 years ago.  In the past year, other areas have joined the movement in the effort to keep trash and waste off of the ice on our valuable lakes and rivers.  Currently, Upper and Lower Red Lake, Mille Lacs, Lake Vermilion and the Fairmont Chain of Lakes have come together for a common effort.

The Keep It Clean organization is welcoming new destinations, lake associations, soil and water districts, and other organizations who have a vested interest in changing behaviors regarding garbage and waste left on the ice.  There is no cost to join.  There is, however, an agreement that must be signed and approved by the group agreeing to guidelines set to maintain structure, branding and integrity of the program.

Once approved, use of the Keep It Clean logo, already developed messaging and signage is available.  In addition, leaders are invited to join other Keep It Clean leaders in moving things forward.

For more information on how to join Keep It Clean for your area or body of water, contact Joe Henry at KeepItCleanMN@gmail.com.

Ron Schara and MN-FISH Assist with Video

Having an icon in the outdoor industry backup your program by helping out with a video is a great testament to the Keep It Clean cause.  This video will be featured during seminars at this year’s St. Paul Ice Fishing Show December 2-4, 2022.

The Keep It Clean group emphasizes five ideas to keep trash and waste off of the ice.

1.  Make a plan for trash and waste removal before you arrive. Whether you access the ice from a public or private entrance, plan to take off of the ice what you take on to it. Many access points and resorts offer garbage collection services. If your site doesn’t, make a plan to transport it home for disposal.
2.  Use colored garbage bags. In snowy conditions, white trash bags can be difficult to see. Brightly colored bags or black bags are easier to spot making it less likely trash will inadvertently be left behind.
3.  Keep garbage and human waste off the ice and store it in your vehicle, trailer or fish house. Make sure it’s secure before traveling so that it doesn’t blow out of truck beds or off trailers and sleds.
4. Check for trash before departing. Make sure that you have picked up any garbage in your area. And if you notice someone else has left something behind, please take a moment to pick it up and bring it with you.
5.  Allow time and bring the tools you need to move or remove your fish house. Take support blocks, insulation, landscaping fabric, wood and other materials with you and properly dispose of them.

It takes all of us working together to Keep It Clean! Thank you for doing your part to ensure the health of our lakes, rivers, fisheries and watershed areas.

 

Learn more about Keep It Clean

Info about Lake of the Woods

Lodging and Fish House Rentals