2025 Strawberry Reservoir Clean Up recap

Fish For Garbage returned to the shores of Strawberry Reservoir for one of our biggest and most inspiring clean-up events to date. With 282 volunteers showing up ready to make a difference, we were blown away by the turnout and even more so by the results. Together, this incredible group helped remove 5,040 pounds of trash from the shoreline. That’s 2.52 tons of garbage that will no longer pollute this beautiful fishery and recreation destination.

The event kicked off Friday evening with anglers tossing lines into the water for some relaxed fishing, followed by a night under the stars at our group campout. There’s something special about bringing people together through their love of the outdoors, and the camp vibes set the tone for a weekend of purpose and camaraderie.

Saturday morning came early, but the energy was high. Marty Howard and our volunteer team started setting up before sunrise, getting coffee going and cooking up a hearty breakfast for everyone rolling in to help. As the sun rose over the water, volunteers began arriving families, fishing buddies, outdoor enthusiasts, and community members of all ages. Their eagerness to get to work was contagious.

After breakfast, the real action began. Volunteers fanned out across the reservoir with bags and gloves in hand, cleaning everything from tangled fishing line and food wrappers to old tires and forgotten gear. The transformation was incredible.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us. Your effort made a visible, measurable difference and your passion for protecting our wild places is what keeps us going.

A huge thank you also goes out to our title sponsors Fish Tech and Fish Heads for covering the costs of this clean up and many other partners for providing in kind donations as prizes. Your support helped fuel the food, supplies, and coordination efforts that made everything run smoothly.