Tangle Free Waters: Fishing Line Recycling in Mammoth Lakes

March 03, 2026

The community of Mammoth Lakes takes great pride in its lakes and waterways. Not only do they supply residents with water to drink, cook and clean, but they house one of our most popular residents—fish.

Tangle Free Waters is a program in Mammoth Lakes that helps anglers recycle used fishing line through dedicated collection stations, reducing pollution and protecting local waterways and wildlife.

What Is Tangle Free Waters?

Tangle Free Waters provides education to anglers on how to properly dispose of used, unwanted, or found fishing line through dedicated collection stations placed throughout the Eastern Sierra. These stations are installed and maintained by Mammoth Lakes Recreation with support from sponsors and volunteers. Collected line is recycled into artificial fish habitat, new fishing line, and other materials, helping reduce waste and keep local waters clean.

How to Dispose of Fishing Line in Mammoth Lakes

Properly disposing of fishing line is simple. Use Tangle Free Waters collection stations to drop off used or found line, helping reduce pollution, protect wildlife, and keep Mammoth Lakes waterways clean.

How You Can Help

While enjoying our local waterways while fishing in Mammoth Lakes, always clean up after yourself. We're so grateful for that—and If you can, pick up after others, too. Fishing line often gets tied around shoreline bushes and logs, especially in more remote backcountry fishing areas. It can also get stuck on obstacles below the waterline.

Fishing line can cause quite a tangle if it gets stuck around bushes, logs, and other shoreline and submerged obstacles. Do your best to untangle and retrieve all the fishing line you can and dispose of it at a Tangle Free Waters station.

You can find a map of all the current Tangle Free Waters stations in the Eastern Sierra below.

Volunteer and Sponsorship Opportunities

Want to show your love for Mother Nature’s unreal outdoors? Volunteer with Mammoth Lakes Recreation to service a station and the surrounding waterway. Learn more about volunteering.

If you are short on time but still looking for a way to contribute, consider sponsoring a Tangle Free Waters station. The initial commitment of $499 allows Mammoth Lakes Recreation to construct and install a station. Your adoption includes the station and signage, as well as repairs and all costs to send the recovered line off for recycling. Adoptees who wish to continue the support of their station can do so for the annual rate of $250 per season.

Even if you can’t make a larger commitment, every little bit counts. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining the beauty of this picturesque destination for future generations.

MORE POSTS LIKE THIS

Author
Emily Bryant
More Blog Posts By Emily Bryant