The Canberra Fisherman's Club is calling for more bins along the territory's waterways to prevent dead fish and other material from endangering wildlife and repelling visitors.
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The group is also concerned about the environmental and polluting effects of the carp virus, a $15 million federal government project that scientists hope will kill 70 to 80 per cent of Canberra's infamous carp after it is released next year.
But the ACT government has rejected the push for more disposal units, while the National Capital Authority "has no ideas" about how the dead carp will be managed.
NCA boss Malcolm Snow vowed to work closely with appropriate authorities to determine how to deal with thousands - possibly millions - of dead carp when they face their expected swift death from cyprinid herpesvirus.
President of the Canberra Fishermans club Glenn Malam says majority of popular fishing spots in Canberra were well-maintained, but some lacked enough rubbish bins for fish and fishing lines.
"We do get complaints that people see fish on the side of the lake," Mr Malam said.
"Most of the [fishing] members would take them home and discard them in their bins, but it would be much easier if there were bins every couple of hundred metres across the foreshore."
But an ACT government spokesperson ruled out following similar initiatives to other state governments aimed at tackling the issue of fishing-related pollution.
The Fishing Line Bin project in Western Australia saw the addition of 50 fishing bins at popular fishing spots help remove more than 23.5 km of fishing line, 4100 hooks and sinkers, 3500 bait bags and hundreds of dead fish from Perth waterways.
The spokesperson said the government decided bin placement based on "high need," which did not include popular fishing spots. They did not provide a breakdown of bin placement in public areas.
"There is an expectation that people using areas where bins are not supplied, regardless of the type of activity, will take their rubbish with them and dispose of it appropriately," an ACT government spokesman said.
While dead fish were a health risk and could spoil the experience for visitors, the spokesperson said it was also important for fisherman to discard of fishing lines and other equipment which can entangle native animals.
Removing the heads or fillet fish while next to a lake or stream, or failing to return undersized, unwanted or protected fish to the water alive, carries maximum penalties of $5000.
Mr Snow said the NCA, which manages Lake Burley Griffin, was open to feedback from the fishing community about how to keep the shores clean. He said it would consider boosting bin numbers if there was a proven need.
But Mr Malam was equally concerned about the scores of dead fish that will surface and start rotting when the carp virus is released into the Murray River.
Not only would they cause a strong and unpleasant stench, but they rot they could suck oxygen from the water and have major effects on other wildlife, including native fish.
"Our members are concerned about who's going to clean up our lake when the virus is released and how is that going to be done effectively," Mr Malam said.
"Once all the carp is gone, they can affect eco-system and you have other species like redfin pop up, which we need to prevent taking hold."
Mr Snow said excess carp was a huge issue for all Australian waterways.
"The NCA has no ideas any ideas on how to deal with it at this stage, but we certainly work closely with appropriate authorities on a national level once the new biological control is introduced."
