What Do You Think About The Ban On Lead In Fishing

[ROWINGADUBAY]

I think it sucks I just read an article that they want to ban lead in wisconsin because of the damage it causes to birds most of these birds are migratory birds and fly south for the winter I believe a state by state ban is a bunch of B.S.

The sick bird in the picture could have ate a sinker anywhere from canada to mexico

What is next no more fishing line because some left a bunch on the shore and it killed a seagull ?

What do you guys think about this topic ?

[toadfrog]

I think it sucks I just read an article that they want to ban lead in wisconsin because of the damage it causes to birds most of these birds are migratory birds and fly south for the winter I believe a state by state ban is a bunch of B.S.

The sick bird in the picture could have ate a sinker anywhere from canada to mexico

What is next no more fishing line because some left a bunch on the shore and it killed a seagull ?

What do you guys think about this topic ?

YEA IT SUCKS

Anytime any goverment bans something they plan on making money on it or its some kind of controll issue. I might not like what some Americans do but I'll fight for the moral right and your freedom to do it.

[SNAGMAN]

This is definately a hot button topic for sure...Here in Ontario at all Provincial Run/Operated Parks & Bodies of water they are lead free areas and are monitored pretty heavy. I remember a few years back when New York State did their ban on lead fishing products and ended up with some compromise by limiting the ban to lure/lead sizes. Everyone thought it would be the down fall of fishing in New York State and they still hold tournies and fishing continues. So who knows what will happen State by State...but I do know this for fact organizations like PETA and there are definately a few more that has great influences in all of our Dept of Natural Resources as well as in the different Fisheries around North America.

Want to know how strong an influence these groups have within our governments decisions read about the Cormorant Culls held on the Great Lakes from Ontario to Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Pennsylvania & New York.

Look up the different stories of boat launch sites and ramps sabotaged with nails/screws and protesters trying to block ramps etc.

I don't believe the governments have anything to gain with the bans but individuals within the governments gain a lot with contributions to their political coffers.

I have field tested and still do field test for a company that makes "lead-free" in-line spinners and spinnerbaits and they are fairly successful with their endeavors.

Out in Western Canada there is a barbless hook law as well as in some areas multiple hooks ie trebles are not allowed....so don't think this subject is just an American Issue its covering North America as a whole.

I don't condone big government and micro-controlling governments but as we see things today its here and not getting any better.

Willis "SNAGMAN" Beam

Independent Field Tester

[woodieb8]

If they banned lead, there would be no one left in congress. theres so much lead in their butts.. as stated migratory birds do just that. . from south america all the way to the artic. gill nets kill many more waterbirds then lead.when ducks migrate in the fall the gillnets in the great lakes are filled with diver ducks, loons,. this is peta in action folks. stand up for your rights.

[sammy01007]

I hear what you all are saying, when MA bans lead next year, I will need to replace a huge section of my tackle box. One problem is that I have not seen many replacement lures. Most of the jigs and spinnerbaits sold in the stores still contain lead. I bought some tungston jig heads for fishing Quabin, lead is already ban there. I almost fell over when I saw the price. I am not a big spinnerbait user, but I love bouncing the bottom with my large salty plastic grubs. And I am always loosing baits to cover on the bottom.

However, I have to side a little bit with the environmentalists. I find it sad when I want to my favorite fishing hole, and find broken glass, old fishing line, empty lure packages and other forms of trash. If lead TRULY is haveing a significant negative impact on our wildlife, I will be the first in line to make the switch. It is our planet and I want to be able to pass great fishing experiences onto the next generation. Part of those experiences is to be able to wittness nature at its finest. Fishing is not only a great way to go out and interact with nature, but also sit back and enjoy it.

[Lance]

I can only relate to my own experience in this matter. I live on a 15000 acre impoundment which is 47 years old. It is relatively near the largest city in the state so it gets a huge amount of fishing presure and boat traffic. I have wondered at times how much lead is in the lake and I know it must be in the tons. The lake stills produces good fishing each year and the government has completed multiple studies of the fish in the lake to determine if the fish are safe to eat. The only pollution the government has determined that affects the consumability of the fish comes from an industrial plant that pollutes one of the feeder creeks. I would be willing to bet the gas and oil that leaks into the lake from power boats and jet skies pollutes the water much mroe than lead not to mention the overflowing septic tanks when it comes a good flood. Always has seemed strange to me that people often won't eat fish from this lake yet have no problem eating the "farm raised" talapia from China they buy at wally world. Fact of the matter is in my opinion until we get a grip on the exponential overpopulation of this nation the eventual ruining of the environment is inevitable. So I say no to the lead ban.

[Smallie]

I think it sucks I just read an article that they want to ban lead in wisconsin because of the damage it causes to birds most of these birds are migratory birds and fly south for the winter I believe a state by state ban is a bunch of B.S.

The sick bird in the picture could have ate a sinker anywhere from canada to mexico

What is next no more fishing line because some left a bunch on the shore and it killed a seagull ?

What do you guys think about this topic ?

I live in New Hampshire and our lead ban was spearheaded by the Loon Preservation Committee. They claim that the loon population has been severely hurt by loons eating lead fishing weights. I can see how a split shot could be swallowed but the pictures they circulated of an x-rayed bird with a jig head in its throat doesn't seem possible. I think that picture was a staged fake to get the sympathy and support of the gullible.

The law does not ban lead 100%. Jigs over 1 inch long are still legal and lead weights over 1 ounce can be used too so I have to admit there was some thought behind the ban. But, in addition to the ban, they also rope off loon nesting areas which prevents fishermen from fishing, in some cases, prime fishing spots. They also patrol the lakes and tell you to get away from areas not roped off because a loon is nesting in the area. I find this to be a form of sportsman harassment. Especially when they don't mind of a non-fisherman comes close to the bird to snap some pictures.

What do I think of the ban? It was an un-necessary law put in place by a group of self serving people want to force their views on the rest of the lake users. The substitute materials are very expensive, especially when you need a weight that is not twice the size of the lead weight you are substituting and have to use tungsten. If I want to split shot in the rocks, I can lose 5 dollars worth of tungsten in an hour instead of 15 cents worth of lead. This is more than slightly more expensive that the anti-lead brochures stated.

Here is a cut and past from the brochure.

Use inexpensive and ecologically sound

alternatives to lead fishing weights. Sinkers and

jigs made from non-toxic materials, including

steel, tin, brass, tungsten and bismuth, are

widely available.

Obviously, they played to the sympathies of the uniformed who naturally would think if the substitutes are inexpensive, why not support this. That is how all the special interest laws like this lead ban and the lake speed limits get passed. Oh, and don't forget the limits on how many trailer spots in a boat launch can be taken up by bass boats and at a few launches, no tournament starts before 8am. I guess I shouldn't be negative because it is, after all, their lake.

Oops, I am getting sarcastic so I will get off my soapbox.

[Fatman]

When they first proposed the Ban I lived in NY and I wrote in on the public comment period, and was against it. Have since moved to Vermont and it's just as bad here.

Sinkers 1/2 or above can be lead, jigs can be lead, lures can have lead as well as flies and lead core fishing line. Split shot have to be non-lead.

Most of the data came from Loon Deaths in Minnisota and New Hampshire. Well when you get copies of the data NETS all kinds and pollution kill more waterfowl than lead ever will. Lead seeps naturally in the ground so quit blaming everything on the lead fishing tackle.

Part of me thinks Big tackle companies are part of this (in the background, of course) cause the more we have to buy from them the less we'll make!!!

A few of us in Vermont took lake water and had it tested, put two unpainted jig heads in one bottle and 2 powder painted jig heads in another bottle. Had em tested before and after, There was already a very low concentration of lead in the water and the jigs in both bottles didnt' change the levels at all.

Make sure to go to the meetings and repley if give a public comment period. The costs of changing materials, I'd like to know how they figured $40+ a year more for non-lead, buying materials that will melt in my lead pot cost way more.

Fatman

Fatman

[Ric670]

Personally i think the ban on lead is a lot of BS. I fancy myself a patriot but lately this government has only provided me with more questions than solutions. The government is getting waaay too big....i would consider myself moderate and am upset with the way the government wants to control every aspect of our lives. (This is a sensitive topic...but m venting) .....from controlling fishing waters to diet police i believe its gotten out of control. Really? U wanna control what i eat? If i want to go to Micky D's and order a big mac with a milk shake and wash it down with french fry frier oil....then so be it.

The lead ban is just another issue to stack on top of all the others. This election year promises to be very interesting and hopefully we can move some of the dead weight in Washington. ooooo my wife just brought home some pizza and wings but dont worry m gonna wash it down with a small diet cola.

[Husky]

I live in New Hampshire and our lead ban was spearheaded by the Loon Preservation Committee. They claim that the loon population has been severely hurt by loons eating lead fishing weights. I can see how a split shot could be swallowed but the pictures they circulated of an x-rayed bird with a jig head in its throat doesn't seem possible. I think that picture was a staged fake to get the sympathy and support of the gullible.

The law does not ban lead 100%. Jigs over 1 inch long are still legal and lead weights over 1 ounce can be used too so I have to admit there was some thought behind the ban. But, in addition to the ban, they also rope off loon nesting areas which prevents fishermen from fishing, in some cases, prime fishing spots. They also patrol the lakes and tell you to get away from areas not roped off because a loon is nesting in the area. I find this to be a form of sportsman harassment. Especially when they don't mind of a non-fisherman comes close to the bird to snap some pictures.

What do I think of the ban? It was an un-necessary law put in place by a group of self serving people want to force their views on the rest of the lake users. The substitute materials are very expensive, especially when you need a weight that is not twice the size of the lead weight you are substituting and have to use tungsten. If I want to split shot in the rocks, I can lose 5 dollars worth of tungsten in an hour instead of 15 cents worth of lead. This is more than slightly more expensive that the anti-lead brochures stated.

Here is a cut and past from the brochure.

Use inexpensive and ecologically sound

alternatives to lead fishing weights. Sinkers and

jigs made from non-toxic materials, including

steel, tin, brass, tungsten and bismuth, are

widely available.

Obviously, they played to the sympathies of the uniformed who naturally would think if the substitutes are inexpensive, why not support this. That is how all the special interest laws like this lead ban and the lake speed limits get passed. Oh, and don't forget the limits on how many trailer spots in a boat launch can be taken up by bass boats and at a few launches, no tournament starts before 8am. I guess I shouldn't be negative because it is, after all, their lake.

Oops, I am getting sarcastic so I will get off my soapbox.

I have to ditto you. NH's lead restriction makes sense. A total ban is just a baseless, agenda driven goal by some group or person who believe they know what's good for everyone, even if they are wrong! Marine birds don't eat sinkers, they generally would eat pellet shot and tiny pieces that they percieve to be grit or food, not 5 oz Canal jigs.

[Kelkay]

I am against a total lead ban. I can see slowly phasing it out over time, if they can come up with affordable products that work as good as lead. Still the materials you have now should be grandfathered in. I have a bunch of lead from spinner blades to lead eyes for Clousers. I have a lot of brass beads and stuff too. Now I hear they may ban that because it has a low percentage of lead mixed in. Well there are 100% brass beads and stuff you can buy. But I don't know how they will be able to test it. I hope they test the newer stuff just as hard as they have the lead. I don't want to find out later after I replace a bunch of stuff that it is just as bad, or worse than lead was.

I have to ditto you. NH's lead restriction makes sense. A total ban is just a baseless, agenda driven goal by some group or person who believe they know what's good for everyone, even if they are wrong! Marine birds don't eat sinkers, they generally would eat pellet shot and tiny pieces that they percieve to be grit or food, not 5 oz Canal jigs.