Proposed ban of lead sinkers in Illinois

I put this in the Illinois forum, and thought I would link it here because of the impact to the catfishing guys…

with all the other issues in our state (budget shortfalls, impeached govenors, struggling economy) I can’t believe our legislators are focused on this issue. I can only imagine what a royal pain this would be to retailers, and fishermen. If we all have to recycle our lead, who’s giving credit for all the cost?

Link

Here’s a direct link to the bill as well

Link 2

Shawn

ps At least we can legally fish more than one rod…even if it’s white! Maybe that ban is coming next…

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) Effective and comparably-priced alternatives to lead sinkers and lead jigs exist

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I would like to know just what that alternative is!!! Here we go again!

I was hoping Jeff would jump in here. Jeff it might help if you lent some of your vast knowledge of this topic to help the IL folks.

It’s not just the 1oz plus sinkers that ARE NOT the issue. Personally I think it’s the alternate forms of sinker people that are putting crap in the these politicians ears.

I know last year there was an “ad” in the MN Fishing rule about the bad effects of lead in our water.

I have been investigating this since I heard about it last week. The bill itself is scary, but the senator that introduced it is scarier. She wasn’t elected, she was appointed late last year. If you read all the legislation she has proposed since her appointment, I think you will realize she is a whack job from Chicago.

At dinner Saturday night, I happened to sit next to my state representative, Bob Pritchard, and had a very nice conversation. We never spoke of legislation until near the end of our conversation. I apologized and told him I needed to “talk shop.” He was very surprised to hear about this bill. It was just presented and sent to committee last week.

I encourage everyone to contact your senator and representative to do what you can to stop this.

-Jeff

I own a casting and painting operation here in MN. I can tell you there are no cheap alternatives. Lead in a normal market can be purchased for $.50-.60 a lb that being new lead mixed to the needed formula. Bismuth on the other hand, which is the next closest alternative for centrifical casting, is in the area of $8.00-9.00 a lb. The consumer would be the one taking the brunt of this one. I have done several non-tox jobs for people and believe me, the price goes up dramatically. Scott

I was even tempted to contact the senator who authored this as well… not my district but just to give my $0.02. We’re talking about struggling folks and the need to stimulate the economy and this type of legislation would do just the opposite. And of course, it’s unnecessary. Some “educated” people believe any scientific study if it supports their own personal agenda.

Shawn

If you read lower it seems to just specify sinker up to 1 oz. Am I reading that right?

I see what you mean, the text below. This “contains one ounce or less” wording is somewhat ambiguous. A two ounce sinker does contain 1 ounce or less…if they wanted to be clear they would say up to one ounce. Ivy league lawyer types, go figure.

Definitions For the purposes of this Act, the
terms below are defined as follows:

“Lead jig” means any lead weighted fishing hook that
measures less than 1.5 inches along its longest axis and that contains one ounce of lead or less.

“Lead sinker” means any device that is designed to be
attached to fishing line for the purpose of sinking the line, and that contains one ounce of lead or less.

It doesn’t really matter…once they get their foot in the door, all lead will be banned. It’s just a matter of time.

Can hunters use lead shot anywhere anymore?

There really is not a price comparative alternative to lead. As mentioned before there are some other metals out there but the price is outrageous. I too have done many projects using this alternative material but the question becomes do you want to pay what will be charged for these items ?

I have sat on several of these discussion committees regarding this now and some of the things they are coming up with are just outrageous. Pretty soon they will expect all hunters to use Styrofoam bullets and the fisherman to use plastic hooks and rocks for sinkers. Then they will complain that there is to much of that in the waters and woods as well.

PETA has been one of the biggest behind the scene pushes for these bills and in my opinion that pretty much says a lot right there. Personally I feel that better education and equipment has led to a lot less jigs and sinkers being lost. I have read many many autopsy reports that indicate that a dead bird could have, may have and could possibly have died from ingesting a lead fishing jig. Studies have shown that more birds die as a result of fishing line then lead sinkers.

As sportsman we want to protect our wildlife. A true sportsman will not intentionally lose tackle or throw line in the water. So by educating people as to not doing any intentional harm would make a lot more sense then adding a ban like that suggested.

Thats a good point…sinkers don’t purposely get lost in the river. Unlike lead shot.

I’m not 100% on this Brian, but I think lead shot is permitted for hunting in IL except for waterfowl where a national ban exists. They do encourage the use of other shot for doves, etc.

Shawn

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Studies have shown that more birds die as a result of fishing line then lead sinkers.

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Way to go, now that you said that it is the next to be banned!

I don’t like to see needless suffering of animals and I am as big of a nature boy as you will find, but let’s ban lead to save a few birds from dieing of lead poisoning?

11 (b) A review of the available scientific literature

12 indicates that lead sinkers and lead jigs pose a significant

13 hazard to water birds that accidentally ingest them; Natural selection. Let it run it’s course and you won’t have ducks dumb enough to eat it.

14 (c) Lead is a toxic metal known to cause many health

15 problems in water birds, including an increasing

16 susceptibility to disease, predation, and infection. A single

17 lead sinker can cause the death of a water bird within two

18 weeks;Same result from 1 lead pellet to the brain, just slower.

19 (d) Lead has been linked to human health problems,

20 including brain damage, mental retardation, behavior problems,

21 anemia, liver and kidney damage, hearing loss, hyperactivity,

22 developmental delays, other physical and mental problems, and,

23 in extreme cases, death. Lower IQ scores, slower development,Again natural selection. Don’t let your toddler pick through the muck and mud at a fishing spot. Don’t let your child eat sinkers and jigs. I don’t know, take them to a beach or something?

SB1269 – 2 – LRB096 08690 JDS 18820 b

1 and more attention problems have been observed in children

2 exposed to lead;

3 (e) Lead sinkers are small and easily swallowed, and they

4 pose a toxic hazard to children. Furthermore, many anglers make

5 their own sinkers or make sinkers in their home for sale to

6 others. If proper precautions are not taken, lead vapors and

7 dust can impact anyone within the household; and

8 (f) Effective and comparably-priced alternatives to lead

9 sinkers and lead jigs exist, and it would be irresponsible to

10 continue to allow the use of toxic products and the deposition

11 of those products in our waters. I don’t know how I live without a government agent by my side 24/7.

I guess I read it a sinkers above 1 oz are ok. But either way this is a stupid idea.

word is the ban is being put aside for a “lead awareness” initiative. Good news for now, but we should keep a watchful eye.

Shawn

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“lead awareness” initiative

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all I can say is…