Just something to think about. I found an article this morning in the Winona Daily News talking about organiztions wanting to get the lead out of the Mississippi River. Remember when they did this for duck hunting. A few states all ready doing this, are we next? Could you imagine the kind of impact this would have on the fishing industry? Check out this article.
What would this mean for lead core and if the birds do not have the lead in their sytems when they find them how do they know what is doing this to them. I get a little worried when environmentalists and animal rights people give out “facts”. They really have no idea what is causing this to happen to birds, but this is a fairly easy target. The price of tackle will rise dramatically, just like steel shot for hunting did. If they can prove this is happening then we should take a look at switching to steel, but they really have no proof. You’ll get my sinkers out of my cold dead hands, I’m only kidding, all I am saying is be careful to think that these people actually give out factual information.
labsrule
I believe there are Sinker makers already using alternative methods than lead.( Water Gremlin??)I think may be one.I don’t think they’re any more expensive than the rest.
The only alternative that I have seen was some brass weights. Expensive as all-get-out, as they cannot be cast. They are machined, read that right into dollar signs.
Makes you wonder if environmentalists are investing in ‘alternative technologies’ doesn’t it?
ofcourse not only are they the ones to talk about it, but they will be the ones with the solutions to it to. Take a guess who is going to patent and own that solution as well. The same people that think it is a problem, a few too many greedy people out there taking advantage of people.
It would be interesting to read the actual facts about how and where the birds obtain this lead…. rather than a bold statement that its common knowledge that it happens….
with shotgun lead it kind of made sense… there were millions of pellets out there… but lets face it… there are NOT millions of sinkers out there… (except on the wingdams!)…. but in places where lead is typically lost.. IE.. ROCK… how in the world do the fish and even birds recover it? are fish so hungry for lead that I no longer have to even put plastics or hair on my jigs? If I lay lead out on the end of the duck will I be having to shoe away hoards of hungry loons and eagles??
just HOW does an Eagle or loon choke down a jig anyway?? *OUCH*!!!!!… and who is leaving lead inside of all these fish?… catch the fish… stuff with sinkers… weigh the fish.. then release it?? doesnt it just sink to the bottom and never move again?? man… I just dont know… but this sounds a bit far fetched and absurd…..
I thought this might come when they started stamping the lures containing lead with “This product contains lead.. blah, blah”. Anyway, Lake Fork tackle makes bullet weights and egg sinkers with some tungsten alloy or something- heavier than lead so it is smaller which can be nice, but as stated the cost is steep especially for those fishing the wing dams.
Oh my… I just read the article. While it may be true that lead causes a significant problem the article is pretty much based on speculation.
At one point they cite a 15 year study that found 222 dead loons, and that 10% of those loons had died from lead poisoning. (that is 22 loons in 15 years). Then they cite a study by the MN PCA (of unknown length and sample size) that found 17 percent of the dead loons sent to research centers for autopsy had died of lead poisoning (question did they send all the loons they found in for autopsy or just those they had reason to suspect). Then they make an irresponsible leap that “In areas where loons breed – the Great Lakes region, northeastern United States, and eastern Canada – lead poisoning from sinkers or jigs may account for up to 50 percent of the dead adult loons found by researchers” BASED ON WHAT!!!!! The studies they cited which found between 10% and 17%? I can guarantee you that the studies they cited were the ones with the highest results.
I can see where if I am bass fishing in shallow area a loon could end up with my sinker from a texas rig. On the other hand… I find it hard to believe a loon has ever eaten a 1/4oz walleye jig out of 20′ of water.
I consider myself and enviromentalist, and if anyone can show me a responsible set of facts that show my lead jigs and sinker are killing loons/eagles etc. I’ll switch in a heartbeat. But this stuff…. well, it offends me.
If however I own a tackle company… and am imagining all fishermen replacing all the lead in their boxes with new non-lead gear…
You’d be surprised how many customers come into Gander wanting lead-free weights. We don’t carry many and they are usually sold out so I hear the “it’s killing eagles/loons all the time.” I typically bite my tongue, but every once in a while when the moon is full, I just ask the customer how do they know it’s the lead doing the poisoning?? Their answer, “It has to be the lead from fisherman because I read it in an article.”
Well, I’m going to start writing articles, telling everyone how money is the root of all evil, just to send me all the cash and I’ll dispose of it. I’ll deal with the devil then everyone else will have a free conscience. I’ll create a couple test groups, fudges some facts and then plain BS the rest. Now, who wants to take part in my study???? 
Count me in!! But don’t check for lead in my body. I use to work for XXX making batteries. We had our blood tested every month for lead. The plant was so full of lead dust (it does float in the air) that you had to wipe off your desk every day. The ground around the plant was listed as a hazardous site by the Gov’t due to lead contamination. We had stacks from our melt ovens that always spewed lead fumes into the air. DO YOU THINK JIGS & SINKERS ARE REALLY KILLING THE EAGLES!
interesting study, hmmmmm guess my Daddy was right, figures can lie and liars can figure. Mr Twain said ” There’s lies, damn lies, and then there’s statistics.”
I looked into this last night. Using 1/4 ounce as the benchmark, Cabela’s lists the tungston(sp?) weights at well over $1 each, the brass at 65 cents, and the lead at less than 1/2 of that.
Seems like the tackle companies could gang up with the environmentalists and make some serious cash.
yeah.. Waterfowler… you little idea about money has already been implemented… there a few cults that operate on that very premise…. give your money to us because YOU are not spirtually evolved enough to handle the evil that lies within… fortunatly WE ARE!!… and people DO actaully buy that crap.. you gotta remember most people dont want to think.. therefore they delight in being TOLD whats true…. kind of weird.. but it seems to be true!…. funny though… Ive found that the better fisherman do actually think!… so are immune to that kind of junk….
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