2006 Lead Tackle Exchange Events

[KJM]

ANGLERS GET THE LEAD OUT! AT EXCHANGE EVENTS THIS SUMMER

FOR RELEASE: June 16, 2006

Saint Paul, Minn. - It's time to clean out your tackle box and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) want to help. The MPCA and the DNR are partnering with retailers and others to offer more than 30 lead tackle exchanges across the state this summer. The exchanges offer anglers a chance to try out non-toxic tackle and compare these new products against lead versions. There is no charge to exchange tackle.

Depending on what anglers turn in, lead tackle will be swapped for non-lead jigs, split shot, walking sinkers, bullet/worm slip sinkers and bell swivel weights in various sizes and colors.

"New at this year's exchanges are an array of the popular tungsten-composite weights," said Kevin McDonald, Get the Lead Out! program coordinator.

Lead is a toxic metal that has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of mammals and birds. Traditionally used in fishing jigs and sinkers, this metal has been found to poison wildlife such as loons and eagles that inadvertently swallow tackle made from lead. Specifically, loons dive to the bottom of lakes in search of stones to grind their food, where they can swallow lead sinkers. Eagles can ingest lead by swallowing fish with a lead sinker or jig still in its body.

Events will be held on the dates and locations listed below.

Visit www.reduce.org for complete details.

June 22 (2 pm - 7 pm) Forest Lake Gander Mountain, 14640 West Freeway Drive

June 23 (1 pm - 6 pm) Alexandria Christopherson Bait, 309 3rd Avenue East

June 23 (12 pm - 5 pm) Willmar Brad's 71 Bait & Sports, 5255 Hwy 71 Northeast

June 26 (2 pm - 7 pm) Minneapolis Moore's Bait & Tackle, 618 West 58th Street

June 29 (2 pm - 7 pm) St. Paul Joe's Sporting Goods, 33 County Road B East

June 30 (12 pm - 5 pm) Winona West End Bait Shop, 950 West 5th Street

July 5 (1 pm - 6 pm) Minnetonka Gander Mountain, 4900 County Road 101

July 6 (2 pm - 7 pm) Stillwater Jimmy's Bait & Tackle, 806 Main Street South

July 7 (1 pm - 6 pm) Hackensack Swanson's Bait Shop & Gas, 33 North 1st Street

July 7 (1 pm - 6 pm) Hermantown Gander Mountain, 4275 Haines Road

July 11 (12 pm - 5 pm) St. Paul DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road North

July 13 (1 pm - 6 pm) Crosslake Bait Box & Marina, 36624 County Road 66

July 13 (2 pm - 7 pm) Blaine Gander Mountain, 10650 Baltimore Street Northeast

July 14 (1 pm - 6 pm) Bemidji Bluewater Bait & Sport, 801 Washington Avenue Southeast

July 14 (1 pm - 6 pm) White Bear Lake Hansen's Little Bear, 5051 Stewart Avenue

July 14 (1 pm - 6 pm) Mankato Scheels All Sports, River Hills Mall 1850 Adams Street

July 20 (12 pm - 5 pm) Marshall Borch's Sporting Goods, 1309 East College Drive

July 20 (2 pm - 7 pm) Lakeville Gander Mountain, 16861 Kenyon Avenue

July 21 (1 pm - 6 pm) Detroit Lakes Quality Bait & Tackle, 1210 Washington Avenue

July 21 (12 pm - 5 pm) Grand Rapids God's Country Outfitters, 29755 State Highway 38

July 22 (11 am - 4 pm) Rogers Cabela's, 20200 Rogers Drive

July 27 (2 pm - 7 pm) Woodbury Gander Mountain, 10470 Hudson Road

July 28 (1 pm - 6 pm) Cook Northwoods Bait & Tackle, 220 South Highway 53

Aug. 3 (2 pm - 7 pm) Maplewood Gander Mountain, 1747 Beam Avenue East

Aug. 4 (1 pm - 6 pm) Baxter Gander Mountain, 14275 Edgewood Drive

Aug. 11 (1 pm - 5 pm) Longville One Stop Convience Store, 5006 State Highway 84 Northeast

Aug. 15 (3:30 pm - 7 pm) Minneapolis Midtown Public Market, 22nd Avenue South & Lake Street

Aug. 18 (1 pm - 6 pm) Two Harbors Al's Bait & Tackle, 1028 7th Avenue

Aug. 18 (1 pm - 6 pm) St. Cloud Sportsman's Warehouse, 60 Waite Avenue South

Aug. 25 (1 pm - 6 pm) Rochester Gander Mountain, 1201 South Broadway

Additionally, two locations are offering continuous tackle exchanges this season:

Eagan (June 1 - Aug. 31): Lebanon Hills Visitors Center, 860 Cliff Rd.

McGregor (June 1 - Aug. 31): Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, State Highway 65 near McGregor

For more information about lead-free tackle and the 2006 lead tackle exchanges, visit www.reduce.org.

# # #

For more information, please feel free to contact me (Kevin McDonald at MPCA) at 651-215-0262.

[KJM]

GET THE LEAD OUT!

LEAD-FREE FISHING TACKLE CATCHING ON STATEWIDE

FOR RELEASE: June 16, 2006

Contact: Kevin McDonald, 651-215-0262

Saint Paul, Minn. - In its seventh year, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Get the Lead Out! fishing tackle program has seen several innovations including partnerships with retailers and outfitters, an educational kit for lake associations, a study from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a planned manufacturing plant for nonlead raw material and new product offerings.

"Market research has shown us that people have a hard time finding lead-free tackle in stores," said Kevin McDonald, Get the Lead Out! program coordinator. "It's difficult for retailers to find lead-free tackle stock, and they want assurances that customers will purchase it. So in response, we're offering retailers point of purchase lead-free tackle display racks."

Participating retailers, including numerous gift shops within the Minnesota State Parks system, now feature customized Get the Lead Out! display racks that offer a variety of the latest lead-free weights and jigs from five Minnesota-based tackle makers. Interested citizens are encouraged to visit www.reduce.org for a complete listing of locations.

In addition, the MPCA is offering lake associations in Minnesota an educational kit to help them educate members about nonlead tackle. The free kits include fact sheets, posters and sample packs of lead-free fishing tackle. The kits are designed to help spread the word about the dangers of lead tackle and the effects on the environment.

Minnesota is home to many of the nation's most successful tackle manufacturers. "We've seen an explosion of interest by manufacturers, and our state is now producing some of most innovative and high quality lead-free fishing tackle in the country," said McDonald.

Several major tackle makers, and a growing number of newer firms, have ambitious efforts underway to continue the rapid expansion of lead-free product offerings. Tundra Composites, based in White Bear Lake, recently announced plans to build a major manufacturing plant in Hoyt Lakes to produce tungsten polymers for use in fishing tackle, vehicle wheel weights and ammunition. The plant will eventually include up to 80 employees and produce composite raw materials for use by other tackle manufacturers.

Nonlead tackle continues to drop in price and is increasingly competitive with lead counterparts. For example, the new tungsten-composite weights by Gravity Heikkila are comparably priced to lead split shot and offer superior performance. These new weights, which snap on to fishing line, are an innovative feature drawing interest from anglers. Another promising new product is the tungsten-composite sinkers produced by Eagan-based Dr. Drop Inc. The weights feature an exclusive "friction grip" process that allows for fast attachment and retrieval.

This summer, lead-free tackle will be available for purchase at Minnesota State Parks. Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program, is enthusiastic about Minnesota's approach to increasing the availability of lead-free tackle. "With a number of Minnesota's state parks jumping on board to provide the public with opportunities to buy lead-free tackle, we're addressing the biggest barrier to switching to lead-free products that protect our state's lakes and rivers and reduce the poisoning of wildlife," said Henderson.

The DNR recently completed a research study on lost lead fishing tackle. The study found that anglers lost on average one lead tackle item for every 31 hours of fishing. Over a period of several years, these losses lead to tons of lead jigs and sinkers accumulating on lake bottoms. "Even low rates of tackle loss multiplied by hundreds of thousands of angler trips result in very large amounts of lost tackle, which can pose a significant risk to waterfowl," according to Paul Radomski, DNR research scientist and lead author of the study.

The Get the Lead Out! program uses education and partnerships to encourage anglers to use nonlead tackle. Although restrictions on lead tackle are becoming more common in the United States and other countries, here in Minnesota there are no bans on the sale or use of lead weights and jigs. "By educating the general public and partnering with tackle makers and retailers, we're making great progress in moving toward lead-free fishing tackle," said the MPCA's McDonald. "More anglers are excited about lead-free fishing products, and manufacturers and retailers are responding."

During the past three years, thousands of people have exchanged close to 3,000 pounds of lead tackle as part of over 90 lead tackle exchanges held throughout the state. Survey results from the 2006 Northwest Sportshow indicate a high level of awareness about the dangers of lead in fishing tackle, and further, that a significant number of Minnesotans are planning to or have begun to switch to nonlead tackle.

# # #

[icegrogg]

Just a quick ? Will there be any sales any of these Lead Tackle Exchange Events? Thanks for the info!!!

[DTro]

You'll get my 3 and 4 oz'ers when you pry them from my cold rigimortised hands

[nofishfisherman]

Why do you feel fisherman are so reluctant to give up the lead?

If the lead we use is hurting water fowl then wouldn't we be some of the people that would care most about it?

We call ourselves outdoorsmen, if we are knowingly hurting water fowl becuase we are unwilling to give up lead then it sure appears that we don't care about the wildlife around us.

[katoguy]

nofish, do they make 1/4 pound weights for dtro to use on the river in anything other than lead?

[nofishfisherman]

You know, I don't know if they do or not. I guess my comments where not directed at him really. I was speaking with someone else about this and they didn't want to change for a variety of reasons that I felt were fairly ridiculous.

I just saw this thread and thought I would chime in and see what others thought of the issue. I wasn't going after anyone in particular.

[Dave B]

Lead weights do not kill waterfowl.

B as in B, S as in S.

[nofishfisherman]

Is that your opinion or do you have evidence that lead poses no threat?

Personally if I have 2 choices one lead and one a lead alternative and they cost the same then I will choose the one that doesn't pose a threat to wildlife. Even if there is only a 5% chance that lead will hurt loons and other birds?

If there is a chance then why would we risk it if everything is equal?

It seems that alot of fisherman just discount research when it gives them a result they don't want to hear.

[metrojoe]

I did the tackle exchange a couple years ago and after one or two outings of using the tin and steel split shots I was digging in every box I had looking for some lead. The lead alternatives suck. Bismuth was the only alternative I held onto. The tin and steel are so much harder that the fins on the split shots just bend when you try to take them off. Most times I got one, maybe two, uses out of each split shot. Seemed wasteful to me. I agree with the whole "get the lead out" idea, but they have to come up with better alternatives before I give up all my lead again.

[nofishfisherman]

Ok, thats a valid reason for not chaging over to a lead alternative.

If they are not as good then that will put the pressure on them to come up with something that meets the needs of the fisherman.

So far the only other reasons I was given for not changing are:

1. Becuase its the government that wants us to change and we shouldn't always do what they tell us.

2.PETA is behind the "Get the lead out" campaign and they are trying to destroy fishing.

3.City folk are trying to instill there ideas on the northern woodsman, and they don't really care about wildlife anyways.

I was looking for some good arguments. These last 3 didn't do it in my book.

[fishinaddict]

I was fishing in albert lea yesterday and channel 3 interviewed me about it

[mtreno]

i would like to here or see a real study that shows the lead really is hurting birds. i see way more of a chance of a pheasent eating some lead off a gravel road from bird shot or even some weights from a tire - better odds there that a duck swimming down 20 feet to get my jidhead thats stuck between some rocks. and is the lead more of an issue then the fishing line itself? think about that for a second - maybe we should get ride of the line too...... everyone gets a net..... oh wait - there is a whole new list of problems

better just ban fishing all together

[KJM]

We maintain an up-to-date list of scientific research and published studies pertaining to lead fishing tackle, including lead toxicosis of wildlife.

Please visit www.moea.state.mn.us/sinkers and scroll toward the bottom of the page for citations and links.

For your convenience, here is the listing:

Radomski, Heinrich, Jones, Rivers and Talmage, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2006. Estimates of Tackle Loss for Five Minnesota Walleye Fisheries (PDF 100Kb); North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26:206–212.

Abstracts of eleven papers presented at the "Lead Sinker Symposium" held during the 32nd Aquatic Toxicity Workshop (October 2-5, 2005) in Waterloo, Ontario.

Cooley, Thomas M., Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Loon Mortality in Michigan 1987-2004. PowerPoint (6.2Mb)

Sidor, Pokras, Major, Taylor, and Miconi. 2003. Mortality of the common loon in New England, 1987-2000. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 39: 306-315. Full study

Donaldson, Scheuhammer, Money, and Kirk. March 2003. Lead fishing sinkers and jigs in Canada: Review of their use patterns and toxic impacts on wildlife.

Stone and Okoniewski. 2001. Necropsy findings and environmental contaminants in common loons from New York. Journal of Wildlife Diseases Vol. 37(1):178-184.

Daoust, Conboy, McBurney, and Burgess. 1998. Interactive mortality factors in common loons from maritime Canada. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 34: 524-531.

Scheuhammer and Norris. 1996. The ecotoxicology of lead shot and lead fishing weights. Ecotoxicology 5:279-295.

Scheuhammer and Norris. 1995. A review of the environmental impacts of lead shotshell ammunition and lead fishing weights in Canada. Canadian Wildlife Service, Occasional Paper 88 (CW69-1/88E).

Pokras and Chafel. 1992. Lead toxicosis from ingested fishing sinkers in adult common loons (Gavia immer) in New England. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 23: 92-97.

[KJM]

We appreciate hearing from anglers like Metrojoe about his experiences using lead-fishing fishing tackle. That is precisely the point of the Lead Tackle Exchange Events -- to provide anglers with an opportunity to try out the growing variety of lead-free tackle that is increasingly available at bait & tackle stores.

Metrojoe and others may be interested in trying out tackle made from other non-lead materials. For a complete listing of what is out there, go to www.moea.state.mn.us/sinkers and scroll down to the section entitled, lead-free alternatives: manufacturers and retailers.

You see that there are a growing number of tackle makers using tungsten and tungsten composite materials. Several manufacturers are now producing products with "quick-on and quick-off" that make for clicking the terminal tackle on or snapping it on.

Still others offer pewter, an alloy of both bismuth and tin, as well as glass, carbon steel and stainless steel.

We encourage anglers to try it out and see what works/what doesn't work, what they like and what they don't like.

The Lead Tackle Exchanges provide an easy and no-cost way to try out the rapidly growing variety of lead free tackle. Hope to see you at one of the 30 upcoming exchanges.

Good fishin' to all.

[KJM]

Dave B. is basically correct that lead tackle does not kill waterfowl. The most often cited nongame wildlife impacted by lead toxicosis are the waterbird, the commmon loon, and birds of prey such as the american bald eagle.

Some studies have reported lead toxicosis of waterfowl (e.g., ducks) from lead tackle ingestion but this is of a very low frequency and is not noted as a major concern.

[mtreno]

thanks for the reports - interesting. but i really still dont see how that is directly a fishing issue. now please no one jump all over me i am trying to learn something here and i am a huge fan of lead. loons and bald eagles are fish eaters not weed eaters - so it would seem that the problem is in the fish not that the birds are eating it off the bottom. do we have any studies that show lead in fish at all? if so i would think that it would be from another source - old dump runoff or paint factory ect. how does lead affect a body of water in general? is there a lead content in the fish and thats whats getting the birds? if so how much are we talking about? does this lead affect the birds in a worse way than the fish? or am i wrong on the whole fish idea all together? i still feel there are other impacts of fishng that are more hurtfull but maybe those are just easier to see......

thanks again and in advance for the info - i am not sold on it yet but at least i have a better understanding.

hey i have another thought for a non lead product - how about gold...... alomost the same as lead in many aspects..... and people already spend hundreds on rods and reels so why not 20 bucks for 4 solid gold egg sinkers..... i bet ya anything someone would buy them - and it brings a whole new meaning to "there really hitting on gold jigs". lets see my my math a 1/4 ouch gold jig would go for just north of $100. bet you dont loose to many of those

[KJM]

Hello mtreno and others:

Your questions are good ones and we're happy to try to answer them for you.

Lead weights lost in water do not rapidly dissolve or disintegrate. There are no studies that I am aware of indicating that lead tackle lost in lakes results in a material increase in the amount of dissolved lead metal in water samples.

The mode of ingestion for loons is two-fold:

As fish-eaters, loons have gizzards. This helps with grinding up the food. Loons dive to pick up pebbles and rocks to place in their gizzards. Researchers report that sinker sinkers can be similar to the stones the birds are looking for. It only takes one small lead weight to result in lead poisoning and death.

The other mode of ingestion is when lead sinkers and jigs are lost through broken line or other means, and the bird inadvertently eat the fish with lost tackle attached to it. On the web page, www.moea.state.mn.us/sinkers you can view an image of an x-rayed loon with terminal tackle inside the stomach area.

The concern is not some type of background lead content in the fish preyed upon by loons.

Additionally, your question as to whether lead from old paint or a leaking dump is not seen as a cause of lead toxicosis of nongame wildlife.

Lastly, I like your idea about gold-bearing fishing weights. Perhaps some very wealthy patients of the Mayo Clinic would purchase them for an outing in Northern Minnesota after one of their healthcare visits.

[metrojoe]

Great link KJM. Thanks. The prices are bit frightening compared to lead, but I really don't lose that much lead tackle in a year. I didn't really have a chance to thoroughly look around the site, but is there a side by side comparison between lead and all of its alternatives?

[KJM]

Hello mreno:

We have not prepared a "side-by-side" comparison sheet other than a table that shows a price comparison of lead-free versus lead for some select styles and sizes. You can view that on our fact sheet, second page at:

http://www.moea.state.mn.us/publications/sinkers.pdf

This "price check" information is now getting to be a bit old and we should get to work to update it. It does though give the reader a general sense.

Your suggestion of a "side-by-side" comparison could be taken to mean a comparison of performance features of lead versus non-lead alternatives. This would be largely a subjective comparison...what one person sees as a performance enhancement may be a performance detriment to another.

For example, some lead-free alternatives are less dense than lead counterparts. Some anglers report that the lower density slows the drop and allows the bait to stay in a "strike zone" longer. Another angler may view it entirely the opposite.

Still other non-lead terminal tackle products now available are more dense than their lead counterparts. Some see the smaller size of the terminal tackle unit as an advantage. Another angler would not place great emphasis on this product character, but instead grade it lower due to a higher retail cost.

Some anglers prefer some lead-free terminal tackle products for noise-making qualities. They can be harder than their lead counterparts and make more noise when banged against another terminal tackle piece or something else. Another angler perhaps would not see this as a particularly noteworthy performance enhancing feature.

Some anglers like that certain types of lead-free alternatives on the market allow for scent impregnation. Another angler may not be interested in using scent in their fishing practices.

I think you get the idea.

We welcome your questions, comments, suggestions and insights.

Thanks for your interest.

[webdude]

I agree with metrojoe... good link. Good to know the manufacturers that are producing the lead-free stuff. Question for all, though... Is this stuff readily available in the major markets? I mean, can I go to the big retail outlet and get the stuff? How about the little ma and pa shops? I haven't really paid attention, but I don't recall seeing any of these displays last time I went to stock up. Doesn't do anyone any good if it isn't readily available. That's my opinion, anyway...

[PierBridge]

WebDude, I think it's going to be slow transition due to the manufacturing and consumer cost of these non-lead products, I'm hoping the quality and usability will improve because as stated above the products are less then stellar at this point IMO.

Welcome to the site glad to have you aboard......

[webdude]

You're a funny guy, Pier... I actually joined a year before you did. I may not have as many posts, but I check in often.

As for the lead-free stuff, it's only gonna work if you get the retailers involved. I suppose this is the first step, the link, I mean. I don't think people buying tackle are going to go out of their way to buy it, only if you are pretty much a treehugger. Think about when you stop in to buy tackle... I pretty much grab and go. Gotta get out on the water, if you know what I mean. I have many stops to the local ma and pa too. Unless a trip is planned, that is pretty much my "modus operandi." I am sure a few others here would agree. Retailers are about money. Give them any sort of incentive and these new products will really take off. Just my 2 cents.

[nofishfisherman]

Some good thoughts.

I am not opposed to switching from lead to an alternative as I think is clear to some of you. If manufactuers can slowly work it into the market place and get the price down to where its competetive with lead then I don't see the harm in switching entirely.

Now, if it was all of a sudden banned and we all had to throw our stuff away and buy new more expensive stuff then I see a problem but that idea was shot down and the more gradual process has been adopted.

(Hopfully I didn't truly ruffle CK feathers. Tell me if I was really out of line would you Pier and webdude.)

[webdude]

nofishfisherman...

Looks okay to me...

I got some other comments on the other thread. Please read them.