The latest bulletin from The American Sportfishing Association (Fall 1998, Issue Number 467) has an interesting article, written by Andy Martin, that says  in 1994 the Environmental Protection Agency proposed to ban the manufacture, sale and use of lead sinkers in the United States.

The article states that the proposed ban was met with widespread opposition by anglers and outdoors organizations.

Since 1994 many federal and state agencies have investigated the environmental impacts of lead sinkers but no action has been taken, until now.

The article continues: "In June, New Hampshire became the first state in the country to enact a limited ban on certain lead fishing tackle. Gov. Jeanne Shaheen signed legislation that will ban the use of certain size lead sinkers and jigs in New Hampshire’s freshwater lakes and ponds starting in the year 2000. The ban does not apply to streams, rivers or marine waters."

The article goes on to say that the new law will ban the use of lead sinkers weighing less than 1 ounce and lead jigs less than 1 inch in length (including the hook). If found guilty of using a lead sinker or jig, as outlined above, anglers could face a fine of not more than $250.

Yellowstone National Park has had a "non-toxic" fishing program for several years now. Fishing tackle such as leaded split-shot sinkers, weighted jigs (lead molded to a hook) and soft lead-weighted ribbons for nymph fishing are no longer allowed.

The problem is lead is toxic when ingested. That’s why lead shot has been banned from shotgun shells when duck hunting. It was found that the water birds were ingesting the shot as they fed on the bottom of their lake or pond. Lead poisoning followed which, in many cases, killed the bird.

The ASA article stated that two percent of the loons in New Hampshire waters died in 1997 because they ingested lead sinkers.

The question I would like to pose is, is it time to completely do away with lead as part of our terminal tackle?

Yes, I know that the lead sinker substitutes aren’t as good as lead and that they cost two or three times as much to buy. And, I also know that there simply isn’t a good substitute on the market for lead jig heads.

Still, if it would help keep the environment lead free, if it would save the lives of lots of bottom feeding birds, would it be worth it?

Or, is the problem over stated. Would large-scale studies show that lead sinkers and jig heads are a minimal problem and eliminating them would have little positive impact on the environment?

I know that the elimination of lead based paint has been a mighty good thing for small children all across the U.S.A. We just don’t have very many kids sick from lead poisoning any more.

What do you think? Is it time to do away with lead?

Get out and go fishing!

Sam Webb
General Manager