Tru-Tungsten going under

[Incheon Basser]

What's up at Tru-Tungsten? 1/11/2011

Several months ago, it became clear that Tru-Tungsten and sister companies Mihatchii and Picasso all of which fall under the purview of the Fish Harder Co. were in trouble. The rumblings started in media sales offices and among pro anglers. Outstanding debt mounted and several parties, including tour pros, filed suit against Fish Harder.

Fish Harder closed its corporate offices and according to sources close to the company, leaders are now operating out of their homes until a sale of the companies can be completed. Word is the Picasso brand will not be part of the sale, and that a sale could be completed within a month.

Who's a potential buyer? No word yet, although if recent history can offer a suggestion, Rapala, Pure Fishing and Pradco Fishing would have certainly at least sniffed around. As well, Strike King was rumored to have taken a look.

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

I've been wondering about that. Most products are getting clearanced. I just bought a couple frogs $4 at BPS and TW has been trying to get rid of the jigheads and soft swimbaits.

[J Francho]

What's up at Tru-Tungsten? 1/11/2011

Several months ago, it became clear that Tru-Tungsten and sister companies Mihatchii and Picasso – all of which fall under the purview of the Fish Harder Co. – were in trouble. The rumblings started in media sales offices and among pro anglers. Outstanding debt mounted and several parties, including tour pros, filed suit against Fish Harder.

Fish Harder closed its corporate offices and according to sources close to the company, leaders are now operating out of their homes until a sale of the companies can be completed. Word is the Picasso brand will not be part of the sale, and that a sale could be completed within a month.

Who's a potential buyer? No word yet, although if recent history can offer a suggestion, Rapala, Pure Fishing and Pradco Fishing would have certainly at least sniffed around. As well, Strike King was rumored to have taken a look.

Where'd you get this? 

[Texasfishingtips]

Seen this also. Heard Strike King was looking very closely at buying them out. Since they are going under I reallyope they do. Might be some sexy shad colored weights now lol.

Clancy W

[BassThumb]

I know this site has a rule against political discussion but I think this is very interesting reading considering tungsten has been promoted as a greener option to lead in fishing tackle. It sounds like very little research has been done until recently about the harm tungsten can do to a person.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/fallon/tungstenfaq.htm

Tungsten has recently been linked to cancer by the US Army. The Army has developed tungsten bullets as a greener, eco-friendly option to lead, but wounds are developing cancer. Development has now stopped.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/04/toxic-tungsten/

Israel just created and used an antipersonnel bomb in Gaza with shrapnel in the form of cancer-causing tungsten powder. They're called "dime bombs."

From the PrairePundit article:

"The bombs are packed with tungsten powder, which has the effect of shrapnel but often dissolves in human tissue, making it difficult to discover the cause of injuries."

*** http://prairiepundit.blogspot.com/2009/01/israels-tungsten-bombs.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/tungsten-bombs-leave-israels-victims-with-mystery-wounds-1418910.html

[Texasfishingtips]

But lead can cause cancer also....

Clancy W

[Bassohol]

Unless you eat the sinker or grind it up and snort it, there shouldn't be any significant adverse effect on a fisherman. I can see how there could possibly be a bigger effect on the people manufacturing the tungsten products, but surely there are ample measures in place to reduce exposure in the manufacturing process. Being as there isn't too much danger involved (I believe), the dangers of tungsten probably isn't the cause of the company going under. My theory on the situation is that the company probably never really recouped from getting started. Tungsten is a pretty expensive material to use and it has been a slow process convincing people that tungsten is a superior material to lead and brass, especially when you take the retail price difference into account.

[River Rat316]

Yes it can, almost everything can. The point was tungsten was marketed as a "safe" alternative, when if you look at the msds sheet for tungsten, its radioactive, lead is not. There isn't a "safe" heavy metal, they all have there drawbacks. Another thing to think about is most of the worlds tungsten is owned by the Chinese, so most if not all of the tungsten manufacturing is done in China.

[River Rat316]

Unless you eat the sinker or grind it up and snort it, there shouldn't be any significant adverse effect on a fisherman. I can see how there could possibly be a bigger effect on the people manufacturing the tungsten products, but surely there are ample measures in place to reduce exposure in the manufacturing process. Being as there isn't too much danger involved (I believe), the dangers of tungsten probably isn't the cause of the company going under. My theory on the situation is that the company probably never really recouped from getting started. Tungsten is a pretty expensive material to use and it has been a slow process convincing people that tungsten is a superior material to lead and brass, especially when you take the retail price difference into account.

Unless you are eating lead, or grinding it up and snorting it, there is no danger from lead either, actually there is little danger for ADULTS in ingestion either, kids, thats another matter.

[Incheon Basser]

What's up at Tru-Tungsten? 1/11/2011

Several months ago, it became clear that Tru-Tungsten and sister companies Mihatchii and Picasso all of which fall under the purview of the Fish Harder Co. were in trouble. The rumblings started in media sales offices and among pro anglers. Outstanding debt mounted and several parties, including tour pros, filed suit against Fish Harder.

Fish Harder closed its corporate offices and according to sources close to the company, leaders are now operating out of their homes until a sale of the companies can be completed. Word is the Picasso brand will not be part of the sale, and that a sale could be completed within a month.

Who's a potential buyer? No word yet, although if recent history can offer a suggestion, Rapala, Pure Fishing and Pradco Fishing would have certainly at least sniffed around. As well, Strike King was rumored to have taken a look.

Where'd you get this?

from B@ ss phan and it was also talked about in this weeks episode of Tournament Fishing Radio

[Jigfishn10]

Very interesting links you posted BassThumb. A lot of the states here in the northeast have a lead ban in effect. Ours here in MA will be implemented in 2012 which will prohibit all sinker and jigs less than 1 oz in the state' fresh waters. It will be interesting to see in the coming years if tungsten will be prohibited as well.

Thanks all, this is a very informative thread.

[GTrombly]

Didn't strike king just release their new tungsten sinkers? Maybe i should take my tungsten wedding band off, sorry babe it causes cancer....

[OkobojiEagle]

Didn't strike king just release their new tungsten sinkers? Maybe i should take my tungsten wedding band off, sorry babe it causes cancer....

Maybe "babe" knew this?

[R520dvx]

Current word in the industry is that Pure Fishing is the most likely buyer .... if it gets bought.

Yes, Strike King is introducing their own line. It will be in a similar price range as Tru-Tungsten.

[Goose52]

Unless you are eating lead, or grinding it up and snorting it, there is no danger from lead either, actually there is little danger for ADULTS in ingestion either, kids, thats another matter.

Well, as an adult that used to have a blood lead level of 47 micrograms/deciliter, I can take exception to that remark.

After handling lead, it's always a good idea to wash your hands before eating or otherwise getting your hands near your mouth. Now, if you only handle a lead weight a couple times a day while tying up a Texas rig, you will probably die of old age before feeling any effects from lead poisoning. The point is, that lead does present a danger to adults in some scenarios, but lead use in fishing, meaning handling the weights, may indeed present little risk. However, if you are casting your own weights, jig head, etc., you MUST take precautions to prevent excessive lead exposure - gloves, cross ventilation across your furnace, thorough washing of your hands and face after a casting session (and a shower is good idea as well), washing the clothes worn during casting, etc.

[Jigfishn10]

Didn't strike king just release their new tungsten sinkers? Maybe i should take my tungsten wedding band off, sorry babe it causes cancer....

 

[J Francho]

What's up at Tru-Tungsten? 1/11/2011

Several months ago, it became clear that Tru-Tungsten and sister companies Mihatchii and Picasso – all of which fall under the purview of the Fish Harder Co. – were in trouble. The rumblings started in media sales offices and among pro anglers. Outstanding debt mounted and several parties, including tour pros, filed suit against Fish Harder.

Fish Harder closed its corporate offices and according to sources close to the company, leaders are now operating out of their homes until a sale of the companies can be completed. Word is the Picasso brand will not be part of the sale, and that a sale could be completed within a month.

Who's a potential buyer? No word yet, although if recent history can offer a suggestion, Rapala, Pure Fishing and Pradco Fishing would have certainly at least sniffed around. As well, Strike King was rumored to have taken a look.

Where'd you get this?

from B@ ss phan and it was also talked about in this weeks episode of Tournament Fishing Radio

Next time link to it, mention it, but don't plagiarize it.

[Bassohol]

Unless you eat the sinker or grind it up and snort it, there shouldn't be any significant adverse effect on a fisherman. I can see how there could possibly be a bigger effect on the people manufacturing the tungsten products, but surely there are ample measures in place to reduce exposure in the manufacturing process. Being as there isn't too much danger involved (I believe), the dangers of tungsten probably isn't the cause of the company going under. My theory on the situation is that the company probably never really recouped from getting started. Tungsten is a pretty expensive material to use and it has been a slow process convincing people that tungsten is a superior material to lead and brass, especially when you take the retail price difference into account.

Unless you are eating lead, or grinding it up and snorting it, there is no danger from lead either, actually there is little danger for ADULTS in ingestion either, kids, thats another matter.

You misunderstood my argument. I wasn't trying to say that tungsten is any safer than lead. I was referring to the articles posted that claimed tungsten was indeed a potentially dangerous material. I was simply saying that unless one ingests a sinker somehow, it shouldn't have any significant effect on a fisherman. The same is true with lead.

[=Matt 5.0=]

I had a problem with some Tru Tungsten Ball Busters a few years ago. (hooks were snapping) I emailed them and they pretty much told me I was an idiot, and that I set the hook to hard...  : Since then I have done everything I can to dissuade people from buying their junk.