Lead Ban

[RyanDR]

Hi all, 

 

I was wondering if the lead ban is actually enforced? I live in MA but fish all over New England. I eliminated all lead sinkers a while ago but honestly still use my hand poured lead jigs that I powder paint. I have never been stopped and had my tackle inspected, but I often fish off the beaten path so I hardly ever see any wildlife officers anyway. I am working on switching my productions over to lead free pouring, but lead free pouring is so much more expensive. I know the ban was targeted ot Loons supposedly ingesting lead sinkers, which many disagree with. But using non-lead materials is probably just better for our waters and individual health anyway (even if on a small scale), so I thought I should make the switch eventually. 

 

Thoughts? Anybody ever been stopped? 

[keagbassr]

I switched to non-lead when the ban went into effect. I also have an E.P.O. that lives about a mile from me and right between 3 launches I frequent so I see him a few times each year. Even with jigs hanging from my rods in sight he's never asked about them. He's more concerned  with safety stuff.

[PourMyOwn]

I've never been asked either, and I have switched to bismuth and tungsten when the NH ban went into place. 

I really think getting it out of stores made the loon lovers happy, so it's a dead issue. I've yet to hear of anyone getting cited for lead, and I know lots of guys who still use it.

[MassYak85]

I've never heard of anyone being checked, heck I've only been asked for just my license twice in my life in MA. EPO's are spread thin. That said I try and stay legal, or at least what I interpret as legal. The law is vague so things like spinnerbaits, underspins, bladed jigs I do not consider under part of the law. Maybe they are but I feel that can easily be argued based on the wording. But regular jigs and sinkers I go with tungsten now. 

[NHBull]

I have many friends that work for fish and game and the answer is no.

the average angler doesn’t use lead because it is not available in stores.

[RyanDR]

18 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I have many friends that work for fish and game and the answer is no.

the average angler doesn’t use lead because it is not available in stores.

The Cabelas, Bass Pro along with other smaller shops still sell lead in MA. Just can't use it. And by the looks of the shelves they do quite well selling those products. 

[NHBull]

8 minutes ago, RyanDR said:

The Cabelas, Bass Pro along with other smaller shops still sell lead in MA. Just can't use it. And by the looks of the shelves they do quite well selling those products. 

Nh and maine stores do not...as is the case with Wally World and mom and pops in the same states

[JQ-92]

Funny you brought this up. I was trying to buy bitsy jigs on sale online at basspro but they wouldn’t ship here because they’re made of lead. I went to bass pro in Foxboro this past Saturday because I was in the area and low and behold they head those lead jigs on sale lol. I’ve never been asked or stopped either. 

[Bass Junke]

It was funny last year, I was in the middle of this small pond, pretty much the only one there when I looked toward the boat ramp I saw a police vehicle with its lights flashing. I then realized it was a SUV and it was green and a guy in uniform was waving at someone. Wait that is a game warden and he is waving for me to come in. So I paddled back to shore the whole time being proud that both my rigs had tungsten on them. Just wanted to make sure I had a licence and a PFD. No interest if I was using lead or not.

 

There is more tackle made of lead than tungsten at BPS in Foxboro. 

18 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I've never heard of anyone being checked, heck I've only been asked for just my license twice in my life in MA. EPO's are spread thin. That said I try and stay legal, or at least what I interpret as legal. The law is vague so things like spinnerbaits, underspins, bladed jigs I do not consider under part of the law. Maybe they are but I feel that can easily be argued based on the wording. But regular jigs and sinkers I go with tungsten now. 

I do the same. Regs are a little vague. I think we all should try to use as little or no lead, just better in the planet. I read the regs came about because a few loons had a fetish for lead egg sinkers also. I doubt there are any loons out there eating 1/2oz spinner baits or lead jigs with 4/0 hooks sticking out of them.  

[NHBull]

This whole thing started at my home lake......Squam.

It is known  for its Loon population and has many powerful on the SLA.

A few Loon were dying and after inspection, lead may have been the cause.....Sorry?

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, NHBull said:

This whole thing started at my home lake......Squam.

It is known  for its Loon population and has many powerful on the SLA.

A few Loon were dying and after inspection, lead may have been the cause.....Sorry?

In the last few years the amount of loons in my area has increased significantly. No telling how much lead is in our rivers but it’s a lot! The loons might be bringing it up to squam from down here and croaking....... 

[redmexican5081]

I get stopped about once a year by the game warden. Only 1 time in all of the recent years was I asked about lead.  It was the first year of the ban, I was fishing with my kids and using split shots fishing for trout at a local fishing derby. I had switched to steel because I knew about it.  He checked everyone that day.  I never saw him write a citation but did see him collect plenty of sinkers when the derby was over.  I think it was more of an educational visit to let the once or twice a year guys know it wasn’t allowed anymore. 

[Don51]

Never had a problem in MA. E.P. didn't even ask to see a license! If I was out in the yak the first question would be, do you have your PFD? They weren't concerned about the lead. In other N.E. states I can see it being strictly enforced!

[NHBull]

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

In the last few years the amount of loons in my area has increased significantly. No telling how much lead is in our rivers but it’s a lot! The loons might be bringing it up to squam from down here and croaking....... 

I am on the lake 6 days a week.  I watch loons all freekin year.  Last year there were over a dozen babies viable on any given day.  Reports were that on 2 hatched.  They are manipulating data.  Truth be told, water levels can do more damage

[gim]

Here in Minnesota, there has been some push for this lately.  Just the other day they had a segment on the news that swans have been confirmed dead from lead poisoning.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Here in Minnesota, there has been some push for this lately.  Just the other day they had a segment on the news that swans have been confirmed dead from lead poisoning.

sorry this was the first thing that came to mind when I read your post 

[J Francho]

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Here in Minnesota, there has been some push for this lately.  Just the other day they had a segment on the news that swans have been confirmed dead from lead poisoning.

Do you mean invasive mute swans?

[Deeare]

Only place in mass that I know they check for lead is wachusett res.   My friends have had to reel in their line so the officer can check their weights.   But that was a few years ago.   Wachusett is shore fishing only.    I would think they might check at the quabbin but I don’t fish there.   
 

ive been asked if I’m using lead at newfound lake in nh but they didn’t check and I was in a kayak with 6 rods rigged with various jigs/weighted worms etc.  

[Boomstick]

They might check for lead weights, but I don't think they check jigs. I've never been "lead checked" myself, only license checked.

 

It's easy enough to buy tungsten weights at least.