Federal Ban on all lead in fishing tackle.

[PaJNS]

here is the link.....http://capwiz.com/keepamericafishing/issues/alert/?alertid=16355526&cmCat=email&cm_cat=6089&cm_ven=email-nl&cm_pla=HA-0100&cm_ite=16355526&eid=11623180&cmp=I100902A&seg=FI1&cnt=6089&ctb28

[JoeW]

I've been following that bill for a couple months and don't like what I see! Based on a lot of "non-scientific" data. Something like- they round up 100 dead ducks from around ponds and lakes. Exam them and find that 25 of them have lead sinkers in their stomachs. And then conclude that 25% of all ducks die of lead poisoning! There is too much free money floating around for anyone that supports a cause! I won't rant, but a ban on lead for fishing! Going to change how you weight your line and fish jigs! Watch out for this one.

Oh, just remembered- they want to expand that bill to include brass in fishing lures, too! Believ it or not! Best---- JoeW

http://www.panthermartin.com/EPAFishingLureBan.aspx

[Harvey]

Giving the state of our economy that we are in...this doese'nt suprise me in the least...they can't even run their own congress.....just what would a congressman know about fishing.???????? Maybe their lobbyist told them lead was bad so they can push another company from China and put more money in the congressmans back pocket!!

[RAK]

Taking lead away is terrible.

I won't be able to make my own jigs and sinkers for fishing. The DO-IT company will have to close....

[Razor]

So if they ban lead and brass, what are we going to use? rocks?

[JoeW]

We're living in an era of "causes". Come up with a "good" cause and the government will make money available to fund it! Makes the politicians "look good" that they supported funding for a "cause"!! Two of the most popular "causes" are the Environment and Health. So what would be a better "double cause" than to study "lead shot/fishing sinkers in the environment and their health issues"!! Wonder how much of our tax dollars went into studying those 100 dead ducks and the printing of their 1,000 pg report! Now don't get me wrong, there are many good causes that deserve Federal support, but this is certainly not one of them! Spend the gov't money chasing the chemical polluters of the Niagara River! Oops- that would loose politicians a lot of contributions! Lead from fishing sinkers-- I still bite on my split shot with my teeth just like my Daddy showed me years ago and I don't see any ill effects (except maybe two of my teeth being ground down smaller than the others! And I still keep a couple spare split shot in my mouth, ready for instant use!) LOL!

Alternatives to lead sinkers/jigs? I seen Titanium. Try melting that down for molds! And expensive! Rocks for sinkers? Yep probably OK but they would have to be rocks native to the water you're fishing, not imported! The gov't would probably have to hire "Sinker Wardens"! Be interesting to see how tackle companies would make "rock split shot"! LOL, and have a good day. Sorry for the rant, but this issue is a pet peeve of mine! Best---- JoeW

[JoeW]

Here's a grea example of wasteful gov't spending. I guess it's been proven false- but all fiction has some basis in fact! Hilarious!

http://www.snopes.com/politics/humor/cattleguards.asp

best---- JoeW

[lip ripper]

I think that they are taking this way too far. Ok if or when they do this what will be the replacement? Would it be tungsten? It is heavy but really dense and hard to work with. I would have a lot of broken teeth.

[PaJNS]

EPA Denies Petition to Ban Lead in Fishing Tackle

Here is the link to the story. http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wirestory?id=12056193&page=1

[fish-hook]

It is heavy but really dense and hard to work with. I would have a lot of broken teeth.

Better start eatin' them Wheaties!:)

[drb]

would just be my luck to hit a school of crappie and have the gespato pull up with their motor running to see if I am using a lead jig head.......might be a good part time job for retirement and just go out all day and fish and not bother anyone......hey, just a day in the life of a politician

[JoeW]

Here's the latest:

Nov 4, 2010:
"The Environmental Protection Agency has denied a petition calling for a ban on the manufacture, use and processing of lead in fishing gear.
In a statement released Thursday, the EPA said the petitioners had not demonstrated such a ban is necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)."


More text available at link:


http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/106698048.html

Finally, someone with some common sense! Best---- JoeW :D

[Tapalong]

Great news! I cann't belive the gov. is making since.:p

[dugger]

Try to take away my lead sinkers and jig heads and Ill give em some lead allright {EDIT kidding of course!!!} because they want the lead ,yea"" Mugzy thats what they want!!lol Ive lost it

[dugger]

i do have and use some tungston steel slip weights they sure are pricey! But it seems like our goverment is not dialed into the people they are trying to gover over , or is it just me! just thought i would see if anybody had anymore input on the subject !

[hossinonimus]

In Washington they have banned lead in 13 lakes, most on the West side. The Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife posted a study on their website. From 1999 to 2010 they examined 21 dead loons. 33%, or 7 for those that don't want to do the math, apparently died on lead ingestion. In 11 Years. Thats almost 1 every other year. Statewide. 4 loons apparently died from drowning in the same period. Another 7 died of trauma, including gunshot wounds. It is already illegal to shoot a loon but it happens anyway. And how are we going to keep loons from drowning? Is banning loons from Washington waters next on the list of things to save the loons? My feelings on the subject are if we are losing a loon a year from lead ingestion, is it worth the price weekend angling will have to pay if lead is illegal? I have a lot of $ tied up in lead and lures containing it. With alternatives being so expensive, it would definately cut into my fishing before I had a chance to replace all of it. Loons dying of lead ingestion is our fault, and could be avoided. As a conservationists I believe we should keep nature as pure as possible for generations to come. There are alternatives available. But I do not believe that 7 dead loons in 11 years is an epidemic requiring legislation and making millions of dollars in fishing lures illegal to fish with. The fishing industry is already in the process of making lures without lead. In the future the industry may even go 100% lead free.

[JoeW]

IMHO--- a lot of it has to do with money. The gov't sponsors thousands of "research" grants. If the researchers don't come up with something "exciting", they lose their grant! So they contrive data, or present it poorly, and an uniformed public starts an uproar. Pep peeve of mine, believe me. Milk is good for you, no it's not, protein is good for you, no its not, Tungsten sinkers are good for the loon--- next year- no it's not!

Believe me- no one is more in favor of helping wildlife than I am, I've taken an injured baby bunny (injured by someone's pet!), nursed it back and then released it. Bird's, too. But does anyone do a study on how much wildlife is harmed by pets? Naw-- that wouldn't be "popular" and it wouldn't get politicians votes!

i wish someone would do a study on how to reduce taxes on my social securtity!

Eh- I rant--- someone delete me if I'm out of order. But c'mon--- how many "tons" (?) of lead sinkers get lost and what are the chances of a loon picking up enough to cause harm! believe me, the gov't is looking to make money on a "special" lead sinker tax or something.

I'll be waiting for a knock on my door by the men in black with sunglasses! Sorry. Best---- JoeW (And PS--- I love this country! More than many! But get down to business!)

And PPS- Why isn't there a study to determine how many bajillion tons of chemical wastes are being dumped into the Niagara River by chem plants!

[cwd]

This is just another way the government think they can justify steeling our money.
they have already ban lead shot for hunting. ever see what steel can do to a shotgun barrel.
here in ca. they have sent letters to most if not all tire shops, making threats to them if they sale
the used tire weight knowing they will be used for fishing.
the way the government is going prety soon they will regulate toilet paper. then they will be regulating
what THEY ARE FULL OF.

This Admin. up in Washington need to pull their heads out from each others (|) and look at the real world.
As fishermen/women we need to remember we have a voice and we need to use it. They work for us.
We don't work for them.

Sorry about the rant.
Junk like this really gets my blood boiling

[bass or bass?]

The current Washington administration looks with envy at Cuba. That's what they have in store for us if they get their way. :mad:Frown-no-nailbite

[dugger]

Ok well as I wanted it known on some of these post should be rebooted as opions and actions can start with a differant point of veiw !! I know Iv'e used them my whole life and Im happy with them but least we forget to speak in a union kinda voice in our senators and local state reps ears ,and don't start there, its at the town, the county levels you better get to first!!! As we know take a kid fishing he will be voting one day!! And not a person Iv'e ever seen post on this site would want a place they fish or the tackle they use, harm our wildlife! because it is ours you know!! and thats my Idea of well, you can do it , A poll should be taken :] Are you happy with your regs on fishing your area?? Or not ;[ Good President or no,, good conressman or no get them fired or re elect the good ones or the ones that do what they say actions speak louder than words!!