W2F Blog

I am a big supporter of not using lead and being form NH were 5 to 10 years ago the made it illegal to use it has been easy for me. If this happens maybe the price of everything else will go down like the tungsten weights that would be nice

I can agree with not using lead in lures. However, I can not agree with the government MANDATING a ban on lead in fishing lures without "sound" and "verified" scientific confirmation that the ban is "necessary" on "fishing lures". No one is saying lead is not harmful to the environment, just that a ban on "fishing lures" is not significant in protecting the environment but is significant in putting people out of work, income, and independence. Sound ridiculous to you? Well so does banning the "fishing lure" lead without proof it is "significantly" detrimental to the environment. OK off the soapbox.  
 
Thanks.

It is ridiculous to ban lead, first off show me the proof that it is having a detrimental effect, and then if you ban lead you better stop all mine runoff, all 2 stroke motors, all landfill seepage and legal chemical dumping, when all of that is done then ban lead but until then it's basically pi##ing in the wind.

This could really hurt the fishing industry. There are alot of small guys out there that pour jigs with lead and have no possible way to pour Tungsten. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal and is very costly to pour. This could also hurt some of the big guys like Pure Fishing, Pradco,Strike King, and all other big companies except really Tru-Tungsten. I don't think the EPA will go through with it though.

Some may not be aware that Mr. Obama signed an exutive order back in January that banned all lead then. As a hunter and fisherman I toltally diagree with the ban. 
 
Duck hunters know that at least 50 % more ducks are lost to crippling by steel shot than are lost to lead poison. 
 
Very few waterfowl ingest lead, and even less birds of prey ingest lead by eating dead or crippled waterfowl. 
 
There are major things that need to be addressed in our invorment and this is the least one. 
 
It is our land, the taxpayer. Stop this ban mow!

I have to say I disagree with the ban. I don't think it should be banned. First it is a very small problem if a problem at all. there are a lot bigger issues out there that need to be addressed that far out weigh the issue of using lead weights for fishing. Second refering to another persons comment, I don't believe it will make the price of tungsten or substitutes go down. In fact it may make them go up. just basing my opinion on the whole train wreck of supply and demand. I must raise prises cause everyone wants them!!!!!!

I like the idea of removing lead form the environment but the proposed ban cannot and should not be an all out ban. It needs to be phased in over a few years starting with the larger companies. Offer tax incentives for purchase of new equipment needed to comply with the band (this will help our manufacturing companies and allow the larger companies to fine tune the process). Then a few years down the road, do the same thing for smaller companies (tax incentives). By then, the technology should have caught up allowing for smaller equipment and material prices should be low enough that the smaller companies can afford to make the change. To draw a line in the sand and say "NO MORE LEAD STARTING TODAY" will never and has never worked. Think back to the early 90s when the government tried to ban a certain type of freon. They made the ban and then realized that the Fed Govt was the largest user of that type of freon so they lifted the ban.

It's just another way for big government to spread its tentacles into every facet of society, in an attempt to regulate every aspect of life and recreation. What's next? Will the government increase your license fees in order to subsidize the tungsten weight industry? The market is already moving away from lead on its own. I don't see the lead issue being big enough to warrant federal intervention. Where in the Constitution does it empower the government to mandate the purchase of certain fishing tackle? Where in the Constitution does it authorize the creation of the EPA in the first place? They are the ones approving the spray of Corexit in the Gulf. Now fish are washing up dead and people have found this toxic substance in their swimming pools along the coast!

Seems the Anti's are always figuring out one way or another to mess with us.