This May, Carson Trout Lepine and Greenan Lakes Association will be supporting the Wolfe Lake Association’s (S. Frontenac/Rideau Lakes Township) initiative, Let’s Get the Lead Out Campaign, to encourage anglers to voluntarily bring in their lead tackle. We are promoting the use of non-leaded alternatives such as tungsten, steel, tin, bismuth/tin, and glass. Tungsten apparently is a great alternative as it is denser and sinks more quickly than lead and it is eco-friendly!
Lead (Pb) is a neuro-toxin which attacks the nervous system and can lead to blindness, decreased reproductivity, seizures and death. Ingested lead is not only fatal to loons but also to other aquatic wildlife as well. Even eagles, as top predators of the food chain, will succumb to lead poisoning. Loons, and other birds in general, need to ingest small pebbles to aid in their digestion, that is why they have a gizzard. Lead fishing tackle, such as lost sinkers and jigs, can be found along the lake bottom amongst the pebbles that become accidentally ingested to aid in their digestion. Other ways aquatic birds can ingest lead tackle is by eating a fish that has ingested a lead jig or sinker or by striking at a line being trolled or retrieved through the water with lead tackle attached. Since 1989, Lead fishing tackle is the leading cause of loon mortalities in the state of New Hampshire hence it became the first US state to ban its use on all inland freshwater lakes in 2005. [Loon.org]
Lead fishing tackle is banned in Canada’s National Parks.
For more information, please visit https://fishleadfree.org/loons-and-lead/ and https://wolfelake.org/fish-lead-free .
In the news: Please read: https://madvalleycurrent.com/2024/04/30/hook-line-and-lead-sinker/
Drop Off your lead tackle to our Booth During Bay Days (May 18th) or at our AGM (May 19th) or we can be reached at contact@ctlglakes.com.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYKSbKqVvk
contact@ctlglakes.com