Anyone Gone LEAD FREE??

[Pfishingruven]

Has anyone gone lead free in their fishing tackle, partly or completely??

I was reading a few articles about it and the lead is "pretty" bad for the environment, the fish and animals and obviously humans.  I noticed lead free tackle is significantly more expensive, which would be one reason it is not being used.  However, good or bad, I see a lot of fishing locations and governments making lead illegal, just like they did in gas and paints!

I have not gone lead free at all and I certainly contribute to the problem and have not helped it.  I get snagged and lose more lures and weights more than I fish  .  I am also interested in getting back into making my own jig heads, weights, etc...and I am not sure I want the lead anywhere near my kids, knowing how bad it is.  Anyone know if there is a Do It Yourself alternative to lead yet??  I GOOGLED it, but no luck.

I know Tungsten and Bismuth seem to be the popular replacement, but that is about all I know!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Diego Dangers.]

All my 1 oz sinkers are made out of steel, they are made by an australian company, can't remember the name off the top of my head, but they do sell them at Sports Authority, it is about a dollar two cheaper for the lb of steel than the lb of lead.

[Pfishingruven]

Thanks for replying...

I also see that they have Bismuth/Tin mixtue weights also...but I don't know what the price is??

Thanks

 

[captainbailey]

Just picked up some lead-free split shots. right next to the typical lead variety. Good job marketing them because you get 10 lead free opposed to 25 lead for the same price. I figured I didn't need all 25 so might as well. Have yet to use them.

Other than environmental concerns, are there any advantages/ disadvantages to either one?

[Pfishingruven]

Yeah, they are definitely a bit more expensive!!

I think, besides environmentally and from a health standpoint, the only other advantage is that some of the metals are denser and heavier making the weight smaller compared to lead.  I know this is true for Tungsten, which is considerably more expensive.

As for environmentally, lead is a serious problem.  Not only is it infecting fish, but birds and any aquatic animal, fish, etc...Ultimately it ends with humans.  I read an article of a human who had gotten lead poisoning from eating contaminated fish!

I am also concerned for my children.  I know that they would have to eat a weight to get lead poisoning, but my son always ends up grabbing the weights out of the tackle box and the thought of lead around him is a bit bothersome.  I don't mind taking educated risks for myself, but when it comes to my kids, I don't think I am willing to take any risk!

 

[captainbailey]

As for the person who got lead I would believe that someone got sick by opening split-shots with their teeth and then thinking the fish made them sick the next day. But who knows    

[Luna Sea 5]

im very well stocked

[ped579]

I'm glad you said stocked and not stacked...

[wb]

lead is my middle name

[catfish hunter]

lead free ,I am ready to pour again ,monday scrubby and I have to pour 2-400 lbs.