It was a slow start to ice fishing season in Maine this year, but in February the ice fishing events were stacked so I decided to join in the fun and was out on the ice educating anglers about the benefits of lead-free fishing. Why?  Because lead poisoning in loons is one of the  leading causes of death for recovered loon mortalities throughout the state. As a result, Maine state law bans the use and sale of lead sinkers and unpainted lead jig heads weighing 1 ounce or less or measuring 2.5 inches long or less.

But what I discovered surprised me. The number of anglers unaware that a lead tackle law exists in Maine was staggering. It can be complicated to keep up with the various fishing regulations throughout the state but the lead tackle restrictions apply statewide and sadly seem to be not that well known. With many anglers either getting their tackle from out of state sources or using older tackle passed down to them, it’s quite easy to end up with these illegal sizes in your tackle box.  (Tips on cleaning out your tackle box here!)

The biggest question of the weekend I got was: What does the paint on a lead jig do? In truth, not much besides making it seem like a safer option and adding a flash of color to attract fish. The reality is, this paint can chip off easily while bouncing around along lake bottoms or in your tackle box. Lead-free jig heads come unpainted or painted so if you’re looking for that flash of color you can still get it.

Between the two events this weekend, I was able to collect 135 pieces of lead tackle from anglers. Although the total weight of these items doesn’t seem like a lot at 1.7 pounds, 26.9 ounces, the most striking number to me is the 135 pieces of small lead tackle. That’s 135 less pieces of lead that could end up in our lakes and ponds; lessening the chances of these small lead tackle pieces ending up in a loon’s stomach. 

It was great to partner with some other organizations in the state to spread the word about fishing lead-free last weekend during Maine’s free fishing weekend. These ice-fishing events are a great place to meet anglers, collect lead tackle, and distribute lead-free tackle and information. Thanks to Trout Unlimited Sebago for hosting their ice fishing event on Chaffin Pond in Windham. And thanks to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Hooked on Fishing not on Drugs program along with Cast and Call Guides Services LLC for hosting a free ice fishing clinic on Lower Mousam in Shapleigh.

Remember to bring your old lead tackle with you if you are going to any of Maine’s three Sportsman Shows in March. Find me at the Maine Audubon booth and you can swap out your lead for some lead-free alternatives!

SPRING SPORTSMEN’S SHOWS

Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show
University of Maine Field House, Orono
March 10, 11, 12

Presque Isle Fish and Game Club Sportsman’s Show
University of Maine Gentile Building, Presque Isle
March 25-26

State of Maine Sportsman’s Show
Civic Center, Augusta
March 31- April 2

Winter is the perfect time to clean out your tackle box of any unwanted or illegal lead tackle. You might start by cleaning out the illegal tackle: Maine bans the use and sale of lead sinkers and unpainted lead jig heads weighing 1 ounce or less and measuring 2.5 inches long or less. But since this ban only includes some of the lead tackle that is out there, you may want to take a closer look at what’s in your tackle box. Handling and fishing with any form of lead can pose health risks for us and the wildlife we love. Lead poisoning from lead tackle is the third highest cause of death in Maine’s loon mortalities, after trauma (from boat strikes) and fungal respiratory disease.

How do you know if your fishing tackle has lead in it? Lead looks dull and dark gray in color whereas lead-free alternatives have a shinier appearance. A quick and easy way to tell is try to write with it on a piece of paper. If it makes a mark, there’s lead in it! (Remember when pencils used to be made with lead?) Another sure way to tell is if you can make an indentation in the material with your fingernail or pliers. Lead is softer than other alternatives and can be easily molded—which is one of the reasons lead was originally used in tackle before we knew about its adverse health effects.

Lead is embedded in other types of fishing tackle as well and it can be challenging to know when your tackle contains lead. Lead weights are often enclosed in larger lures made of hard and soft plastics. The packaging of any tackle that contains lead is required to disclose that. Be sure to check tackle packaging before purchasing, especially when shopping online. When searching for lead-free tackle online be sure that there isn’t a Prop 65 warning (required under CA law)—that means your tackle will have some amount of lead in it.

Although the lead tackle ban does not include artificial lures, weighted line, weighted flies or painted jig heads, we recommend fishing entirely lead-free. There are many lead tackle alternatives, such as tungsten, bismuth, steel, tin, glass, stone, and metal composite, that are just as effective, although they each have slightly different properties that can take some getting used to. Tungsten is denser and harder than lead, which allows you to “feel” the bait more effectively, in turn allowing you to feel the bite more. Tin, bismuth, and steel alloys are lighter than lead and provide a more natural appearance and presentation. Steel and bismuth are harder than lead making them less likely to get hung up on rocks while angling.

If your tackle box is anything like mine, it’s a smorgasbord of tackle bought and collected over the years, along with tackle passed down to me from my father, uncle, and grandfather. If your tackle was purchased before 2010 the chances are quite high there’s lead in it. In addition, many other states do not have lead tackle bans in place, so if you have purchased tackle outside of Maine it could contain lead.

So cozy up next to the fireplace and dig in to your tackle box! Remove anything that you suspect is lead or has lead in it (even small amounts)—especially if it is within the illegal limits (weighing 1 ounce or less and measuring 2.5 inches long or less). You can drop off or mail your lead tackle to us at Maine Audubon or click here to find a list of other disposal sites. Or better yet, find us at one of Maine’s three Sportsman Shows coming up in March (dates below) to exchange your lead tackle for lead-free alternatives.

I will be collecting any and all unwanted lead tackle at the Orono, Presque Isle, and Augusta Sportsman Shows in March. Bring at least 1 ounce of unwanted lead tackle to exchange for some lead-free samples or vouchers for $10 worth of lead-free tackle at participating retailers.  There are currently five retailers to choose from, but we hope to partner with other tackle shops at the shows so there can be a wider variety of lead-free tackle options for anglers.

Additionally, I will be collecting any old or unwanted lead tackle at some upcoming ice fishing derbies. Anglers need to bring at least 1 ounce of lead tackle to receive lead-free tackle samples in exchange. I will be at Trout Unlimited Sebago Chapter’s ice fishing event on Chaffin Pond on February 18. This event is already fully booked but if you’ve already secured your spot, be sure to bring any old lead tackle with you! I will also be collecting lead tackle at a free ice fishing clinic on Lower Mousam on February 19 hosted by MDIFW and Cast and Call Guide Services LLC. Spots are still available for registration. If you plan on attending another upcoming fishing derby or would like to host your own tackle exchange, please reach out to me at lwilliams@maineaudubon.org so we can coordinate an exchange. Click here to see where we purchase our lead-free tackle.

SPRING SPORTSMEN’S SHOWS

Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show
University of Maine Field House, Orono
March 10, 11, 12

Presque Isle Fish and Game Club Sportsman’s Show
University of Maine Gentile Building, Presque Isle
March 25-26

State of Maine Sportsman Show
Civic Center, Augusta
March 31- April 2

Moultonborough, NH – The Loon Preservation Committee (LPC), New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG), and two local fishing retailers are teaming up to address continuing loon deaths by buying back certain lead (Pb) fishing tackle known to poison loons—and banned by a state law that went into effect on June 1, 2016.

From June 2 through Labor Day (September 3), or until the initial 200 certificates are claimed, anglers can exchange one ounce or more of banned tackle (jigs and sinkers) for a $10 gift certificate redeemable at the participating shops: AJ’s Tackle (Meredith, NH), and The Tackle Shack (Newbury, NH).

Current law bans the sale and freshwater use of lead sinkers and jigs with a total weight of one ounce or less. Only banned tackle is eligible for exchange as part of the buy-back program. One exchange is permitted per customer.

The tackle buy back is a pilot program that builds upon ongoing educational outreach by LPC and NHFG.  LPC and NHFG are part of a region-wide initiative called Fish Lead Free (www.fishleadfree.org), which is dedicated to providing resources for anglers across New England to help them make the switch to lead-free tackle.

“We are pleased to partner with these shops and offer an additional incentive to anglers stepping up to do the right thing for loons by moving to non-lead alternatives like steel, tungsten, tin, bismuth, and other materials,” said Harry Vogel, Senior Biologist and Executive Director at LPC. 

In addition to the tackle buy back, collection receptacles at all New Hampshire Fish and Game offices, The Loon Center in Moultonborough, and the NH Lakes Association office in Concord provide places for proper disposal of lead fishing tackle.

The Loon Preservation Committee (www.loon.org) works to protect loons throughout the state as part of its mission to restore and maintain a healthy population of loons in New Hampshire; to monitor the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and to promote a greater understanding of loons and the natural world.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (www.wildnh.com) works in partnership with the public to conserve, manage and protect the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats; inform and educate the public about these resources; and provide the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources.

For more information please contact:

Mark Beauchesne, Advertising & Promotions Coordinator, New Hampshire Fish & Game Department: (603) 271-6355

Harry Vogel, Senior Biologist/Executive Director, Loon Preservation Committee: (603) 476-5666

This has been a busy few weeks for the Fish Lead-Free team based in Maine! A few weeks ago, we gave a presentation and hosted a lead tackle exchange at the Tacoma Lakes Association in Litchfield, ME at their annual meeting. I loved the chance to talk to residents who lived and worked around these lakes, and see how invested they are in protecting the local ecosystems! Then, two weeks ago we travelled to Hope, ME, and hosted another tackle exchange with a presentation at the annual meeting of the Megunticook Watershed Association at the beautiful Camp Bishopwood! Once again, we got to learn about the status of these lakes, and help people understand how to protect the wildlife (especially loons) by fishing with lead-free tackle.

Our latest adventure took place in Rangeley, ME. I was invited to speak at the annual “Special Loon and Eagle Program” hosted by Rangeley Region Lake Cruises and the Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum. This was a fantastic day of outdoor education, starting with Lisa Kane, Education Coordinator from Maine DIFW, presenting about loons and eagles. Then I partnered with Joe Roy from BioDiversity Research Institute to discuss the Annual Loon Count, the many threats facing loons, and then covered the dangers of fishing with lead tackle and the ways that we can all help to encourage lead-free fishing! We finished with a beautiful guided tour of Rangeley Lake where we saw loons, eagles, osprey, and other wildlife.

And we have an upcoming event! On August 2nd at 7pm, I will be presenting “The State of Maine’s Loons” at the Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary in Mt. Desert, ME. I will be talking about the efforts that Fish Lead-Free has been involved with, and discuss the Loon Count, loon mortality study, and the many threats that loons face today (both natural and man-made).  We will also be getting an update on the loon population within the Somes Meynell Sanctuary, including the 14 chicks that hatched this year! Seating is limited, for more information on the event contact the sanctuary at (207)-244-4027.

If you are interested in having someone from the Fish Lead-Free team come and speak at an event you are hosting, please contact fishleadfree@maineaudubon.org! We love having the opportunity to travel and speak to groups about loon population ecology, lead impacts on loons, and giving updates on the changing legislation on lead tackle use.

Emily

After more than a year of planning, the North American Loon Symposium is almostupon us!  Maine Audubon is a sponsor of the symposium. I will be going out to northern Wisconsin next week to help support the conference, present on our Fish Lead-Free initiative and co-chair a working group on Research Directions and Conservation Strategies.  With over 100 people registered for the conference from across the country and more than 40 presenters, it will be a great opportunity to learn about what is new in the world of loon conservation.

I am especially excited about the working groups and the opportunity to broaden our thinking about the big issues for loon conservation and how we might work across states and regions to address them. I also have a goal of reaching out to colleagues in other states about our successful Fish Lead Free initiative, and to work toward a more uniform approach to our outreach efforts.  We can be more effective with our outreach if we are consistent in our messaging and our lead-free “brand”.  If we can develop some logos and outreach pieces that multiple states can use, we will send a more consistent message to anglers.  We’ve already talked to folks in the northeast, and next week we will be able to expand that conversation.  Check back again!  I’ll post the highlights of the conference after I return.

 

Loon necropsies provide us with a good way to assess threats to the loon population.. Through these necropsies, we learned that lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for our loons.  Each necropsy begins with an x- ray, followed by an internal exam of all the organs.  This loon was found this summer on Stearns pond in Sweden Maine.  Based on the initial x-ray, I thought this bird died from lead poisoning because I could see  fishing gear in his gizzard. However, none of this fishing gear ended up being lead.  With every necropsy, you start by examining the external features of the bird. We look for any external wounds, broken bones, dislocated joints, and external parasites. In the case of this bird, I found abrasions and bruising on his feet and around his left eye. He had no broken bones or dislocated joints and I found no external parasites.

Next, we examine the internal anatomy for any abnormalities. These include any discoloration, lesions, pre-mortem clots, parasites, organ enlargement or atropy and foreign bodies. This loon was  in great body condition. He  had plenty of fat and  great muscle mass. One of the first abnormalities I noted was abdominal bruising on the lower part of his body. He also had a large pre-mortem clot on the underside of his sternum, as well as a lot of blood in his air sacs.

His organs, including his heart, lungs, liver and pancreas looked normal. The exception was his spleen, which was greatly enlarged. We confirmed  his sex as well. Female loons only have  a single ovary, whereas the males have two testes. Based on all the abnormalities found, we try and come up with cause of death. In this case, the bruising on his abdomen, combined with the large blood clot on his sternum and an enlarged spleen suggests blunt force trauma.  While it is  difficult to say exactly what caused his injuries,  he could have been hit by a boat or even crash landed somewhere.  If you find a dead or injured loon, please call our loon hotline:  (207)-781- 6180 ext. 275.