Why Fish Lead Free | Angler’s Guide | Where to Buy | Tackle Disposal
Anglers: Know the Law
Maine law bans the sale and use of bare (unpainted) lead-headed jigs and sinkers containing any amount of lead that weigh 1 ounce or less and measure 2 1/2 inches long or less.
Maine Lead Tackle Buyback Program
Make the switch to lead-free tackle, it’s on us!
Maine Audubon and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) have partnered with local tackle shops* to provide a $10 store voucher to any person who turns in one ounce or more of lead fishing tackle (including lead-headed jigs and sinkers containing any amount of lead). One voucher per person. Offer valid until March 31, 2021 or until all vouchers are claimed.
We encourage anglers to wait to visit participating retailers until it’s safe to do so, but we suggest you can start preparing now by going through your tackle box and sorting out old lead fishing tackle.
* Participating Retailers Subject to change.
1. Indian Hill Trading Post (Moosehead Lake)
2. Dag’s Bait Shop (Auburn)
3. BackWoods Bait and Tackle (Chesterville)
Why Fish Lead Free?
Fishing lead free is better for our wildlife and the health of our lakes. Lead poisoning is a leading cause of death for adult Common Loons in Maine. These deaths are completely preventable by using non-lead fishing tackle. Keeping lead sinkers out of Maine waters will increase loon survival and allow the state’s population to thrive.
Angler’s Guide to Lead Free Fishing
Non-toxic tackle comes in many metal choices and modern metal alloys offer the angler a number of advantages:
- They are environmentally safe
- They have more sound producing qualities to call in those fish and up your catch
- Tungsten is denser and harder than lead, which allows the angler to “feel” the bait more effectively and, consequently, helps the angler feel the bite
- Tackle made from tin, bismuth, and steel alloys are lighter than lead, but many anglers have reported good success using lighter baits and lures because they have a more natural appearance and presentation.
- Any fishing tackle containing zinc is not recommended because it is also toxic to wildlife.
Where to Buy Lead-Free Tackle in Maine
Cabela’s: (207) 883-7400, 100 Cabela’s Blvd. Scarborough, ME 04074
LLBean Hunting and Fishing Store: 1-877-755-2326, 95 Main St. Freeport, ME 04032
Luke’s Reel Repair: (207) 985-2492, 737 Alewive Rd, Kennebunk, ME 04043
Mainely Bait & Tackle: (207) 993-3031, 1340 N Palermo Rd, Palermo, ME 04354
M.C.W. Bait & Tackle: (207) 642-3039, 60 Fort Hill Rd, Standish, Maine 04084
Moosehead Bait and Tackle: (207) 534-226, Jackman Rd, Rockwood, ME 04478
Saco Bay Tackle Shop: (207) 284-4453, 977 Portland Rd, Saco, ME 04072
The Tackle Shop: (207) 773-3474, 61 India St, Portland, ME 04101
For a list of Online Retailers please click here.
If you’d like to add your local Maine store to the list above, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Lead Tackle Collection/Disposal Sites
Maine Audubon Centers
- Gilsland Farm*: 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105; (207) 781-2330
- Fields Pond*: 216 Fields Pond Rd., Holden, ME 04429; (207) 989-2591
Maine IFW Offices
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) offices accept lead tackle. For a list of lead tackle collection and disposal sites, click here.
Transfer Stations
- Millinocket: 20 Cedar Street, Millinocket, ME 04462
- Sherman: 253 Extract Rd, Sherman, ME 04776, (207) 365-4879
- Bridgewater Town Hall: 11 Bootfoot Rd, Bridgewater, ME 04735
- Bridgewater Transfer Station, Corner Road, Bridgewater, ME 04735 , (207)-429-9856
- Skowhegan: Steward Hill Road, Skowhegan, ME 04976, (207)- 474-6918
- Biddeford Public Works: 371 Hill Street, Biddeford, ME 04005, (207) 282-1579
Additional Disposal Options
- Riverside Recycling Facility : 207-797-6200, 910 Riverside St, Portland ME 04103
- Perry Iron & Metal Co. : 207-775-3181, 115 Lancaster St, Portland ME 04101
- Schnitzer Northeast Scrapmetal Dealer: (207)- 772-8329, 568 Riverside Street, Portland, ME 04103 US
- Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust: PO Box 333, office: 3 Round Top Lane, Damariscotta, ME 04543 (207)-563-1393
- Pemaquid Pond Campgrounds
- Maine Lakes Resource Center: 137 Main St. Belgrade Lakes, ME 04918 (207) 495-3617
Tackle Exchange Events
Upcoming Lead Exchange Events
- On-going exchanges are taking place at many of the disposal locations listed above
- Stay tuned for dates regarding lead exchange events this summer
Would You Like to Host a Lead Exchange in Your Community?
Please contact us if you are attending a public event, like a lake association or civic group meeting, if you spend time at a local boat ramp, or if you have a location where fisherman can exchange lead tackle for lead-free samples.
We can provide you with everything you need to publicize the exchange event, collect lead tackle and distribute lead-free samples. Our lead-free kits come with an assortment of lead-free tackle, outreach materials (rack cards and posters), and stickers to attach to a container for lead tackle collection. We currently have funding to support lead tackle exchanges in the following towns:
| Albion | Frankfort | Newburgh | Stockton Springs |
| Appleton | Freedom | Northport | Swanville |
| Belfast | Hampden | Orland | Thorndike |
| Belmont | Hope | Orrington | Troy |
| Brooks | Jackson | Palermo | Union |
| Bucks Mills Rod & Gun Club | Jefferson | Penobscot | Unity |
| Bucksport | Knox | Penobscot County Conservation Assoc. | Vassalboro |
| Burnham | Knox County Fish & Game | Plymouth | Waldo |
| Camden | Liberty | Prospect | Warren |
| China | Lincolnville | Rockport | Washington |
| Detroit | Monroe | Searsmont | Windsor |
| Dixmont | Montville | Searsport | Winslow |
| Etna | Morrill | Somerville | Winterport |
Would You Like to Set Up a Lead Tackle Collection Site in your Town?
We currently have funding to support lead tackle collection at a number of Maine lakes and ponds. Please contact us if you are interested in setting up a lead tackle collection bin at a boat ramp located on one of the following lakes or ponds, or let us know if you have an organization or business in mind in one of the towns listed above which might be interested in serving as an ongoing lead tackle collection site. Unlike one-time exchange events, ongoing collection sites require someone to construct and install a collection bin, check regularly for deposited tackle, and dispose of the lead tackle at a designated lead collection facility (or it can be mailed to us at Maine Audubon, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, ME 04105).
Boat Launches within our 2020 Fish Lead Free Project Area
| Lake | Boat Launch Coordinates | Town | Trailerable or Hand Carry |
| Unity Pond | 44.682, -69.3426 | Unity | T |
| China Lake | 44.4457, -69.6054 | Vassalboro | T |
| China Lake | 44.4791, -69.5111 | China | T |
| Sheepscot Pond | 44.37758, -69.43285 | Palermo | T |
| Lake Saint George | 44.39442, -69.35031 | Liberty | T |
| Stevens Pond | 44.38197, -69.29759 | Liberty | T |
| Trues Pond | 44.39075, -69.29099 | Liberty | HC |
| Sandy Pond | 44.5236, -69.2931 | Freedom | T |
| Swan Lake | 44.5256, -68.9998 | Swanville | T |
| Megunticook Lake | 44.2349, -69.10872 | Camden | T |
| Megunticook Lake | 44.24756, -69.08977 | Camden | T |
| Washington Pond | 44.27477, -69.38973 | Washington | HC |
| Alford Lake | 44.23808, -69.22743 | Hope | T |
| Belfast Bay | 44.42866, -69.0038 | Belfast | T |
| Silver Lake | 44.60142, -68.79369 | Bucksport | T |
| Silver Lake | 44.59942, -68.79151 | Bucksport | HC |
| Jacob Buck Pond | 44.64207, -68.74422 | Bucksport | T |
| Seven Tree Pond | 44.20322, -69.27575 | Union | T |
| South Pond | 44.109482, -69.278024 | Warren | T |
| Chickawaukie Pond | 44.1366, -69.12 | Rockland | T |
| Crystal Pond | 44.29573, -69.39552 | Washington | HC |
About Lead Exchange Presentations:
This year, Maine Audubon will also be offering presentations about common loons and the Fish Lead Free Initiative to a number of Maine towns. Presentations are 30-50 minutes long and include a multimedia slide show about loon natural history, as well as an overview of current threats, including lead tackle. Lead-free tackle and outreach materials will also be available.
Contact Us:
For more information or to schedule a presentation for your organization, please email Hannah Young from Maine Audubon.
If You Find a Dead Loon
- If you find a dead loon, please call Maine Audubon at (207) 781- 2330 ext. 219.
- If you can’t reach someone immediately, please double bag the loon and place in a freezer right away to stop any further decomposition. Please label the bag with your name, contact information, date, and location where the loon was recovered and any notes that might help determine cause of death. Regional Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offices may have freezer space or you can drop the loon at Maine Audubon headquarters in Falmouth (but please call ahead to schedule a drop-off! 207-781-2330 ext. 219).
- Please report injured or loons trapped in ice to Avian Haven at 207-382-6761.
For more information about Maine lead free fishing please click here or here.
If you’d like to add your local Maine store to the list above, please fill out the form:
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