Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Kevin McDonald, 651-215-0262 Laurie Gustafson, 651-215-0230 Saint Paul, Minn. - In its seventh year, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Get the Lead Out! fishing tackle program has seen several innovations including partnerships with retailers and outfitters, an educational kit for lake associations, a study from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a planned manufacturing plant for nonlead raw material and new product offerings. "Market research has shown us that people have a hard time finding lead-free tackle in stores," said Kevin McDonald, Get the Lead Out! program coordinator. "It's difficult for retailers to find lead-free tackle stock, and they want assurances that customers will purchase it. So in response, we're offering retailers point of purchase lead-free tackle display racks." Participating retailers, including numerous gift shops within the Minnesota State Parks system, now feature customized Get the Lead Out! display racks that offer a variety of the latest lead-free weights and jigs from five Minnesota-based tackle makers. Interested citizens are encouraged to visit www.reduce.org for a complete listing of locations. In addition, the MPCA is offering lake associations in Minnesota an educational kit to help them educate members about nonlead tackle. The free kits include fact sheets, posters and sample packs of lead-free fishing tackle. The kits are designed to help spread the word about the dangers of lead tackle and the effects on the environment. Minnesota is home to many of the nation's most successful tackle manufacturers. "We've seen an explosion of interest by manufacturers, and our state is now producing some of most innovative and high quality lead-free fishing tackle in the country," said McDonald. Several major tackle makers, and a growing number of newer firms, have ambitious efforts underway to continue the rapid expansion of lead-free product offerings. Tundra Composites, based in White Bear Lake, recently announced plans to build a major manufacturing plant in Hoyt Lakes to produce tungsten polymers for use in fishing tackle, vehicle wheel weights and ammunition. The plant will eventually include up to 80 employees and produce composite raw materials for use by other tackle manufacturers. Nonlead tackle continues to drop in price and is increasingly competitive with lead counterparts. For example, the new tungsten-composite weights by Gravity Heikkila are comparably priced to lead split shot and offer superior performance. These new weights, which snap on to fishing line, are an innovative feature drawing interest from anglers. Another promising new product is the tungsten-composite sinkers produced by Eagan-based Dr. Drop Inc. The weights feature an exclusive "friction grip" process that allows for fast attachment and retrieval. This summer, lead-free tackle will be available for purchase at Minnesota State Parks. Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the DNR's Nongame Wildlife Program, is enthusiastic about Minnesota's approach to increasing the availability of lead-free tackle. "With a number of Minnesota's state parks jumping on board to provide the public with opportunities to buy lead-free tackle, we're addressing the biggest barrier to switching to lead-free products that protect our state's lakes and rivers and reduce the poisoning of wildlife," said Henderson. The DNR recently completed a research study on lost lead fishing tackle. The study found that anglers lost on average one lead tackle item for every 31 hours of fishing. Over a period of several years, these losses lead to tons of lead jigs and sinkers accumulating on lake bottoms. "Even low rates of tackle loss multiplied by hundreds of thousands of angler trips result in very large amounts of lost tackle, which can pose a significant risk to waterfowl," according to Paul Radomski, DNR research scientist and lead author of the study. The Get the Lead Out! program uses education and partnerships to encourage anglers to use nonlead tackle. Although restrictions on lead tackle are becoming more common in the United States and other countries, here in Minnesota there are no bans on the sale or use of lead weights and jigs. "By educating the general public and partnering with tackle makers and retailers, we're making great progress in moving toward lead-free fishing tackle," said the MPCA's McDonald. "More anglers are excited about lead-free fishing products, and manufacturers and retailers are responding." During the past three years, thousands of people have exchanged close to 3,000 pounds of lead tackle as part of over 90 lead tackle exchanges held throughout the state. Survey results from the 2006 Northwest Sportshow indicate a high level of awareness about the dangers of lead in fishing tackle, and further, that a significant number of Minnesotans are planning to or have begun to switch to nonlead tackle.