Contact: Kevin McDonald, 651-215-0262
Laurie Gustafson, 651-215-0230
Saint Paul, Minn. - It's time to clean out your tackle box and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) want to help. The MPCA and the DNR are partnering with retailers and others to offer more than 30 lead tackle exchanges across the state this summer. The exchanges offer anglers a chance to try out non-toxic tackle and compare these new products against lead versions. There is no charge to exchange tackle.
Depending on what anglers turn in, lead tackle will be swapped for non-lead jigs, split shot, walking sinkers, bullet/worm slip sinkers and bell swivel weights in various sizes and colors.
"New at this year's exchanges are an array of the popular tungsten-composite weights," said Kevin McDonald, Get the Lead Out! program coordinator.
Lead is a toxic metal that has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of mammals and birds. Traditionally used in fishing jigs and sinkers, this metal has been found to poison wildlife such as loons and eagles that inadvertently swallow tackle made from lead. Specifically, loons dive to the bottom of lakes in search of stones to grind their food, where they can swallow lead sinkers. Eagles can ingest lead by swallowing fish with a lead sinker or jig still in its body.
Events will be held on the dates and locations listed below. Visit www.reduce.org for complete details.
- June 22 (2 pm - 7 pm), Forest Lake,Gander Mountain, 14640 West Freeway Drive
- June 23 (1 pm - 6 pm), Alexandria, Christopherson Bait, 309 3rd Avenue East
- June 23 (12 pm - 5 pm), Willmar, Brad's 71 Bait & Sports, 5255 Hwy 71 Northeast
- June 26 (2 pm - 7 pm), Minneapolis, Moore's Bait & Tackle, 618 West 58th Street
- June 29 (2 pm - 7 pm), St. Paul, Joe's Sporting Goods, 33 County Road B East
- June 30 (12 pm - 5 pm), Winona, West End Bait Shop, 950 West 5th Street
- July 5 (1 pm - 6 pm), Minnetonka, Gander Mountain, 4900 County Road 101
- July 6 (2 pm - 7 pm), Stillwater, Jimmy's Bait & Tackle, 806 Main Street South
- July 7 (1 pm - 6 pm), Hackensack, Swanson's Bait Shop & Gas, 33 North 1st Street
- July 7 (1 pm - 6 pm), Hermantown, Gander Mountain, 4275 Haines Road
- July 11 (12 pm - 5 pm), St. Paul, DNR Headquarters, 500 Lafayette Road North
- July 13 (1 pm - 6 pm), Crosslake, Bait Box & Marina, 36624 County Road 66
- July 13 (2 pm - 7 pm), Blaine, Gander Mountain, 10650 Baltimore Street Northeast
- July 14 (1 pm - 6 pm), Bemidji, Bluewater Bait & Sport, 801 Washington Avenue Southeast
- July 14 (1 pm - 6 pm), White Bear Lake, Hansen's Little Bear, 5051 Stewart Avenue
- July 14 (1 pm - 6 pm), Mankato, Scheels All Sports, River Hills Mall 1850 Adams Street
- July 20 (12 pm - 5 pm), Marshall, Borch's Sporting Goods, 1309 East College Drive
- July 20 (2 pm - 7 pm), Lakeville, Gander Mountain, 16861 Kenyon Avenue
- July 21 (1 pm - 6 pm), Detroit Lakes, Quality Bait & Tackle, 1210 Washington Avenue
- July 21 (12 pm - 5 pm), Grand Rapids, God's Country Outfitters, 29755 State Highway 38
- July 22 (11 am - 4 pm), Rogers, Cabela's, 20200 Rogers Drive
- July 27 (2 pm - 7 pm), Woodbury, Gander Mountain, 10470 Hudson Road
- July 28 (1 pm - 6 pm), Cook, Northwoods Bait & Tackle, 220 South Highway 53
- Aug. 3 (2 pm - 7 pm), Maplewood, Gander Mountain, 1747 Beam Avenue East
- Aug. 4 (1 pm - 6 pm), Baxter, Gander Mountain, 14275 Edgewood Drive
- Aug. 11 (1 pm - 5 pm), Longville, One Stop Convenience Store, 5006 State Highway 84 Northeast
- Aug. 15 (3:30 pm - 7 pm), Minneapolis, Midtown Public Market, 22nd Avenue South & Lake Street
- Aug. 18 (1 pm - 6 pm), Two Harbors, Al's Bait & Tackle, 1028 7th Avenue
- Aug. 18 (1 pm - 6 pm), St. Cloud, Sportsman's Warehouse, 60 Waite Avenue South
- Aug. 25 (1 pm - 6 pm), Rochester, Gander Mountain, 1201 South Broadway
Additionally, two locations are offering continuous tackle exchanges this season:
- Eagan (June 1 - Aug. 31): Lebanon Hills Visitors Center, 860 Cliff Rd.
- McGregor (June 1 - Aug. 31): Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, State Highway 65 near McGregor
For more information about lead-free tackle and the 2006 lead tackle exchanges, visit www.reduce.org.
