Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Barbara Skoglund, 651-296-5965 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Saint Paul, Minn. - With the fishing season upon us, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources are once again partnering with retailers and others to offer more than 30 lead tackle exchanges across the state this summer. The annual exchange events offer anglers a chance to try the growing variety of lead-free fishing tackle. Lead is a toxic metal that has adverse effects on human health and wildlife. Identified as one of the top 25 toxic chemical pollutants in Minnesota, lead can cause cancer and other serious illnesses to humans and is a serious toxin to wildlife. For decades Minnesotans have been working hard to avoid exposure to lead in our homes, at work and the outdoors. Our state and national birds -- loons and eagles -- are poisoned when they inadvertently swallow tackle made from lead. Anglers can help keep toxic lead out of our environment by bringing lead-containing sinkers, jigs and other weights to a tackle exchange event. In exchange, anglers receive a variety of new, lead-free fishing tackle made of tin, bismuth, tungsten and steel. The goal of these events is to educate anglers and give them the opportunity to experiment with lead-free fishing tackle. There is no charge to exchange tackle. Depending on what anglers turn in, lead tackle is swapped for non-lead jigs, split shot, walking sinkers, bullet/worm slip sinkers and bell swivel weights in various sizes and colors. New this year for all anglers who participate in the swap are the "Smart Stop" bobber stops created by Eagan-based lead-free tackle maker, Dr. Drop. Visit www.reduce.org for more information about lead-free tackle and complete details on the exchange events. Exchange events across Minnesota are listed below. -- June 14, 2 - 7 p.m., St. Paul, Joe's Sporting Goods, 33 County Road B N.
-- June 15, 1 - 6 p.m., Hermantown, Gander Mountain, 4275 Haines Road
-- June 16, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Aitkin, Rivers and Lakes Fair, Rippleside Elementary School, 225 Second Ave. S.W.
-- June 16, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Paul, Como Lake Water Festival, 1360 N. Lexington Parkway
-- June 21, 2 - 7p.m., Lakeville, Gander Mountain, 16861 Kenyon Ave.
-- June 22, 1 - 6 p.m., Battle Lake, Ben's Bait and Tackle, 21600 State Highway 78
-- June 23, 3 - 6 p.m., Houston, Houston Nature Center, 215 West Plum St.
-- June 28, 2 - 7 p.m., Alexandria, Christopherson's Bait, 309 Third Ave. E.
-- June 29, 1 - 6 p.m., Eden Prairie, Gander Mountain, 12160 Technology Drive
-- June 30, 1 - 6 p.m., Baxter, Gander Mountain, 14275 Edgewood Drive
-- July 5, 2 - 7 p.m., Victoria, Cabin Fever Sporting Goods, 1550 Arboretum Blvd.
-- July 6, 1 - 6 p.m., Forest Lake, Mike's Bait on 8, 6595 Lake Boulevard N.
-- July 12, 5 - 7 p.m., Nisswa, Gull Lake Chain Association, Zapffe-Verdeja Point, Gull Lake (This event has been cancelled)
-- July 12, 2 - 7 p.m., Rochester, Gander Mountain, 1201 S. Broadway
-- July 13, 1 - 6 p.m., Oakdale, Blue Ribbon Bait and Tackle, 1985 Geneva Ave. N.
-- July 14, 1 - 6 p.m., Hackensack, Swanson's Bait and Tackle, 333 N. First St.
-- July 15, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Minneapolis, Aquatennial, Thomas Beach, Lake Calhoun
-- July 19, 1 - 6 p.m., Marshall, Borch's Sporting Goods, 1309 E. College Drive
-- July 19, 2 - 7 p.m., Ely, Red Rock Wilderness Store, 2267 Fernberg Road
-- July 20, 1 - 6 p.m., Garrison, Tutt's Bait and Tackle, 27358 State Highway 18
-- July 21, 1 - 6 p.m., Tower, Vermilion Fuel and Food, 610 Main St.
-- July 25, 1 - 6 p.m., Crosslake, Bait Box Marina, 36624 County Road 66
-- July 26, 2 - 7 p.m., Mankato, Gander Mountain, 1940 Adams St.
-- July 27, 1 - 6 p.m., Bemidji, Bluewater Bait and Sports, 801 Washington Ave. S.E.
-- August 2, 2 - 7 p.m., Waite Park, Scheels, 40 N. Waite Ave.
-- August 3, 1 - 6 p.m., Grand Rapids, Rapids West End Marketplace, 1509 N.W. Fourth St.
-- August 4, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Woodbury, Gander Mountain, 10470 Hudson Road
-- August 9, 2 - 7 p.m., Hutchinson, Hutch Outpost, 1201 Main St. N
-- August 9, 2 - 7 p.m., Two Harbors, Al's Bait and Tackle, 1028 Seventh Ave.
-- August 10, 1 - 6 p.m., Longville, The One Stop, 5006 State Highway 84
-- August 11, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Maple Grove, Gander Mountain, 8030 Wedgewood Lane
-- August 16, 2 - 7 p.m., Blaine, Gander Mountain, 10650 Baltimore St. N.E.
-- August 17, 1 - 6 p.m., Fairmont, Master Sports Bait and Tackle, 1547 Albion Ave.
-- August 18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Grand Marais, Buck's Hardware Hank, First Avenue West and First Street