I was just reading on another local fishing website about the lead ban in Mass. Apparently it begins in 2012. Not only does it include weights, sinkers, etc. but it also includes lead jigs and spinnerbaits!
To keep this bass related: Remember this when doing your tackle shopping in 2011! I know I will be adjusting my purchases so that I don't have a whole bunch of leftover bass spinnerbaits and bass jigs come 2012.
What do you guys think about this? I am hoping tackle companies give us some new options at decent prices and make them more widely available.
Last edited by towelie on Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:08 am; edited 1 time in total
To keep this bass related: Remember this when doing your tackle shopping in 2011! I know I will be adjusting my purchases so that I don't have a whole bunch of leftover bass spinnerbaits and bass jigs come 2012.
What do you guys think about this? I am hoping tackle companies give us some new options at decent prices and make them more widely available.
Last edited by towelie on Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:08 am; edited 1 time in total
That blows. 
Tru tungsten makes some jigs and a couple other companies too and terminator makes a custom tungsten spinner bait as well but still those things aren't cheap along with the sinkers and drop shot weight and every other bait besides plastic bait have lead all crank bait even the balsa ones this is just nonsense if you ask me.
Tru tungsten makes some jigs and a couple other companies too and terminator makes a custom tungsten spinner bait as well but still those things aren't cheap along with the sinkers and drop shot weight and every other bait besides plastic bait have lead all crank bait even the balsa ones this is just nonsense if you ask me. 
I agree this is 100% BS. Think of all of your jerkbaits and cranks, they all have lead in them. Tungsten jigs and spinner baits are not affordable especially if you lose a couple every trip to wood. I personally got sick of spending money on jigs last year so I started pouring my own. I am actually pouring my own LEAD-FREE brush and football jigs. The alloy I am using is leadfree and 90% of the weight of lead.
I've never even seen jigs or spinnerbaits made with anything but lead. Are you sure that's the rule? I know in NH they have the lead ban in effect, but its for anything less than an inch long. Anything over 1" is ok.
Like the others were saying there are some alternatives such as tungsten weights and jigs, although more expensive and have much different properties than lead.
Am I sure about the rule? In the Mass Fish and WIldlife magazine for 2010 (the one you get when you buy your license) on page 21 under fishing prohibitions they say:
"NOTE: Lead fishing sinkers and jigs less than 1 ounce will be prohibited in all inland waters of the Commonwealth effective January 1, 2012."
Now this was from the 2010 booklet, so I can only hope they changed this.
Question... To Anyone that has bought their license already for 2011, Can you look in the 2011 Mass Fish and Wildlife booklet and see if this statement is still there? It's probably under the fishing prohibitions section again, right after the Quabbin and Wachusett Rez regulations on lead.
Apparently its for items under 1 ounce, I know Strike King makes 1 ounce Hack Attack jigs, so those should be theoretically still legal to use in 2012
The lead band only applies to Quabbin & Washusett this year.
Next year 2012. Quote from the mag.
NOTE: Lead fishing sinkers and jigs less than 1 ounce will
be prohibited in all inland waters of the Commonwealth
effective January 1, 2012.
Thats straight from the new 2011 mag from the state. Page 21.
Next year 2012. Quote from the mag.
NOTE: Lead fishing sinkers and jigs less than 1 ounce will
be prohibited in all inland waters of the Commonwealth
effective January 1, 2012.
Thats straight from the new 2011 mag from the state. Page 21.
The abstracts say jigs and weights but no mention on spinnerbaits.
Hopefully we don't have to replace our spinnerbaits also.
This sucks.
I really hope I am wrong but I think they consider the head of a spinnerbait a "jig".
towelie,
I have the new 2011 mag. And yes the lead band is still in there for Jan. 1 2012.
Right now it is only subject to Quabbin & Wachusett Reservoirs.
Thanks for checking on that revjim! that stinks it is still in there
WTF you guys think they'll actually be checking your baits and cracking down on people? If so than this is gonna suck big time. Ive also heard things said about MA banning 2 stroke engines too but if that happens i'm giving up fishing lol.
I am really not sure about them checking your baits. Some items are obvious, like lead weights and lead tube hooks so they could easily identify those, but things like spinnerbaits might be a little tougher to identify.
I would not be surprised if they did starting checking peoples tackle though, considering how many times the environmental police and game wardens checked my fishing llicense last year...
When New Hampshire imposed the law about lead, they were measuring the lead jigs from the end of the tie eye to the end of the bend of the hook..Most jigs are over 1 inch, and spinnerbaits are between 2 and 4 inches. Massachusetts doesnt have a brain and it will probably follow the same guidelines as N.H. All they will have to do is copy the book....It will have a direct effect on lead weights, bullit, split shots, drop shots etc.
Anyone read new bassmasters mag. They had article stated that the ban was being fought and won't go into effect this year
I just went back and located this article, it was from the Jan issue of BassMaster. Unfortunately, the article is about the denied status of a petition that wanted to ban the manufacture and sale of fishing tackle containing lead.
However this article was still a great read for us in Mass because it really covers the topic and does offer up some alternatives other than just tungsten like Tungsten blends (similar properties to tungsten but not as pricey), ultra steel (harder than lead, but less dense), Tin (easy to mold, nearly as cheap as lead, but less dense), and brass (more affordable than tungsten).
But, the availability on these alternative materials is not good! Yeah they are out there, brass bullet weights are out there and tungsten jigs are findable, but this does not look promising.
I really hope our local stores do their part and get a decent amount of non-lead products on the shelf for 2012 because how are we supposed to adjust to this if we can't even find the non-lead tackle.