Lead free fishing

[Jan]

Hi guys,
just wandering are the fishing weights now a days really made out of the heavy metal lead (Pb). Never ever or? that toxic stuff that causes birth defects as well as brain and nerve damage?
Anyways was wondering if you guys know of any alternatives to the store bought weights? Just looking for a niffty DIY solution.

THX

 

[BASSMASTER19]

friend of mine uses solder and wraps it around his one, not sure if its better or not but her makes it work

 

[OCDComputing]

Google is your friend......http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_sinker

I believe most are now made out of Tungsten now.

 

[JustOneMoreTime]

I prefer lead.

-Weight to size ratio
-Malleable
-Cost
-Reuse

Can't afford to use: GOLD
I don't over worry about the environmental impact.

Consider:

Your car, using a cell phone and buying a tim hortons coffee - then tell me that my "lead sinkers" are causing the end of the world

lol

 

[BASSMASTER19]

I prefer lead.

-Weight to size ratio
-Malleable
-Cost
-Reuse

Can't afford to use: GOLD
I don't over worry about the environmental impact.

Consider:

Your car, using a cell phone and buying a tim hortons coffee - then tell me that my "lead sinkers" are causing the end of the world

lol

good point, i saw a guy at tight lines fussing about the lead in his weights then as soon as he walked out he threw the garbage bag on the ground look at the receipt and did the same, i just had to face palm my self

 

[fishermandan420]

Most shot is still lead. Water gremlin makes a non-toxic shot, but Its considerably more expensive. Lebarons carries it

 

[RedCat]

Lead because it is cheap and it works. For some applications I buy tungsten but 99.9% of my weights and jigs are lead.

I make my own heavy sinkers at a low cost.

 

[usernamehere]

matzuo also makes lead-free weights. The thing with them is that they rust a lot faster.

 

[chinooky]

Most weights sold are still made of lead because it is cheap and it is dense.

As far as toxicity goes, lead is not water soluble so it will not be taken up by plants or fish. I believe the problem comes if waterfowl ingest a bellyful of lead. Hopefully our waters never get to a state where we will ever have to worry about it.

 

[Jan]

Might not get solved by water but guaranteed ground up and end up in the food chain.
There is no single argument that will convince me that it is ok to use toxic substances like lead. There is no other way for me then finding a better solution... will keep you guys updated as soon as I found something that works.

 

[Jan]

Got this from another forum really good

Tungsten dust can be toxic if inhaled long term, but few of us will ever see such exposure......... and highly unlikely from the currently available sinker products.

Problem with tungsten is the WOW cost......... it's way over the top.

Here's a few links I quickly gathered in this subjects regard (no recommendations - just sharing info....):

http://www.rockybrooksinkers.com/

http://www.ecofervor.com/Eco-friendly-st...B007304CX6

http://www.greentackle.com/catalog/produ...ategory/5/

http://www.oemstone.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how_12067170_make-si...rocks.html

**

BTW - diamond bits can be purchased in quantity at reasonable prices online through the likes of EBay, etc.............

If you do try this project - buy more than a few spare bits - they can snap easily and do get dull ........

Cheers,

 

[OCDComputing]

In my mind...Lead is a natural product...as long as you aren't eating it...you're good! I'm thinking that even if fish ate it...it's not soluble so you're good on that point as well. It's not like mercury that is easily absorbed. Probably WAY better than eating Uranium! LOL!