Roland Sigurdson, Water Resource Center

Largemouth Bass.

The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are partnering with retailers, conservation, and outdoor groups to offer lead tackle exchanges across the state this summer. Over 17 lead tackle exchange events are scheduled beginning this month. Anglers can bring lead sinkers and jigs to the event to trade for nonlead ones.

”We want to offer anglers throughout Minnesota the chance to try out and compare nonlead tackle made from metals such as bitsmuth, tin, and stainless steel,“ said Kevin McDonald, coordinator of the OEA’s non-lead tackle program.

Lead is a toxic metal that has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of mammals and birds. Found in most fishing jigs and sinkers, this metal is poisoning wildlife such as loons and eagles.

Carrol Henderson, supervisor of the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program, is enthusiastic about the lead exchange program. “This is an excellent opportunity for people who care about wildlife to cooperate with the fishing tackle industry and reduce the amount of lead being deposited in Minnesota’s lakes.”

Schedule of Exchanges: For updates, visit http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers.cfm

• Fri., July 11, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Rochester
• Fri., July 11, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Duluth
• Fri., July 11, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Fridley
• Wed.-Thurs., July 16-17, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Joe’s Sporting Goods, 935 N. Dale Street, St. Paul
• Fri., July 18, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Burnsville
• Fri., July 18, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Bemidji
• Sat., July 19, 10 a.m. to noon Lake Mary Assoc, Kensington Runestone County Park Douglas Co.
• Fri., July 25, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Minnetonka
• Fri., July 25, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - St. Cloud
• Fri.-Sat., August 1-2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Celebrating a Century of Conservation at Eagle Days -Wabasha
• Fri., August 1, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Maple Grove
• Fri., August 8, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Woodbury
• Sat., August 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dakota County Fair Grounds, Farmington
• Fri., August 15, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gander Mountain - Bloomington
• Sat., August 16, noon to 2 p.m. Marion Lake Association, Lions Club Shelter - Dent

In this session, the Legislature considered banning the sale and use of lead tackle. But after a series of stakeholder discussions, the groups involved agreed that a better approach was to educate anglers about the alternatives to lead tackle and to offer opportunities to try out non-lead sinkers and jigs.

Along with the OEA and DNR, other partners in this summer’s lead tackle exchanges include Audubon Minnesota, Cabela’s, Duluth Audubon, Gander Mountain, Duluth Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Joe’s Sporting Goods, Minnesota Lakes Association and several individual lake associations, National Eagle Center, and Voyageurs National Park Association.

Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance is a state agency dedicated to protecting Minnesota’s environment and assuring a sustainable economy through waste prevention and resource conservation.

Posted in Fish and Wildlife |