Our very own Laura Williams was a guest on the Fish Nerds Podcast last month, talking about lead-free fishing. The podcast host, the “Crappie Hippie,” originally scheduled her for ten minutes but they had so much fun, it turned out to be the focus of the whole show. Podcast host John King (aka “the Crappie […]
Fish Lead Free
Broad Support Demonstrated for Bill to Close Loophole in Lead Fishing Tackle Laws
On May 8, advocates gathered to testify at a public hearing before Maine State Legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee in support of LD 958, a bill to update existing law to phase out the sale and use of small-sized painted lead jigs to more comprehensively address lead-caused mortalities in Maine’s Common Loons. Lead poisoning […]
Bill to Help Protect Loons from Lead Poisoning on Tap in the Legislature
For decades, lead poisoning has been one of the leading causes of loon mortality in Maine, but we’re working to prevent it. Loons ingest a striking amount of fishing tackle that is either lost or left behind, or in fish that have ingested tackle. When swallowing small pebbles to aid their digestion, loons can sometimes […]
Fish Lead Free: Wow that’s a lot of lead!
March has been a busy month for our Fish Lead Free project! We have been at Sportsman’s Shows around the state getting the lead out, talking about the lead tackle law, promoting the use of biodegradables, and sharing ideas about properly securing soft plastic lures. In Maine it is illegal to use lead sinkers or […]
New soft plastic lure project invites anglers to gather data
Have you ever thought about the fish you are catching�or eating? And wondered what that fish had been eating? Soft plastic fishing lures are a popular and common tackle used extensively across Maine. These lures imitate worms, frogs, and other natural baits by moving more freely through the water than a hard plastic lure. Soft […]
Fish Lead Free: Getting Out on the Ice!
It was a slow start to ice fishing season in Maine this year, but in February the ice fishing events were stacked so I decided to join in the fun and was out on the ice educating anglers about the benefits of lead-free fishing. Why?� Because lead poisoning in loons is one of the� leading […]
Boosting Fish Lead Free efforts this winter
Winter is the perfect time to clean out your tackle box of any unwanted or illegal lead tackle. You might start by cleaning out the illegal tackle: Maine bans the use and sale of lead sinkers and unpainted lead jig heads weighing 1 ounce or less and measuring 2.5 inches long or less. But since […]
Maine Audubon releases PSAs on wildlife-friendly fishing tips
Maine is a great place to fish, whether you�re at the ocean, on a lake, or in a river.� And if we all take a few simple steps this summer, we can keep it that way. To help support our native fish populations as well as wildlife like the iconic loon, Maine Audubon has created […]