Going Green Crappie Fishing

I am like so many other fishing folks that have used Lead weights ever since I started fishing and never gave it another thought.

STOP, I have decided to go GREEN  and I do not mean with envy, but my concern about the environment and what we are doing.

I can not believe how much has been written on the hazards of fishing folks using lead and what it does to our wildlife, but we keep on using the lead weights, jigs and other small tackle items made of lead.

Some states and some countries like Canada have already got on board and have outlawed or restricted the use of lead in their Lakes to protect the health of children and the wildlife.

Take a real hard look around you and discover all the lead products that are out on the market and the danger that lerks within. I was stunned when I saw there was lead in Jewelry, and Kids' Toys, and there has to be something about getting the lead out when it is taken out of paint and the gasoline that we use in our cars and boats.

Stop and think how many times when fishing you break your line or a fish breaks the line off. What happens to the lead weight or jig?

Well, some is eaten by bottom feeders like catfish and some is the dinner for water fowl. Either species may end up as a meal for another animal in our delicate food chain or end up on your dinner table

If this is the case why not serve up a plate of lead as a side item. There is not much difference than eating a fish or bird that is full of lead.

Does The Lead Danger Stop With The Fish and Water Fowl Poisoning Taking Place? Is Our Food Chain Impacted?

Eagles are also dying after eating fish who have swallowed small lead sinkers and jigs. Poisoning has been reported in painted and snapping turtles as well as some raccoons.

You always hear the old saying "You can not teach old dog new tricks", my answer to this is "Yes, you can" and and it can start with you ordering environmentally friendly tackle shown below from Bass Pro Shops

Tru-Tungsten Worm Weights	Bass Pro Shops XPS Tungsten Drop Shot Weights
Tru-Tungsten Flippin' Weights	Ultra Steel 2000 Bullet Weights
BossTin 4 Way Split Shot Weights	Bass Pro Shops Premium Brass Weights
Ultra Steel 2000 Egg Sinkers	Bass Pro Shops Bass Casting Lead-Free Weight Assortment - 24-Pieces
Bass Pro Shops Tin Removable Split-Shot Sinkers	Bass Pro Shops XPS Woo's Tungsten Tube Weight
Tru-Tungsten Ball Buster Jigs	Tru-Tungsten Weed Wacker Jigs

Then tell all your fishing buddies and other anglers that you engage in conversation with to start Crappie Fishing Green too.

They can begin the conversion to becoming environmentally friendly anglers by participating in the "Get The Lead Out" program of replacing the existing lead weights and jigs in their tackle boxes with non-toxic metal types of tackle.

The quicker anglers adapt to and favor fishing tackle made of non-toxic types of metals, the quicker manufacturers will abandon using lead as a material.

As much as I love being in the outdoors and enjoy all the wildlife I can not even fathom the thought of no more birds, squirrels, deer, and other forest animals not to mention not a fish one left to catch. You might as well just be out for a boat ride.

As you can see from what you can order above, there is other material that we can use to replace lead such as Tungsten, Tin, Steel, Bismuth, brass, plastics and biodegradable materials.

Yeah I know, so it cost more than lead...but a small price to pay for the future of our wildlife, our environment and most of all our kids.

I want to leave a world a lot better than when I got here and an environment that my kids can enjoy as much as I did growing up.

A company in Australia offers different size weights that are made of highly-pressurized iron oxide that will disolve after a short time in the water.

So you can see some folks are trying and all I am asking is that you take the task to do the same.

Now you are saying what can I do as a single person

Check with your local Wildlife Conservation office and tell them you want to go GREEN and help get the lead out.

See what one person changing his or her atttitude and approach to "Fishing Green" can do; it has a domino effect.

I am asking, begging, you to help out so we all will have a bright future for us and our young generation.

Keep The Hooks Wet!

Steve McGoldrick