Yup, you read that right. Really it’s nothing new…environmental groups have been trying to outlaw the use of lead in fishing gear and ammo for years. Their main argument:

> “Lead jigs and sinkers can poison loons when the birds scoop them up on lake bottoms while they are searching for pebbles to help them digest their food.

> “People don’t make that connection — that when they lose a lead jig, it never rusts or decomposes…it sits there for decades.”

So what’s the impact?

 

A lead ban would mean you could expect fishing tackle to become waaaay more expensive overall since a lot of heavier lead alternatives (like tungsten) are dang near worth their weight in gold.

Some states such as NH, VT, NY and ME already have some form of a lead ban. Believe in NH it’s a $250 fine if you’re caught using lead jigs/sinkers, so still a little bit cheaper than buying tungsten in the first place lol.

IMO it’s just a matter of time before we see some type of a lead ban here in MN. I’m not taking sides ‘cuz I see where both are coming from…but:

Have shared this meme before ‘cuz sometimes it be like that (lol) and…

…here’s a few recent posts I’ve stumbled across from people that know the feeling all too well:

1) Check Phillip Forster’s hilarious caption under this post in the Lund Boat Owners Facebook group. We’ve all been there, or will be one day:

2)Texas hold ’em poker NWT pro Robert Blosser sees your aluminum, and raises you stainless at Devils Lake, ND:

Of course props aren’t the only thing that can hit the bottom…of your check book….

3) Looks like Kim and Mark Ramsey took a rock to the face of their Lund Pro Sport 1700 when they were trailering. Give that a +1 to you tiller guys/gals:

One of those things I’d never even think to have happen. Was hipped to a cool new-ish product called the Flack Jaket by TW fan Matt Ristow. Company makes bow guards and windshield protectors that could probably pay for themselves with one bad hop of a rock? Definitely diggin’ it:

If you want a little better look at the finished product, NWT pro Robert Cardenas posted a video earlier this summer showing how to install the windshield cover.

First off: If you’re still not following full-time guide Tom Boley over on the YouTubez yet, better get on it! Dude kicks out a ton of content and does a great job of breaking down the where/why…not just the what.

His newest vid breaks down how he snap jigs with a 4″ Kalin’s Jerk Minnow Jr. for shallow walleyes all fall long:

Keep cranking out the vids, man!

It’s hard to make rods look cool in pics, but Okuma nailed it with this shot:

That’s one of their under-100-buckaroos Dead Eye Customs. I just picked one up in the 7′ 4″ M extra-fast action to use for shallow snap jigging (long casts, not vertical) and think it’ll double as a Rippin’ Rap rod.

Haven’t got to try it for either of those techniques yet, but used it pre-fishing on Gull Lake with big creek chubs and liked it. No joke my very first two drops were a huuuuge “under” followed up by a kicker:

Of course neither of those fish ^ decided to bite again on tourney day lol. Wasn’t for lack of trying…my Humminbird HELIX G1 was lit up like it was on demo mode all day:

And yes, I have since cleaned my screens lol. #Don’tJudgeMe

…John Hoyer and Tom Keenan walking up to the weigh-in stage at the NWT Championship on Devils Lake, ND. #Goats

Lol!

Case you need a reminder: Hoyer won the derby (plus a $97,320 payday!) and Tom secured the ‘Angler of the Year’ title against the top walleye sticks in the world.