Hi Folks,
As far as I can determine, SC does not
“yet” have any laws in place regarding the
use of lead as weight for fishing. Lead
wire is still available for weighting flies.
Has it been outlawed in some other areas?
I would hate to tie swap flies or send some
flies to a buddy only to have him be
ticketed for fishing them. Can someone
shed some light on this question? Warm
regards, Jim
Most lead weights have been outlawed in NY - the target of the law is split shot and the alleged harm it causes to waterfowl, but no lead wire or dumbbell eyes are available for sale anymore. You can still legally use lead previously owned or bought out of state.
Some jurisdictions do not allow weighted flies of any kind - typically for fly fishing only sections or in certain rivers (most, if not all Atlantic salmon rivers in Canada for example) I’d recommend letting anyone you give a fly to know that it’s weighted. Beyond that, it’s up to the user to be aware of the regulations.
[This message has been edited by GrsdLnr (edited 25 December 2005).]
Jim - No “laws” as such in Indiana at this time. I wonder how they’d enforce it? Will they have a “fly inspection team”? Perhaps they could x-ray the flies!! <G>
Donald
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Arial”>quote:</font><HR> As far as I can determine, SC does not
“yet” have any laws in place regarding the
use of lead as weight for fishing.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Same for Florida as far as I know.
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
Jim,
On certain (fly only) waters here in Oregon anglers are not allowed to add any weight, such as split shot, to the leader or tippet. Any weight used must be built into the fly. Lead wraps, lead eyes, and beadheads are all fine as long as no external weight is used.
Jeremy
Yellowstone Park does not allow Lead use.
Montana does not mind. Just can’t use lead shot shells for ducks or geese is about it here.
I also know that there is some kind of law against it in Maine also. Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 25 December 2005).]
your fine if you ever come to wisconsin
i think we are cutting down on lead shot for hunting as well just better for the environment as a whole
Jim;
As well as your great Shrimp Dip you’ve come in again with a saving post. I’m in a weighted/beadhead nymph swap. Only 2 tyed using lead wire and a beadhead, I’ll sub steel wire for the swap!!
Thanks for the wake up!!
I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!
Cactus
I know you can no longer use lead shotshells
or buy lead at wally world shot or sinkers but I still get my lead wire at my favorite sporting goods store…so I’m not sure what the laws are here in PA…anyone else out there who does???
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
Everyone wants to excel in this sport but at the same time we let traditionalists place restrictions on our tactics, methods, and ideas. I always assumed that fly fishing was a sport that allowed imagination, creation, adaptation, investigation, dedication, education, revelation? : Fox Statler, On Spinners (Not the dainty Dry Fly kind) “Spinner’d Minner Fly”
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
So someone is going to cut your fly open to determine if it’s weighted or not? I know we all want to be law abiding, but, it’s like driving through a yellow lite. It’s been years, but, I remember the researsh on loons and lead. Very sketchy at best.
You never want to get shot with a shotgun shell of lead pellets. Might kill ya.
[This message has been edited by chewydog (edited 26 December 2005).]
Hi Jim,
New York State bans the sale of lead sinkers and split shot of a half ounce or more. You can still fish with, and buy lead wire although some shops around where I live don’t sell it anymore. The NYS DEC web site mentions New Hampshire and Maine doing about the same too.
Regards,
Mark
NY’s law is not as bad as most people think. If you read it, it very specific on what it covers. Many parks around the country now have “NO LEAD” rules. I feel this is a good thing and to show support I no longer buy lead products when there is non lead substitute.
Joe Fox
Thanks for the input Folks. Had seen it
mentioned a number of times but without a
lot of details. Apparantly it’s not of
major concern thus far in most areas. As
to enforcement of laws when they are more
widespread, I have no doubt the authorities
will come up with methods. Makes no sense
to pass laws that can’t be enforced.G I’m
neither for or against it without more info
but if it becomes law, I abide by them.
Warm regards, Jim
JH, RW here
Most states taking the stance of no more sales and the fact that lead that fishermen already own will be simply used up by attrition, and will go away by itself in a few years. I think that was the smart way to go because as some folks on this thread have said…It can’t be enforced to any degree, and warden’s have a heckuva lot more important things to do than check fishermen’s split shot.
Later, RW
“We fish for pleasure; I for mine, you for yours.” -James Leisenring on fishing the wet fly-
Hey RW,
Most states taking the stance of no more sales and the fact that lead that fishermen already own will be simply used up by attrition, and will go away by itself in a few years.
Not only would such a law be mostly unenforceable here, I know a lot of anglers that get used lead from a number of sources (example: lead wheel weights) that they melt and mold for jigs, other weights and such. Don’t know about other states but Florida will most likely never see the lead run out and I think that’s why there will not be any lead fishing laws here because they know if a law is put in place, that just because anglers won’t be able to buy from a “store” doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t get it. It would be an exercise in futility and the State of Florida knows it. Too many uses and sources for lead. However, if a lead fishing law is put in place here like Jim said, I would abide by it even though it won’t work.
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
I have read that on some streams where lead is not allowed, the DNR has a dip method to determine if you are using lead.
They dip the fly into a vial containing a chemical solution, and if the liquid changes color, that will indicate that you are using lead as part of your fly pattern.
I think alot of you would be suprised how much time a fisheries officer has,and the simple devices that exist that a fly or whatever “Lure” can be placed in and or on to determine exactly what chemical makeup it may contain…
I know for a fact that they have time to ask that you wade over to them and count into seporate buckets the exact contents of a bait fisherman’s bait container and fine accordingly…One of the reasons I am a Flyfisher these days…For those pressed for time and also cheap…gathering ones own minnows and crayfish can be costly in both time and money…lol
Had the bro in-law actually taken his share out of the one minnow container we used while netting…we’d been good to go…and I’d not gotten the ONLY fine I’ve ever gotten in my life!!! (written and posted during the same time Mr. Steven H. was posting)
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 27 December 2005).]
Go to Radio Shack and get yourself silver solder, it even comes in different thickness.
It seems to me that the question we shoud be asking is " What is right for the environment?" NOT “Can they enforce the law?” or “What can I get by with?” We criticize the big companies when they play this game but pat ourselves on the back when we play it.
bluehackle -
I agree with you in general, but some of the “science” behind the lead issue is suspect at best - and the resultant regulations can really run into a ditch.
There has been extensive EPA testing at the site of numerous gun ranges across the US. Stated purpose was to determine the amount of lead from spent shotshells that was leaching into the ground water. (Conspiracy theorists will claim it was a clever ruse to try and shut down gun ranges) Remember, some of these ranges have been in business for decades - and have had literally tons of lead deposited. Bottom line - no incidence of lead contamination - and in some cases the water was significantly better than that from a city treatment plant.
Last time I checked a periodic table, Pb was there. Contrary to what some say, we can’t eliminate it from the environment.
I’m not advocating increased or random use of lead - but it would be nice if facts and common sense, rather than politics or personal agendas would prevail…