Get Involved

To Complete a Form Letter Supporting the Ban on Lead Sinkers

To Complete a Form Letter Opposing the Ban on Lead Sinkers

To Contact U.S. Senator - Vermont Patrick Leahy

To Contact U.S. Senator - Vermont Jim Jeffords

To Contact U.S. Independent Representative - Vermont Bernie Sanders

Exchange Programs in Vermont

Vermont has embarked on a public education campaign to convince anglers to use alternatives to lead. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Service sets up displays at more than a dozen state parks, tackle shops and fishing events (see Figure 1). These displays aim to educate anglers about the hazards of lead and allows them to exchange their lead sinkers for nontoxic steel ones. This program has persuaded citizens from Vermont to turn in over 15, 000 lead sinkers and jigs in exchange for new environmentally friendly weights (VFW 2004).

Figure 1. Lead Exchange Program (Hudolin 2004).

Exchange Program

During the summer of 2003, I mentored a young child who tried to educate the citizens of the Northeast Kingdom about the harmful effects lead can have on our environment. Anglers were given tin sinkers in exchange for lead. They reported that their fishing had not been diminished in any way, but the use of a much-larger sinker, to match the weight of lead made it more difficult while casting. Also, some opposition was reported because of increased future costs for weights.

Many anglers make their own lead sinkers within their homes. These people are exposed to minor lead hazards and care should always be exercised. To learn more about ways to reduce exposure visit the Canadian Guide to LureMaking website.

Attention Anglers! Exchange your lead sinkers for non-toxic sinkers free of charge through the National Wildlife Federation's sinker exchange program, in conjunction with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife's Nongame and Natural Heritage Program (Fowle and Hanson 2003).

Lead Sinkers may be swapped for non-toxic sinkers at these Vermont locations:

Barnard General Store, Barnard – 234-9688

Chapman’s Store, Fairlee – 333-9709

Chipman Point Marina, Orwell – 948-2288

Champlain Bridge Marina, Addison – 800-729-2469

Classic Outfitters, South Burlington – 860-7375

Elmore Store, Lake Elmore – 888-2296

Evansville Trading Post, Brownington – 754-6305

The Fishing Hole, Morrisville – 888-6210

The Great Outdoors, Newport – 334-2831

Lindholm Sport Center, Rutland – 773-6000

Lotus Lake Camp, Williamstown – 433-5451

Mart’s Sporting Goods, Poultney – 287-9022

The Moorings Marina, Colchester – 862-1407

The Morgan Country Store, Morgan – 895-2706

North Country Bait and Tackle, Swanton – 868-7843

North Hero Marina, Inc., North Hero – 372-5953

Northern Exposure Country Store, Westmore – 525-3789

Northern Wildlife Taxidermy, Island Pond – 723-6290

Quimby Country, Averill – 822-5533

Ralph and Joan’s Bait Shop, Mt. Holly – 259-3349

Tom’s Bait and Tackle Shop, Bomoseen – 265-8654

Village Sport Shop, Lyndonville – 626-8448

Well’s Village Store, Wells – 645-0332

Willey’s Store, Greensboro – 533-2621

Or the following State Parks throughout Northeastern Vermont:

Bomoseen, Brighton, Burton Island, Camp Plymouth, Grand Isle, Green River Reservoir, Maidstone, and Stillwater.

For further information, please contact Margaret Fowle at the National Wildlife Federation's Northeast Natural Resource Center at (802) 229-0650, or Eric Hanson, VINS loon biologist at (802) 586-8064.

Thank you for helping to conserve our precious wildlife resources!