Please Fish Lead-Free
According to our Maine Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (IF&W), ingested lead fishing tackle is the third leading cause of death for adult loons. There are over 4,000 adult loons across the state, the largest population in the Northeast. Keeping lead sinkers and jigs out of Maine waters will help us all increase the survival of these birds and will allow for continued population growth of this species across the Northeast.
I typically collect two to three adult loons testing positive for lead poisoning every summer and just this past week, one from Lower Long Pond. In each case over the past ten years, the loon had to be euthanized, which is tragic and for which there is no excuse. To observe a loon suffering from lead poisoning is heart-breaking, especially considering how easy it is to go through your tackle box to remove ALL lead jigs, sinkers, and any tackle that may contain lead. We are all merely visitors to their lakes and they deserve our respect so let us in 2026 make a resolution to remove all lead tackle from our fishing gear. It’s also the law, but more than that, it is our moral responsibility.
In Maine, it is illegal to use, sell, or offer for sale lead sinkers and unpainted lead jigs measuring 2.5″ or less in length or weighing 1 oz. or less. Effective September 1, 2026, the use of all painted lead jigs measuring 2.5″ or less in length or weighing 1 oz. or less or less will be prohibited. It is about time.
It is also highly recommended to NOT dispose of your broken-off fishing line over the side, as it is more likely to get tangled up on a loon’s feet or bill. We all want to retrieve our favorite and expensive lures, but we all know that many times it is just not possible. The extra effort to retrieve your lure will keep it out of reach of our loons. All too often, when the fish breaks off the line, the fish is now compromised and becomes an easy meal for a passing loon whereby the hook invariably gets caught in their throat or gizzard and will ultimately result in their painful demise.
Non-toxic tackle has been available for a number of years, comes in all of the colors and many metal choices, and is environmentally safe.
While we’re at it, remember that Maine has a 200′ no-wake zone on all freshwater water bodies, as well as our coastline. If you are wakesurfing, please remember that you must be in at least 15 feet of water and must be more than 300 feet off the shoreline. I am encouraged by seeing more and more wakeboats at least riding out in the middle of the lake as opposed to a cove. Thank you!
If you have particular questions regarding our Belgrade loon population, please email and we will try to answer your question either in this column or via email. We still have a lot of summer left, so we hope you’ll continue enjoying the “call of the loon!” We are so fortunate to summer here in the Belgrades!
Dick Greenan is chairman of the Belgrade Lakes Association’s Loon Preservation Project.
Download Full Newspaper: High Res | Low Res (Details…)
<— Previous Article • Summaries • Next Article —>
©2026 by Summertime in the Belgrades. All rights reserved.