Safe Fishing on Lac Manitou

Did you know that a fisherman can lose 11-15 jigs and sinkers per year?

This is dangerous if the tackle is made of lead or mercury.

Why is this a problem?

Lead is a highly toxic metal seriously affecting humans and waterfowl.  Even low doses of lead exposure over time can lead to multiple health and cognitive impairments in humans, seriously affecting the nervous and reproductive systems.

Loons mistake the sinkers for pebbles (which they normally eat for digestion). Or they will eat fish that harbour lead tackle. This is a major cause of death in Common Loons. Ingesting them can cause blindness, muscle paralysis, reduced ability to reproduce, seizures and death. Other waterfowl such as ducks are also poisoned when eating lead sinkers.

Are there laws prohibiting lead tackle?

Lead fishing tackle is prohibited in Canada’s national parks and wildlife areas. However, our Lac Manitou can continue to be polluted by lead fishing tackle that has been lost.

Can we fish in a safe way?

Good news! It is safe to use sinkers and jigs made from materials such as tin, bismuth, antimony, steel, brass, tungsten, terpene resin putty and polypropylene. They are easily available.

Thank you to all fishermen who use safe tackle, thus keeping our Lac Manitou free of additional lead and protecting people from lead exposure and loons/waterfowl from toxic death.