I was reading one of the outfitters websites and saw that Quetico does not allow lead jigs. It said this has been since 2008. Wow! Didn't know that! I am assuming this would apply to weighted hooks and sinkers as well. Anyway, what has everyone found to be the best replacement for no lead fishing tackle and where did you buy them?

False information. Which outfitter had this posted on their website?

Lead jigs are still fine to use in Quetico. However, all hooks that are tied to your line - jigs, crankbaits, etc. - must all be barbless. This rule has been in place for quite a few years. Might have been 2008, I don't remember.

You can have a tacklebox full of barbed hooks, but when you put them on your line, the barbs must be pinched flat, or, of course, you could use true barbless hooks. Your call on that.

There is some misinformation out there. Quetico recommends lead-free but it is not mandatory.

On Seagull Outfitters website -snip-

Effective in 2008: Live bait and leaded jig heads are NOT allowed in the Quetico Park and barbless hooks are required. There are no exceptions! You are allowed to clip the barbs as you use them. A great alternative to live bait is Berkeley GULP. We supply both unleaded jig heads and Berkeley GULP in our store. If you have questions while you’re here, ask our outfitters.

There is no need to use lead in any water anywhere.

Frenchy19: "There is no need to use lead in any water anywhere."

That’s true and I don’t use it either. But… unfortunately, it’s not the rule…yet…

Thanks for the update info. I have used lead but planning to change. Where is the best place to find a good selection and what are your favorites?

I'm fairly certain I closed every split shot I've ever used with my front teeth so I'll not comment further.

Tungsten (W) is commonly used for jig heads and various weights - perhaps as a Lead (Pb) replacement. W is 1.7 times more dense than Pb making it effective for sinking jig heads but it isn't a soft metal so it's not good for split shot. That said, some folks like TSS Tungsten Putty as a replacement for Pb split shot.

uqme2: "I'm fairly certain I closed every split shot I've ever used with my front teeth so I'll not comment further."

Wait a minute--do you mean there's another way???!!!

TZ

plander: "That said, some folks like TSS Tungsten Putty as a replacement for Pb split shot."

$10 an ounce?

uqme2: "I'm fairly certain I closed every split shot I've ever used with my front teeth so I'll not comment further."

As did I. Before they knew better, they used to put lead in wine to make it sweeter. And Mercury was once used to ease the symptoms of Syphilis and bowl issues. It was quit effective until the patient died from mercury poisoning.

A fun short historical read about Lewis and Clark and mercury

Before Modern safety matches were invented and before they knew better,, workers would use white phosphorous in the match head as a strike anywhere match. They were branded as ‘Lucifer’s. They were effective matches but the use of white phosphorous in the factories thus caused the jaws bones of the workers to soften and rot away. Hence the term phossy jaw.







Before they knew better, In Libby Montana there was an expansive asbestos mine where miners processed large deposits of the mineral for use in the United Staes for products ranging from pipe insulation to ceiling and floor tiles. The tailings were used on the town on the roads and even the local baseball field. As a result of the asbestos contamination, nearly 10% of the population perished from asbestos related Decease’s. It became a Superfund site later on with more than a half billion dollars being spent to clean it up.

Libby Montana

Oh yes back to lead. It kills birds so I don’t use it for that reason.

tumblehome: "There is some misinformation out there. Quetico recommends lead-free but it is not mandatory.

On Seagull Outfitters website -snip-

Effective in 2008: Live bait and leaded jig heads are NOT allowed in the Quetico Park and barbless hooks are required. There are no exceptions! You are allowed to clip the barbs as you use them. A great alternative to live bait is Berkeley GULP. We supply both unleaded jig heads and Berkeley GULP in our store. If you have questions while you’re here, ask our outfitters."

People can say what they want about lead jigheads vs non-lead jigheads, but stating that lead jigs are NOT allowed in Quetico is not true.

It appears that Seagull Outfitters has non-lead jigheads for sale in their store so, understandably, they want to sell them. I get that, and there's nothing wrong with touting the benefits of the product they stock, but they shouldn't do it by spreading false information.

tumblehome: "Oh yes back to lead. It kills birds so I don’t use it for that reason. "

Agreed. And if you want to use something in place of lead please do! I've used floating jigs with split shots to weigh them down with decent success as well.

Lead killed a lot of birds in my youth too. Once in a while, my sister and I used to count BBs on our plates to determine who washed or dried dishes that night. Good times.

This states National Parks, so guessing quetico is not that?

Rules for lead sinkers and jigs
You can’t use lead fishing sinkers or jigs in Canada’s national parks and wildlife areas. When birds and other wildlife swallow them, they can get lead poisoning.

Learn about the fishing rules in individual National Parks.

Ontario Rules on Using Fishing Tackle

Per the topic, below is my exchange Trevor Gibb this morning via email. Trevor is the Quetico Park Superintendent :

Trevor, quick question. Are Lead weights and jigs allowed in Quetico? In the 2023 Ontario Fishing Regulation I see the following statement "Lead Sinkers and Jigs – It is illegal to use or possess lead fishing sinkers or jigs in Canada’s National Parks and National Wildlife Areas"

Hi Peter – Quetico is a provincial park not a national park so lead is allowed, however, if you have access to lead alternatives we encourage their use. Hope this helps. Trev

plander: "Per the topic, below is my exchange Trevor Gibb this morning via email. Trevor is the Quetico Park Superintendent :

Trevor, quick question. Are Lead weights and jigs allowed in Quetico? In the 2023 Ontario Fishing Regulation I see the following statement "Lead Sinkers and Jigs – It is illegal to use or possess lead fishing sinkers or jigs in Canada’s National Parks and National Wildlife Areas"

Hi Peter – Quetico is a provincial park not a national park so lead is allowed, however, if you have access to lead alternatives we encourage their use. Hope this helps. Trev "

Thanks plander!

I've been working to reduce my use of lead, especially small lead, for years. I'm still struggling to find much of what I need. Where can you find things like insider tube jig heads 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 ounce, 1/2 head jigs for finesse fishing, 1-2 ounce jig heads for lakers, and weights in the 8-16 ounce range for river fishing catfish and sturgeon in strong current?

I will add, there was a comment saying there was no reason to use lead in any water, and while I know what you are trying to say, I disagree unless you are rich or completely change the methods you use to catch fish. I will spend literally thousands of dollars extra over just the next few years switching 100% to non-lead.

I realize we have to do what we have to do to protect the environment, but to say there is NO reason to use lead is a stretch. It is extravagantly expensive for the equivalent options in non-lead products and some of us fish a lot. None of this is to say we shouldn't change, just that it will be very difficult for some of us.

campnfish: "This states National Parks, so guessing quetico is not that?
Ontario Rules on Using Fishing Tackle"

Quetico is not a national park, it is a provincial park. I have never heard of Seagull Outfitters, but they should remove that false info from their site.

I just picked up some tungsten jig heads at Cabelas. The Northland Fishing Tackle jigs look great. Big red eyes and the 1/4 oz. has a nice sized hook. Our group will be using them for both smallmouth and walleyes. Good luck!

Awesome! I’ll check it out.

Not an endorsement but while I have been looking for alternatives, I found steel worm weights for a reasonable price at Tackle Warehouse.

Has anybody used steel? If so, any comments on it?