Fishing Jigs: Lead vs. Non-Toxic Alternatives

For many anglers across the country, May and June are considered “jigging season”. Walleye anglers in the Midwest are mostly pitching jigs and minnows at shallow post-spawn walleyes. Crappie fishermen across the country are pitching jigs and plastics, or using a jig and minnow under a float, often with a sinker above the jig. Bass fishermen are transitioning to football style jigs or ned rigs as the cabbage, milfoil, and bottom carpet starts to green and grow.

Traditionally, lead has been the standard amongst anglers. Lead is cheap, it’s widely available, and it has enough weight to get to the depth needed to catch fish. Lead has worked for what seems like forever. But, that’s all beginning to shift.

Each year, thousands of tons of lead are lost into freshwater and marine environments as fishing tackle breaks off or is discarded. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that doesn’t degrade over time. Instead, it accumulates in sediments and organisms. Wildlife such as eagles, ospreys, loons, swans, ducks, and other waterfowl often ingest small lead weights mistaken for food or grit, leading to lead poisoning, which can cause neurological damage, organ failure, and death. One jig or sinker can be fatal.

Studies in North America and Europe have shown that lead poisoning is a leading cause of death among certain waterfowl species, prompting regulatory bans in areas such as the UK, Canada, and several U.S. states and national parks. A recent study from the North American Journal of Fisheries Management showed that an estimated 100,000 pieces of lead fishing tackle were lost in one year on five large bodies of water in Minnesota. That’s roughly 1 metric ton of lead.

As awareness of lead’s toxicity has grown, non-toxic alternatives have become more popular. Materials like tungsten, tin, bismuth, steel, and zinc alloy have all charged the tackle market.

Among these, tungsten stands out as the most similar in terms of performance characteristics. Tungsten is more than 1.5 times denser than lead, meaning a tungsten jig of the same weight is smaller and more compact. This density offers greater sensitivity, allowing anglers to stay in touch with the jig better. Feel increases, and bite detection rises. Anglers can feel bottom structure better, and subtle bites are detected with ease. Tungsten is also environmentally friendly; it is non-toxic, and if a tungsten jig is lost, it poses no chemical risk to wildlife or water quality. However, tungsten is significantly more expensive than lead. Prices fluctuate, but on average, tungsten jigs can cost 2 to 4 times more than their lead counterparts. This cost barrier remains the most common reason anglers hesitate to make the switch.

Other lead-free materials include tin, bismuth, steel, and zinc alloy. While they are less dense than lead and tungsten, they offer varying levels of environmental safety and cost-effectiveness. Tin is soft and cheap, but its lower density requires larger jigs or sinkers for the same weight. Bismuth is closer in density to lead and non-toxic but is brittle and more expensive than tin. Getting a hook to properly seat and mold into a jig head is difficult. Steel is widely available and relatively inexpensive, but its low density and hardness make it less-than-ideal for many fishing applications. Zinc alloy is cheap, corrosion-resistant, and extremely malleable making molding easy. However, it’s very light and not ideal for jig fishing. Some of these materials are often used in combination or coated to improve performance and appeal.

Governments and regulatory bodies are increasingly pushing for lead alternatives. In the U.S., some states have banned lead tackle in certain waters, particularly those known for high bird populations. For example, Massachusetts and New Hampshire prohibit the use of small lead tackle in freshwater bodies frequented by loons.

Meanwhile, fishing tackle manufacturers are gradually responding to consumer demand and environmental regulations by offering lead-free product lines. The Massachusetts ban prompted a tackle company to jump into action. They’re called LeadFreeBassJigs, promoting bismuth jigs as an alternative to lead. Brands like Clam Pro Tackle, Eco Pro Tungsten, Strike King, and Northland Tackle now offer a wide range of tungsten and lead-free jigs and sinkers. There’s even a popular brand in Europe that produces zinc sinkers, known simply as “Zinkers”.

Despite all of the studies that exist, and manufacturers stepping up to the plate to offer alternatives, the transition is slow for many anglers. Some anglers don’t get out much, and they use what exists in their tackle box. Lead. Other anglers are hesitant to replace hundreds of lead jigs because of the cost it would take. Some anglers don’t want to switch because they’re used to what works for them. We’re all creatures of habit, and change is hard. However, outreach and education efforts are beginning to shift public perception, particularly among environmentally conscious anglers.

Choosing between lead and tungsten fishing gear comes down to a balance between performance, price, and environmental ethics. While lead remains the budget-friendly and accessible choice, it comes with serious ecological risks. Tungsten and other alternatives offer a safer, and in some ways superior, option, but with a cost.

Every angler has to make the choice for themselves. For the environmentally conscious angler, investing in lead-free gear is a practical way to reduce their ecological footprint without compromising on quality. We’ve already seen a shift in prices, as more manufacturers are putting products out there. We’ll never see tungsten sold at lead prices, but, as awareness and regulations continue to evolve, it's likely that the fishing community will increasingly embrace alternatives, not only as a personal choice, but as a responsibility.

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