Heading up to Maine in May chasing smallies...

 

The way I read the lead ban, it does not apply to jig heads or artificial lures.  So basically anything lead with a hook molded into it is ok?  Am I interpreting that correctly?

 

I did a search on here and it seems people think that jig heads are banned, but it seems pretty clear in the law that they are excluded.

You're wrong, if it's under an ounce.  This is from the state website:

 

https://www.maine.gov/ifw/docs/LeadLaw.pdf

 

Quote

NOTE: Effective September 2017, the use of bare lead jigs not meeting the length (2.5 inches) and/or weight (1 ounce) requirements will be prohibited.

 

Maine prohibits bare unpainted jigs. I am going to all non lead but in the mean time I have painted all my bare lead jigs, weighted hooks etc.

 From the 2018 Maine rule book

I’m confused as to why they say specifically it does not apply to jig heads?

 

i guess I’ll take some nail polish along just to be safe...

1 hour ago, jbmaine said:

Maine prohibits bare unpainted jigs. I am going to all non lead but in the mean time I have painted all my bare lead jigs, weighted hooks etc.

 From the 2018 Maine rule book

Does this include weighted swimbait hooks?

The wording is somewhat imprecise, Probably because it was written by non fishermen. Before the ban took affect I talked to a couple of people at the Kittery Trading Post and a game warden. The general consensus was nothing with un painted lead and no lead sinkers. I can only tell you I have painted all my bare lead, including weighted swim bait hooks and believe I am within the law. Actually painting them may have helped to catch more fish, it certainly didn't hurt.

This all happened because of Loons, some bozo bookworm claims that loons are eating the lead weights that breakoff laying on the bottom. They probably found 1 freaking loon that probably died from something else but they happened to find a lead weight inside it. I don't know if you have been up here but every freaking lake has numerous loons on them. In all my years of fishing and I fish a LOT!!! I have never seen a dead loon anywhere. They actually were pushing to ban soft plastic baits too, because a study was done where they had a trout in a confined tank and dropped soft plastic baits into the tank, well with nothing else for the trout to feed on  it ate the worms and died, go figure. They claimed that fish that ate the baits had stunted growth and some eventually died. There is a hatred towards bass and bass fisherman in this state because of the beloved cold water species (trout and Salmon) and they are constantly trying to ruin our fisheries.

Apologies in advance.

This was initiated from folks around Squam Lake ( On Golden Pond) and spawned from there.

It was phased in over a couple years and the big box stores won't even deliver anything that might violate the law.