Fishing Wieights

Hey guys, are the modern day fishing weights made of lead still? A lot of my scrap metal comes from the beach and sometimes I find fishing weights there. If they aren't then can you please tell me what kind of metal they are?

-Thanks

Hey Adam, cool question. I really don't know, but I suppose they're still lead

There are 3 types of fishing weights, lead, steel, and tungsten.

Originally Posted by Chiipinscrapper

There are 3 types of fishing weights, lead, steel, and tungsten.

not sure I've seen any made of steel, but then, it's been a lonnnggggg time since I've browsed the fishing department. Are tungsten and lead easily distinguished from each other?

I think Zinc is toxic to fish...

What kind of fish can you catch with an old tv? A tuna fish!

Ive seen postings here about buying lead free weights. I pick up fishing line every few days off the beach and most of the time it has a weight and hook on it. Ive got a little stack in the car. I figured if no one buys them I will just take them to the pier and somebody will want them. I dont know how to tell the difference in material. Most of the ones i find are the triangle ones so they have a little size/weight.

Since ive been scraping ive started to notice all the metal stuff that washes up on my walks. Usually get a handful of copper/wire a month especially if theres a storm. Sandy was good to me. I see hand-size pieces of rusted unidentifiable objects all the time. Theres a boat battery about 15minutes into my walk. I keep eyeballing it. Its all rusted and corroded so i dont know if any yard would take it.

Originally Posted by MattInTheHat

In NY, small lead weights cant be sold anymore Fishing Responsibly in New York State - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation
some other states have partial or complete bans as well

Hey thanks guys, I'll keep picking them up, I recently got a net full of them, but they were all corroded. When I took them down to scrap yard they took it as iron...... I'm not sure if I was scammed or not, but at least I kept the beach a little cleaner ;]

around these parts, there still lead, still a lot of folks pour their own weights. I look for stuff like that when the water level drops. I save old fishing lures i find, give them to my dad he decorates old fish baskets with them.

most states have regulated the amount of lead that can be released into the environment.most modern fishing weights are made of tin. in Alabama, lead weights are still offered but retailers must offer non toxic alternatives. tin weights can be tested with hcl. lead will react very little while tin will react very vigorously. lead pellets in shotgun shells were replaced with steel and fishing weights are tin.

Originally Posted by brucie

I dont know how to tell the difference in material. Most of the ones i find are the triangle ones so they have a little size/weight.

I think you'll find the lead ones by far the easiest to scratch or dent

Originally Posted by skylinejack

Fishing weights. That's what I keep all my lug nuts for! Well, when I'm catfishing that is.

spark plugs works good for that too ; )