April 25, 2012

After yesterday’s loooong House hearing, my assessment is that you have a 50% chance of losing all of your traditional bass fishing jigs.

It is critical that EVERYBODY take a small amount of time this week to either phone, e-mail, or send a letter to all 18 House Reps who are members of the House Fish & Game & Marine Resources committee. Send a separate letter or e-mail to William O’Brien who is Speaker of the House. At the end of this document I’ve provided the contact information of all 18.

Forward this e-mail and attachment to everyone you know who likes to fish and strongly encourage them to contact these House Reps as well.

Here are 27 abbreviated Bullet Points that you can draw your comments from. Maybe emphasize 2 points.

1. There is not a loon population problem that needs a legislative “fix” since the NH loon population has shown a steady increase since 1975

2. Loons (like people) die from many different causes. Looking at studies from all states that have a significant loon population reveals that some loons die because they have ingested small lead objects. There is no scientific evidence that shows that the larger traditional bass fishing jigs (that have been used for decades) are causing any significant problems

3. There are no scientific studies done on loons that shows that a 1 oz. jig is eroded down to less than 0.2 oz. by the loon’s digestive system. There is only speculation made by the Loon Preservation Committee.

4. Most other states have analyzed all the studies and have come to the same conclusion as New Hampshire, i.e., it is only the small lead objects that are most likely to be ingested by water birds.

5. SB 224 would wipe out an entire class of important fishing lures . . . the traditional standard sized bass fishing jigs.

6. If enacted this bill would significantly hurt bass anglers financially. Average federation angler has 135 jigs How much money would they lose by dumping all their jigs and then having to replace them with much more expensive tungsten (if they could find them)

7. The bill would hurt all NH business that sell jigs for freshwater fishing .

8. Retailers on the NH coast that sell saltwater jigs would be hurt because they could not sell any lead weighted jigs that are less than 2 ½ inches (e.g., mackerel jigs). Their customers would be forced to buy these jigs from out-of-state dealers.

9. Such a restriction would discourage out-of-state anglers from taking fishing vacations in NH.

10. Such a restriction would preclude NH from being selected by national professional bass fishing tournaments resulting in a loss of revenue of over $ 1 million to NH.

11. From a research survey commissioned by the NH Lakes Association, we know that Fishing, Boating, and swimming bring $1.2 Billion into NH each year. This restriction would subtract from this.

12. This overly restrictive bill does not promote recreational fishing. It does just the opposite. There are 250,000 anglers who fish in NH every year so a lot of people are effected

13. The proponents of this bill state that alternative metals are “readily available” and at a “minimal” additional cost. This is false today and is likely to remain false

14. Jigs and jigheads are the only target of SB 224. Even small trout flies that are weighted with lead are exempted in this bill. Why ?

15. This legislation would not be valid in interstate waters such as Umbagog (50 loons) because of lack of concurrence between the two states.

16. It is not true that lead fishing tackle is causing half of the loon deaths

17. KEY point = The demise of 1 NH bird every 4 ½ years (or even 1 every 1 ½ years worst case) to a bass jig is not detrimental to the survival or growth of the overall loon population.

18. The loon people speculate that loons are picking up lead objects during the peak fishing months of July & August. This is not true. According to hard data from NH Fish & Game Dept. fishing activity peaks from late April until mid June. July & August is prime tourist season . . . lack of education about using small lead sinkers and jigs on old fishing line is most likely reason this small tackle is lost and picked up by a loon. Also, loons feed more heavily during July & August (feeding chicks and themselves) = they need more grit.

19. There are several other factors that impact loons far more than fishing jigs: loss of nesting habitat due to shoreline development; poor hatching success due to high mercury levels; some waterbodies lack enough aquatic vegetation (because it has been chemically poisoned) to support enough small fish to feed the loons; watercraft strikes; diseases and parasites; fishing line; predators

20. NH is already at the carrying capacity of loons because of loss of nesting habitat due to shoreline development. That is why more and more artificial floating nesting platforms are put out every spring. Loons need lots of “elbow room” so big lakes are key. NH has a limited number of these big lakes with clear water and plenty of small perch.

21. The 2009 Pokras et al., “Lead Objects Ingested by Common Loons in New England” Table 1. This study found that the average lengths and weight for both lead sinkers and jigs recovered in loon carcasses are well under what is described in NH statute RSA 211:13-b. Other studies confirm that it is the small sinkers and jig that may cause a problem and NOT the larger standard sized bass and mackerel jigs.

22. The loon people only want to refer to what has been written by M. Pokras and Tiffany Grade. All the other studies show a dramatically lower rate of lead ingestion.

23. Both NH bass organizations are very active in taking our Paralyzed Veterans, children with diabetes (125 every August), and Jr. Bassmasters fishing. This bill would strip them of using an important class of fishing lures.

24. We are sick of governmental over regulation. Even the US EPA (who are always ready to regulate things) has rejected the strong 2010 and 2011 petitions from anti-fishing groups calling for a ban on all lead weighted fishing tackle.

25. Our NH retailers of fishing tackle are already handicapped because they are prohibited from selling lead split shot that many hobbyists used to buy from them.

26. NH statute prohibiting 1 oz. lead sinkers and 1” lead jigs has been in effect for the past 11 fishing seasons, but this has not made a significant difference in loon mortality. It doesn’t make sense than banning the large jigs (which are much less likely to be ingested) will change anything. It’s the small stuff.

27. How come they find swivels and hooks in loon carcasses, but claim the hooks are gone on all the lead jigs they find? Hmmmm. Could it be that these jigs have been sitting on the bottom of the lake for a long time and the hook has rusted and broken down? If so, this would suggest that maybe these loons have picked the old jig off the bottom thinking that it was suitable grit.

28. With the sole exception of MA (they always seem to over tax and over regulate their citizens), All other states with a significant loon population have analyzed all the same studies that have been done on lead and loons and have concluded that either there was no justification to ban any kind of lead weighted fishing tackle (e.g., Minnesota with 12,000 loons), or states like Vermont, Maine, and New York have only prohibited ½ oz. lead sinkers and not jigs at all.

This legislature is particularly sensitive to 3 main things . . .

1. Too much governmental over regulation

2. Anything that hurts NH business and doesn’t grow jobs

3. Anything that is going to cost NH citizens more of their hard earned money

William O’Brien Speaker of the House

PO Box 154
Mont Vernon, NH03057-0154
Phone: N/A
Email:

Send him a separate e-mail or write to the above address. His e-mail will not be part of the global e-mail address of the House Fish & Game committee show at the end of this document.

Representative Clifford Newton ( He is the chairman of this House committee and

168 Old Dover Rd is concerned that SB 224 will hurt the small
Rochester, NH03867-4548 busniness on the coast that sell saltwater jigs
Phone: (603)332-5643 that would be banned and force saltwater anglers

No e-mail listed to buy their jigs out-of-state so mention this)

Representative Dennis Reed

PO Box 70

Franklin, NH03235-0070
Phone: (603)934-6607
Email:

Representative Betsy McKinney

3 Leelynn Circle
Londonderry, NH03053-2326
Phone: (603)432-5232
Email:

Representative Michael McCarthy

34 Terry St
Nashua, NH03064-1431
Phone: (603)598-4966
Email:

Representative Tyler Simpson

PO Box 757
Ashland, NH03217-0757
Phone: (603)968-9285
Email:

Representative James Webb

6 Independence Avenue
Derry, NH03038-4364
Phone: (603)845-3454
Email:

Representative Benjamin Lefebvre

PO Box 1131
Grantham, NH03753-1131
Phone: (603)677-2722
Email:

Representative Lyle Bulis

PO Box 313
Littleton, NH03561-0313
Phone: (603)444-5024
no e-mail listed

Representative Leo Pepino

73 Walnut St
Manchester, NH03104-4848
Phone: (603)624-1476
Email:

Representative Norman Tregenza

PO Box 146

Silver Lake, NH03875-0146
Phone: (603)733-6736
Email:

Representative Daniel Carr

PO Box 111
Ashuelot, NH03441-0111
Phone: (603)239-6830
Email:

Representative Dick Patten

30 Pinewood Trail
Concord, NH03301-5247
Phone: (603)228-1803
Email:

Representative Elisabeth Sanders

61 Beach Plain Rd
Danville, NH03819-3122
Phone: (603)642-5070
no e-mail listing

Representative Richard Okerman

3A Marblehead Rd
Windham, NH03087-2335
Phone: (603)893-7705
Email:

Representative Marc Tremblay

15 Haskell Street
Berlin, NH03570-1115
Phone: (603)752-1995
Email:

Representative David Watters

19 Maple St
Dover, NH03820-3015
Phone: (603)749-4539
Email:

Representative Jenna Roberts

15 Cowell Drive
Durham, NH03824-2402
Phone: (603)868-7402
Email:

If you want to send an e-mail that will reach them all at once, use the flowing address:

It is probably more effective to type up a short paragraph, make a copy, and then paste that message to each of the 18 members on the F&G committee

DO IT NOW

Dick