Non-toxic Squid Jigs

[FlyByNight]

I want to take my son squidding in Newport, but I do not want him exposed to the lead in typical commercial squid jigs. Are there squid jigs on the market that do not use lead as a weight?

[glen]

you could use unweighted squid jigs (eg on a paternoster style rig to pull them to the bottom) and instead of using a lead sinker in the rig you could use a non-lead sinker (e.g. tungsten, bismuth, iron etc).



follow the link below to see a picture of a paternoster rig. just imagine the hooks are unweighted squid jigs:



[url="http://sea-angler.org/alanc/coaly_ledger.gif"]http://sea-angler.org/alanc/coaly_ledger.gif[/url]



...and here is an example of a lead free sinker made of bismuth:



[url="http://www.luckystrikebaitworks.com/product.asp?p=57"]http://www.luckystrikebaitworks.com/product.asp?p=57[/url]

[Nautilusly]

[quote name='FlyByNight' post='8504' date='Apr 24 2007, 09:13 PM']I want to take my son squidding in Newport, but I do not want him exposed to the lead in typical commercial squid jigs. Are there squid jigs on the market that do not use lead as a weight?[/quote]



Worried about little toddler chewing anything they can get hold of? <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/zorro.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup2:' />

There are jigs that look like a fish which are free of weight. Baited jigs is always a option. Some premium jigs comes with their lead weight cover in a protective paint, these would probably be OK too <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[squidjigdotcom]

[quote name='Nautilusly' post='8506' date='Apr 24 2007, 11:25 PM']Worried about little toddler chewing anything they can get hold of? <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/zorro.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':moped:' />

There are jigs that look like a fish which are free of weight. Baited jigs is always a option. Some premium jigs comes with their lead weight cover in a protective paint, these would probably be OK too <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]



We have quite a few styles of squid jigs that are lead free. Some are light weight with only plastic, some use brass for the weight. We also have several with the lead weight sealed inside the plastic body, and others with the lead painted with high quality paint and clear polyurethane.



Jon

[FlyByNight]

[quote name='Nautilusly' post='8506' date='Apr 24 2007, 11:25 PM']Worried about little toddler chewing anything they can get hold of? <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/zorro.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':moped:' />

There are jigs that look like a fish which are free of weight. Baited jigs is always a option. Some premium jigs comes with their lead weight cover in a protective paint, these would probably be OK too <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]



Not so much chewing, but just holding the jigs. The darn lead will rub off on your hands. Take a lead sinker and run it; it will leave a dark stain. The stain is small lead particles. Now if you eat a sandwitch, you injest lead. In general, fisherment have been incredibly lax about lead use...maybe that explains why a lot of guy I run into on the water are not exactly rocket scientists if you know what I mean...





Anyway, tell me more about bait fishing for squid. Will squid in the Northeast US take bait at this time of year, or are they spawing and not interested in food?

[Nautilusly]

[quote name='FlyByNight' post='8527' date='Apr 27 2007, 06:51 AM']Not so much chewing, but just holding the jigs. The darn lead will rub off on your hands. Take a lead sinker and run it; it will leave a dark stain. The stain is small lead particles. Now if you eat a sandwitch, you injest lead. In general, fisherment have been incredibly lax about lead use...maybe that explains why a lot of guy I run into on the water are not exactly rocket scientists if you know what I mean...

Anyway, tell me more about bait fishing for squid. Will squid in the Northeast US take bait at this time of year, or are they spawing and not interested in food?[/quote]



I know what you mean, thats why i dont eat when i am fishing (dont feel hungry anyway <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':moped:' /> ) there are jigs with weight inside, or weight covered in protective paint -- these jigs would suit your purpose better? bait fishing is fine but it could get messy, i would prefer jigs over bait.

Hmm, not sure about the squids in Northeast US, but if they are just spawing and not interested in food, the chance of catching them with either jig or bait would be pretty slim i guess <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[squidjigdotcom]

[quote name='Nautilusly' post='8530' date='Apr 27 2007, 11:46 AM']I know what you mean, thats why i dont eat when i am fishing (dont feel hungry anyway <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':moped:' /> ) there are jigs with weight inside, or weight covered in protective paint -- these jigs would suit your purpose better? bait fishing is fine but it could get messy, i would prefer jigs over bait.

Hmm, not sure about the squids in Northeast US, but if they are just spawing and not interested in food, the chance of catching them with either jig or bait would be pretty slim i guess <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote]





I have some customers that have tried using baited squid jigs on the east coast, and have found them to work QUITE well!!!! A lot easier than tossing jigs, as you don't need to work the bait, just wait for them to take off with it. Some of my local customers (west coast USA) have even found that they get the bigger squid with the baited jigs. Granted, when you got the squid in a feeding frenzy, they will grab everything in sight, but offering a local baitfish is a lot of fun too!!! They come in for spawning, but until they get to that actual location and TIME that they will spawn, they will keep eating, and they do love eating a lot!!! Generally about a 4"-6" bait works well.

[JIMM2722]

[quote name='FlyByNight' post='8504' date='Apr 24 2007, 09:13 PM']I want to take my son squidding in Newport, but I do not want him exposed to the lead in typical commercial squid jigs. Are there squid jigs on the market that do not use lead as a weight?[/quote]





IF YOUR WORRIED ABOUT LEAD EXPOSURE LET HIM WEAR LATEX GLOVES.IF YOU DON'T USE THE RIGHT JIG AND RIG YOU WILL NOT CATCH THEM.IF YOU DON'T CATCH HE WILL NOT ENJOY HIMSELF AND HE WILL LOOSE INTRIST AND NOT WANT TO GO WITH YOU ANYMORE.THE THE RIGHT JIGS YOZORI ULTRA LENSE ARE COMPLETELY COVERED IN PLASTIC.

[tooth]

I am not sure but I dont think he will die from touching a little lead.