Dumping the lead

[Golden Paws]

 

Just found this on YouTube. Its made by Pallartrax who make the Stonze weights. 9lb of lead in 1 square metre????

Personally I hate the thought of dumping leads and avoid it if at all possible. Partially because I'm tight but also because I don't agree with leaving a toxic metal in the environment. I don't fish particularly weedy waters but I can see the argument to those that do. I used to fish lead clips but lost too many leads unnecessarily, watching fish shake their heads at the net and the lead flinging off at the last minute.  I did try in-line drop-offs and the thought of losing a lead on every fish didn't sit well and I abandoned it. I've been using helicopters for at least 3 years and can't remember losing a lead on a metal clip. If the line does snap, the trace bead will pop off and ensure that a fish isn't trailing tackle.I did use some plastic C-clips for a while but lost too many leads needlessly and gave them up as a bad job.

What is the consensus of opinion on this? 

[Roughtor]

Just remember ,Poms ,Pomeroy has a vested monetary interest in this ..

Same or similar ethos to the Gripz hooks,what I'm saying is either he's got a valid point ,or slightly worrying other people / anglers..just like he did over the gripz hooks ,which I've used ,caught on them ,and binned ..

I use lead clips ,I don't use heavy leads max 2oz most places I go ,I rarely,if ever drop a lead ..

 

Also when the Korda vids came out ,showing or pushing dropping leads ,again ...who profited from that ..?

Those Stonze,and I've used em are not the best ...however other companies are making inroads to non toxic leads ..due to environmental concerns ..

 

Dropping the lead ,to land a fish in weedy situations I understand ,but some drop leads willy nilly and there is only one person to blame for that..

 

Would I use pallatrax stuff again ,ans is no !

 

 

[greekskii]

Not watching it as above, he’s just out to make his money mainly. Does he go in to how long it takes a coated lead, which most are nowadays, takes to actually leach toxic metals in to the water to the extent they have an effect on the environment? 
The process of how that works? Or anything like that? 

 I’d be more worried about the microplastics than the lead. 

[yonny]

On 03/05/2026 at 11:17, Roughtor said:

Just remember ,Poms ,Pomeroy has a vested monetary interest in this.

 

On 03/05/2026 at 12:13, greekskii said:

Not watching it as above, he’s just out to make his money mainly.

Correct 👆

The guy is trying to get lead banned for one reason only $$$$$$$$$$$$

On 03/05/2026 at 08:43, Golden Paws said:

What is the consensus of opinion on this? 

I disagree with the unnecessary dumping of leads.

However, I believe the safest rig is the one that lands the fish safely and efficiently, and on many waters I've fished dumping the lead plays a part in that.

[salokcinnodrog]

On 03/05/2026 at 11:17, Roughtor said:

Just remember ,Poms ,Pomeroy has a vested monetary interest in this ..

 

On 03/05/2026 at 11:17, Roughtor said:

Also when the Korda vids came out ,showing or pushing dropping leads ,again ...who profited from that ..?

 

On 03/05/2026 at 11:17, Roughtor said:

Those Stonze,and I've used em are not the best ...however other companies are making inroads to non toxic leads ..due to environmental concerns ..

 

44 minutes ago, yonny said:

The guy is trying to get lead banned for one reason only $$$$$$$$$$$$

Therein are many problems within business and fishing, the need to make money.

I've had run-ins in the past with Simon Pomeroy over someone using a huge single hook for pike fishing. He doesn't like people disagreeing with him!

I have tried Stonze, in various sizes and they cast like a bag of spanners, more wobble than Jessica Rabbit.

For short range fishing, fine.

For the potential camouflage aspect, fine.

For any distance, yuck.

Pushing Dropping the lead was another business invention, the more leads you drop, the more you sell...

The original reason for the invention of the Lead Clip was the ease of removing the lead at the end of the session, or changing lead size during the session! It provided a way of being able to fish semi-fixed without attaching tubing over the hooklink swivel, to hold a lead bead in place. Instead of buying 2 items you bought 1.

I hate dropping the lead; in most cases there is no need, even in weedy waters.

I have fished very weedy waters, and never found the need to drop the lead. Personally I used to use Zipp (Distance) shaped 1oz to 3oz inline leads in weed, and had few problems. As long as the lead has no shoulder, no weed catching. Your hook catches more on the retrieve.

Gawd, imagine trying to play a fish through weed with a Stonze inline or not!

That's not to say I don't lose leads; a snap-off thanks to pike or swan swimming through the line, an occasional quick clip and the lead pinging off the clip during the fight. 

However, there is an environmental issue, both as @greekskii says from microplastics, and the amount of lead in various waters, lost or 'dumped' tackle. 

Dumping the lead is really decriminalised littering, pollution,  I do recall something about fishing weights being lead was raised in the EU Parliament. We are not just thinking freshwater fishing here, we have to include sea fishing, both beach, boat and commercial as all use lead weights. There is potential for a ban, and even though we are no longer part of the European Union.

 

 

 

 

[yonny]

47 minutes ago, salokcinnodrog said:

I do recall something about fishing weights being lead was raised in the EU Parliament.

This was driven by a certain Mr. Pomeroy!

For anyone genuinely interested in lead-free weights, check these out:

Weights – Evolve Tackle

Not cheap at nearly 3 quid a pop but they do look decent.

[OldBoy]

Have to agree with the posts about the bloke behind 'Stonze', for @Golden Paws,

I have not seen the video but 9lbs of lead in 1 square metre seems completly unbelieveable 😂

I have never used drop off leads, never will, cannot see, except for very snag ridden venues, why I would want to, maybe abroard might be justified?

Wonder how we ever managed to land fish from weedy venues without them?

Don't need to use the set up now, but remember back in the day, a tulip bead pushed over the hooklink swivel and the zip or dumpy lead swivel eye pushed over that was probablay the safest and so simple set up to use in weedy waters imo.

As @greekskii said " I’d be more worried about the microplastics than the lead. "

 

[commonly]

Interesting topic.

I suggested years ago, a lot of these spots that everyone thinks are gravel, are most likely several hundred leads, from the time when it was fashionable to drop them.

I thought the use of lead shot was banned in the 90's, why wasn't it the same for actual leads?? 

I'm sure alternatives could found,  but would have an adverse effect on the environment at some point in manufacturing. 

When you consider the amount of pollution in our water ways and the coast, using a stone instead of a lead isn't really going to make a lot of difference. 

[greekskii]

2 minutes ago, commonly said:

I thought the use of lead shot was banned in the 90's, why wasn't it the same for actual leads?? 

 

It was shot because animals were ingesting them I believe. Not sure how much it was actually happening but that was the reason I’m sure. 
 

dropping the lead with rotten bottoms has been a thing for decades. Well before mainstream angling channels brought it to the masses. Can imagine back in the 80s and early 90s they were uncoated too. 

[yonny]

7 minutes ago, greekskii said:

It was shot because animals were ingesting them I believe.

This👆

12 minutes ago, commonly said:

I suggested years ago, a lot of these spots that everyone thinks are gravel, are most likely several hundred leads, from the time when it was fashionable to drop them.

Nah...... not feasible imho.

[salokcinnodrog]

1 hour ago, greekskii said:

It was shot because animals were ingesting them I believe. Not sure how much it was actually happening but that was the reason I’m sure. 
 

dropping the lead with rotten bottoms has been a thing for decades. Well before mainstream angling channels brought it to the masses. Can imagine back in the 80s and early 90s they were uncoated too. 

 

1 hour ago, commonly said:

I thought the use of lead shot was banned in the 90's, why wasn't it the same for actual leads?? 

Swans and ducks who eat stones which then grind the food in the crop I believe.

The sizes limited were Number 8 shot up to 1oz, hence why Arlesey Bombs and Inline leads minimum weight is now 1.1oz.

The other issue, is gun shot pellets, where lead is illegal around watercourses in those same sizes, and being phased out in all shotgun cartridges by 2029.

[Roughtor]

I'm casting my mind back like way back to the early 80s 

On the river Severn,there was a Swan Sanctuary run by a very,very vocal woman ,called if I remember correctly Dot Beeson ,or Beeston ,this particular lady caused angling a lot of problems over lead shot,hooks and line ..

It was in all the publications ,at the time on TV and radio...I remember it well ..

[commonly]

3 hours ago, yonny said:

This👆

Nah...... not feasible imho.

How comes you dont think after years of dropped leads on a well known spot would feel like a gravel?

 

[jules007]

I cant remember last time i dropped a lead but i fish inline or running lead set up safe because the lead will dump in event of a snap of, but TBH the venue i most fish has no weed or snaggs and the carp only run to max 18-19lb