Most kayak anglers I know are into conservation and stewardship just as much as they are with fishing. The news at night tells us about agencies prohibiting the use of lead splitshot and other small lead weights. Sometimes you just have to ask yourself, why use lead?

A couple years ago, Micah Carrick asked himself that same question.

Green Tackle, his answer, is the greatest, environmentally friendly online retailers of lead free tackle, biodegradable plastic baits, and other choice gear. You’ll find find a variety of gear for the fly angler, the surf fishers, trollers, all anglers will find something that will make their tackle box just a bit more kind to waterfowl and the environment. Micah and the folks at Green Tackle actually use the gear they sell – so you know it works.

So what are my favorite things? Well, I’ll start with the BioLine. BioLine degrades in approximately 5 years. That means the line that you snagged up, wrapped around a branch, will be gone in just a few seasons. That’s much better than your standard monofilament which will hang on the tree for hundreds of years. BioLine seems to have a refraction index similar to fluorocarbon and seems to just disappear in the water. Until recently I’ve had just one rod with BioLine, and I realized it was the BioLine that made that rod so hot when trolling for trout. I now have it on several reels, and some extra for leader material.

I’m also a huge fan of the UltraSteel weights. They make a sharper sound than lead, giving you a better attraction to bass as the weight clacks against a bead in a carolina rig. If you’re carolina rigging, you may as well pick up some TriggerX Worms too! TriggerX worms are phthalate-free unlike most other soft baits. They’re also packed with pheromones to help you find the bite.

I encourage you to check out Green Tackle at http://www.GreenTackle.com and spend some time checking out their online store. Like I mentioned, you’ll find something there you can use, and put your lead away. Micah and Green Tackle also have a wealth of information on their website. Learn more about eco-friendly fishing, and what you can do to be a steward on the water.