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I have seen a couple of people useing wd 40 I was woundering if it was illegal I asked one guys that was useing it and he said he's brother in law was a fish cop and said it was legal but I find that hard tobelive
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I actually quit another forum that I am a member of this year, over this very topic.

I think anyone who squirts WD-40 on their baits / lures is not only breaking the law, but a moron.

When I confronted some members of said forum, the response I got was "Well it is mostly made out of fish oil". Sigh. I had to point them to some "facts" that shows it has absolutely zero fish oil in it and it is mainly composed of hydrocarbons.

It's pollution, trash, etc, whatever you want to call it, it is illegal. I don't think the very small volume people are spraying will cause long term problems for lakes / reservoirs but it's the principle of the matter. Dropping a beer can in the lake is more benign than WD-40, but it is illegal and wrong all the same. Don't use WD-40 for fishing!!!
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I agree with you on it dosent even seem right to spray something that leave a film on it
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I use the scents that I do because they leave a film, however, they are made to be used in that environment. WD-40 is a "water displacement" lubricant and not made for us to dump in the water. There are plenty of pollutants every day that go into our lakes, rivers, reservoirs, down the drain, in the gutter, etc. I don't think that a responsible angler needs to contribute to the pollution. My 2 cents.
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WD-40 isn't illigal to use. At least not yet.
It will be one day.
So will 2 stroke engines though.
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Most bait scents spray or drop leave a film. Crawdad oil, baitfish scent ets all have a visible oil sheen. I am not sure WD-40 is illegal either. Someone would have to show me in the guidebook where that is. I dont use it but I dont think it is any more illegal than vanilla extract or crawfish oil.
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I wouldn't jump to that conclusion so fast.

Just because it is not in the fishing regulations, does not make it legal.

Putting WD-40 (hydrocarbons) into a water source (lake/reservoir) is polluting. It is illegal.

Don't believe me? Contact the EPA[Wink]
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[quote fish_fear_me2]Most bait scents spray or drop leave a film. Crawdad oil, baitfish scent ets all have a visible oil sheen. I am not sure WD-40 is illegal either. Someone would have to show me in the guidebook where that is. I dont use it but I dont think it is any more illegal than vanilla extract or crawfish oil.[/quote]

Like I said, doesn't have to be in the fishing guidebook.

You can't just spray, pour, release items like WD-40 into a body of water... I don't know why that is so hard for people to realize.

For the legality reason alone, WD-40 should not be used for fishing attractant. Aside from that, it just does not work. Fish don't eat and are not attracted to hydrocarbons. Fish eat cigarette butts and bubble gum sometimes too... I don't see many anglers using those items. Just because a fish eats a bait with WD-40 does not mean the WD-40 in any way shape or form aided in the strike.
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I am not disputing your claim. However I am not sure that spraying the stuff on a jig or bait is covered by the EPA regulations. Pouring it into the lake I would agree. I am not trying to get a debate going. I have just never heard it was illegal from any source including DWR guys that I have seen check guys that used it. I use crawdad oil a lot and I think it leaves a bigger sheen. It is however not petroleum based.
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Straight from Utah Code - and when it refers to a permit being required they are not talking about a fishing permit.

19-5-107. Discharge of pollutants unlawful -- Discharge permit required.
(1) (a) Except as provided in this chapter or rules made under it, it is unlawful for any person to discharge a pollutant into waters of the state or to cause pollution which constitutes a menace to public health and welfare, or is harmful to wildlife, fish or aquatic life, or impairs domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational, or other beneficial uses of water, or to place or cause to be placed any wastes in a location where there is probable cause to believe it will cause pollution.
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fair enough. I am sure we will be looking at a total ban of gas operated boat motors since the drive units can also Discharge substances that could be harmful to the environment. I hope mercury comes out with a 200HP electric motor soon. My only question in the debate is discharge. While the fine letter of the law may include a blown seal in a lower drive unit or the light spray of WD-40 the ramifications of taking that literally will mean a total ban on gas operated motors. As I said not trying to stir the pot. Just trying to understand the law.
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I called the Fish and Game and they said it was not against the law. However you need to decide its leagal but is it ethical.
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My question was never about ethical. As I said I dont use it. I do know people who do and they use it openly and have been checked by DWR guys while using it. My question was legality. Even given a statement from DWR guy there would be some doubt since EPA would trump them. But as I said the literal translation of the law would also preclude the use of gas powered motors.
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I've seen "butt" flies. Flies tied to imitate cigarette butts.
And what about sunscreen, and smelly jelly? Don't they contain pollutants? Petroleum products? I haven't used it for a long time, but I've seen times when it certainly improved the bite.
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(1) (a) Except as provided in this chapter or rules made under it...

Without the context of the rest of the chapter which defines provisions allowed, the rest of the statement is useless by itself.

Using WD-40 is stupid for a myriad of reasons. But lots of stupid is not illegal.
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I believe this would be such a minute pollutant source that would be undectable even to the Green Police of the Obama administration. I highly doubt it would fall under the legal regulation unless you were dumping gallons of it into the water. Regardless I've never understood why anyone would use it as an attractant. Most...OK many anglers try hard to reduce the "human" smell on their baits/lures by applying cover scents of anise, crawdad, shad oil etc. If I get gas on my hand during a fill-up, I'll do everything I can to get that smell off my hands before rigging up. FWIW the only guy I ever fished with who swore by WD-40, I soundly kicked his butt by catching ALL the trout while he cussed at all the many chubs he caught that day[:p]
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I have used WD -40 before never really worked. I really don't think one little spray on a worm is killing the lake get real. Now as I sit and let my boat idle at the dock and watch the rainbow form behind it that might be a diffrent story with all the two stroke motors out there doing the same thing Don't forget all these boats exhaust below water level. And your arguing over a spray of WD -40. some people have way to much time on there hands..
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[quote Fishrmn]I've seen "butt" flies. Flies tied to imitate cigarette butts.
And what about sunscreen, and smelly jelly? Don't they contain pollutants? Petroleum products? I haven't used it for a long time, but I've seen times when it certainly improved the bite.[/quote]


And to imagine this on your skin. However, they are working on correcting this. It is up to us (the ones with the mentality) to decide what we want to put in or on our body. Good for us, good for fish.
WD 40 for and attractant is lame. A little bit? Millions of people doing a little bit.....If it is bad, then why use it at all...We are truly self destructive aren't we.

As for motors, I like the idea of outlawing 2 strokes for that reason.
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This whole thread is so stupid I REFUSE to comment on ANY of the remarks!!!
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I slay fish with WD-40!!!
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