Lead-Free in Long Lake
Jules Hosley-Pierce in front of Hoss’s Country Corner, the store in Long Lake, NY, that her family has run for 52 years.
Hoss’s Country Corner in Long Lake, New York, is a piece of history and a community staple.
“My dad bought the store from Mr. [Fred] Freeman in 1972 when it had been a general store,” said Jules Hosley-Pierce. “We’ve been here for 52 years now.”
Jules was born in Texas but moved to Long Lake with her family in 1972 as an infant. She and her two brothers grew up working in the family store alongside their parents and she runs the place today. “I love this being a family business,” she said. “I love the support.”
One of Hoss’s most notable features is the live tree growing up through the center of the building. Inside, the building’s many nooks and crannies are full of camping staples, books and Adirondack-themed gifts. It’s a great place to grab a cup of coffee or a cold beverage. Hoss’s also has a robust fishing nook selling everything an angler needs to spend a day on the water.
And they support the move to lead-free fishing to protect loons and other wildlife.
“The loons were something my mom got involved in, “Jules said. Her mother, Lorrie, recently passed away but was a lifelong lover of loons. “Long Lake strongly discourages the use of lead tackle. We have a huge loon population here so we support not using it.”
Bobby Helms, who works at Hoss’s when he’s not working as the head fishing guide at Unalakleet River Lodge in Alaska, is responsible for stocking the fishing hole, as they refer to their fishing section. “We stay within the laws of what New York has set forth for tackle,” he said.
He acknowledges that making the switch to lead-free tackle can initially be cost prohibitive.
“The Lead Tackle Buy Back Program is a great incentive for fishermen to go lead-free and can help offset the cost of non-lead gear,” Bobby said.
Hoss’s Country Corner is an eclectic collection of memorabilia, practical items and Adirondack-themed gifts.
The Fishing Hole at Hoss’s sells lead-free tackle options. Turn in one ounce or more of lead tackle at the store and receive a $10 voucher for lead-free items.
In May of this year, the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation responded to the first report of a dead loon for the season. The dead banded loon was found on Cedar River Flow near Lake Pleasant, New York. The loon had originally been banded in 2004, meaning it was at least 23-24 years old. After a necropsy at DEC’s Wildlife Pathology Lab, it was determined that the loon had died of lead poisoning from swallowing a lead bullet weight. The acids in the stomach caused the lead weight to begin deteriorating and become absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in high concentrations of lead in its tissues.
As the summer goes on and the number of calls about loons in distress or deceased loons inevitably increase, staff at the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation expect to get a better picture of the impacts of lead fishing tackle on loons. In 2023, nearly 1 in 2 dead loons were found to have died of lead poisoning in the Adirondacks.
Loon deaths by lead poisoning impact the overall population because loons are slow to reproduce. In perfect circumstances, a loon will breed for 24 years of its life and produce 12 chicks, but only three, maybe four, of those chicks will survive to breeding age themselves. Every adult loon of breeding age does not successfully breed, and all Adirondack loons face many other environmental stressors that make survival and successful breeding a challenge.
A single dead adult breeding loon, therefore, has a ripple affect on the population. Especially when that death was human-caused and preventable.
The loon section at Hoss’s Country Corner features many gift items and art prints.
“Keeping the waters and wildlife healthy should be a motivating factor to go lead-free,” Bobby said. “All of us fishermen should be trying our best to be responsible when it comes to our waters.”
Hoss’s can help you do your part - bring in one ounce or more of lead fishing tackle and receive a $10 voucher to purchase lead-free tackle. Vouchers can be received and used at any of our participating tackle shops throughout the park. You can see a full list on our website.
While you’re there, you can swing by their loon section.
Denise Silfee, Education & Communications Director