I picked up a Wis Outdoor News this weekend and front page news says we are almost assured that by the end of summer they will pass the law requiring non-resident boats to purchase annual “trail” sticker next year.(2010) Likely bordering states will copy after that. It will run $15 to fish Wis waters with Minn registered boat. I predicted this. Welcome to fee-based conservation. It wont end there.
with the liberal politicians that people are voting in now a days, does it surprise you?
Just another “tax” to raise more revenue. They could get more creative and tax the trailer that it’s on also to help pay for road improvements, maybe even tax it based on the number of axels so the larger trailers pay more like they do for truck licensing now. Yeah, that’s a great idea, I should run for election.
It’s actually a little stickier than just that.
The proposed law, as it currently stands, reads that any non-WI registered boat that uses a WI landing or docking facility must pay the non-resident registration fee (annually). The sticky part is that MN guys that fish the Mississippi (border water) and use a landing in WI to access the river would still need to pay the fee even though they are fishing border waters.
I envision a WI CO standing at the dock on the WI side of the river (Hudson, Prescott, Diamond Bluff, Everts, Backchannel, Alma, etc etc etc) with his ticket book out. 
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It’s actually a little stickier than just that.
The proposed law, as it currently stands, reads that any non-WI registered boat that uses a WI landing or docking facility must pay the non-resident registration fee (annually). The sticky part is that MN guys that fish the Mississippi (border water) and use a landing in WI to access the river would still need to pay the fee even though they are fishing border waters.
I envision a WI CO standing at the dock on the WI side of the river (Hudson, Prescott, Diamond Bluff, Everts, Backchannel, Alma, etc etc etc) with his ticket book out.
so much for ever launching in wisconsin again… i wonder how this will affect Evert’s business?
It’s time for an Everts Tea Party!! 
Does anyone have any idea what they plan to do with that money from the fee?
improve their research/management on deer population 
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Does anyone have any idea what they plan to do with that money from the fee?
Probably start another welfare program. Or do we only do that in Minnesota?
Only in MN, where people like Mark Dayton & Al Franken get elected to federal office…. 
I’d think it’d be madatory that any money raised from new fees or taxes would have a stipulation as to where this money is going before the new fees can even be approved. Personaly, I won’t object to the fee. You guys in Wisc. and Minn. have some very fine ramps and roads leading to them. But I can also understand your grievance about any new fees. It’s a part of human nature.
Franken is not elected to the senate yet!!!!!
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with the liberal politicians that people are voting in now a days, does it surprise you?
CHANGE THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE IN!!!
I don’t spose you guys could start a new thread with the political stuff could you? That way that thread could be deleted and this one that’s talking about a new law/tax wouldn’t have to be butchered up. 
I’ve never seen a CO at a private launch facility, so hopefully it won’t apply to private launches… 
I see the CO at Everts all the time.
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Only in MN, where people like Mark Dayton & Al Franken get elected to federal office….
Just for clarification it’s Wisconsin proposing the new fee. It is likely that Minnesota will reciprocate along with Michigan and maybe Illinois not too far down the road. OR Minnesota could take the high road and leave it the way it is. Yea right.
Maybe we could get charged extra for driving our vehicles on there roads to.
I live north of Stillwater and decided to go fishing yesterday on the St.Croix – usually done once a week. I like launching directly across from the boomsite on the Wisc side because it is not crowded even thought it costs $5 now to launch or $50 for annual fee. Still pretty inexpensive to me to not feel rushed. On the trip to the launch, I usually stop and buy minnows, beer, gas, sandwiches, etc. in Houlton rather than driving into Stillwater. If I will have to buy an annual Trail tag next year, I will launch at Boomsite and the Houlton businesses will lose my few $. I also drive up to Lake Superior every few weeks to fish – guess I will be launching and staying in Mn instead of Wisc. The good thing for Wisc is that I won’t be using the states resources anymore, but my $ will not be there either. I spend a lot of money in Wisc on my trips but it is, frankly, just as easy and quicker to use the freeway to drive up to Duluth (I am old and like driving through small wisc towns, ya know) I am also stubborn and resent the fees for non-residents. I just sent an email to Mn congress persons regarding the matter and requested the same fee be put into place for non-residents -assuming the states can not work out a deal — not.
Anyway, I had a nice afternoon on the river and caught a few nice keepers – not sure if the fish was from MN or WI waters – there was no state tag on it – yet.
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Anyway, I had a nice afternoon on the river and caught a few nice keepers – not sure if the fish was from MN or WI waters – there was no state tag on it – yet.
Good one. I too, like you, am stubborn and resent additional fees that seem needless and were never there before.
How can the state enforce a “launch” fee on a private business on federal navigational waters?
(Such as Evert’s)
I’m not an attorney…but…
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=1.03&year=2008
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