Anybody have their boat and trailer checked for AIS during the opener? How about Mille Lacs. Any DNR officers checking things out? During my trip down HWY. 169 from Virginia I never saw anybody pulled over or any boats being checked.
Just curious if they were issuing tickets or just verbal warnings.
Fished Red this weekend. Two different landings and no DNR precence at ramp checking anything.
What does AIS stand for?
aquatic invasive species
We got checked in Osceola. Basic routine: licenses, did we keep any fish, etc. Very low key. I got the feeling that the Officer had been hard at work for a long time as he looked pretty tired. He did think it was funny when I started digging through my wallet and pulled out a 2208, 2009, 2010, and then finally the 2011 license. Maybe it’s time to clean it out.
Rootski
Never got checked or seen any COs on the water or at the landing on Mille Lacs. We never used the public access though.
I got checked both Saturday and Sunday on the water but nothing at the dock or on shore. Same CO both times. Good guy and I don’t mind getting checked.
Only saw a fish measuring fella at Fishers on Sunday.
I thought it was the concensus that AIS was only sperad by tourney boats… 
Guess they will be HOT out of Hunters Point this weekend for the MTT. 
I know the game warden was at the landing by my cabin on Winnie Sunday. He checked a couple of my buddies boats and all was good. They asked him if he got anybody on the lake that day and said he got probably ten people for fish too big. He said if someone had one maybe a half inch over he would probably give a warning but the people he gave tickets to had fish 18-23″. Not very smart to do anytime but from opener thru memorial one is just asking for it!
We got checked 3 times in 2 days. Once at Mille Lacs, once at Gull, and again at Mille Lacs……. They were VERY thourough to say the least!
We fished out of Colville Sat morning and was checked for AIS. When we were done at end of day , officer pulled up in truck by my boat. The officer rolled his window down and asked how fishing was, did we catch fish and if kept any? I told him how we did and he thanked me and drove away.
Quote:
We got checked 3 times in 2 days. Once at Mille Lacs, once at Gull, and again at Mille Lacs……. They were VERY thourough to say the least!
Did they ask to see your horn or your whistle?
Was checked on the water (Splithand Lake) by the CO. Checked Licenses and life jackets. Looked in the live well as we had two walleyes. Said we were doing better than any other boat.
Quote:
We got checked in Osceola. Basic routine: licenses, did we keep any fish, etc. Very low key. I got the feeling that the Officer had been hard at work for a long time as he looked pretty tired. He did think it was funny when I started digging through my wallet and pulled out a 2208, 2009, 2010, and then finally the 2011 license. Maybe it’s time to clean it out.
Rootski
Funny Root. I was checked last year on the Croix numerous times, one time the guy kindly accepted my 2009 license. Like you, I had a couple years worth in the wallet, just handed him the wrong one and he never said boo. Call me a blind squirrel I guess that day.
Just got my warning ticket in the mail today 
Didn’t pull the drain plug on the Rainy river 
Got checked by a new warden up on the border. Very nice guy – pleasant and polite. Also got checked by the AIS girl at the gov’t dock. She appeared to be very timid and shy…..I got the impression that she had a tough day and was anxious to go home.
T
Quote:
Only saw a fish measuring fella at Fishers on Sunday.
I thought it was the concensus that AIS was only sperad by tourney boats…
Saw the same guy. He asked if he could snip the bellies of our keepers to sex them. We gave him the thumbs up and all three were spawned out females. Was pretty cool to learn how to tell.
Quote:
Just got my warning ticket in the mail today
Didn’t pull the drain plug on the Rainy river
I wondered if anyone got checked for this, seems like with this being a new law they would be checking hard for this. Why did they send the warning in the mail and not just give it to you on the spot?
Quote:
He asked if he could snip the bellies of our keepers to sex them.
He didn’t even buy them dinner first? Cheap [censored]
Quote:
Why did they send the warning in the mail and not just give it to you on the spot?
Possibly…
1) Wrote down the license number when Jeff was moving. Couldn’t or didn’t want to stop him.
2) Didn’t want to argue and figured it would be less of a hassle if Jeff became mad at home than at the lake/river.
3) Jeff was bigger than the CO.
I’m going with #1
Last summer and fall they were on ML checking alot for plugs and other things. Out of the 5 times I used one landing on Ml last fall, there was a DNR person there every trip. All he checked for was the plug and livewell and looked to see we pulled weeds off the trailer.
I always pull my plug and empty the livewell [censored] it only takes a minute or 2.
I have been watching boats on the road and I was suprised to see that the majority do not pull the plug while traveling.
I haven’t been checked this year at all as yet. I want to though…so I can show ’em my “life-time-license” my sons bought me for Christmas 
On the other note, I always pull the plug, and I wish I had a ‘sensor’ to remind me to be sure it’s in ‘before’ launching! 
Quote:
Quote:
Just got my warning ticket in the mail today
Didn’t pull the drain plug on the Rainy river
I wondered if anyone got checked for this, seems like with this being a new law they would be checking hard for this. Why did they send the warning in the mail and not just give it to you on the spot?
The warden followed us from the boat ramp to the cabin at Wigwam Resort,very nice guy.
He gave the boat a once over, checked our license and, issued a warning ticket for not draining the boat.
He did not have his book with him at the time.
I always pull my drain plug at the landing and remove weeds but for the first month of fishing when I am using shiners I am not going to drain my baitwell! My cabin is down the road a couple blocks from the landing and I leave my minnows in the boat over night with aerators on.
Now before I head to any other lake I put my minnows in the lake tank and spray out the livewell and baitwells. I also wash the whole boat, the boat gets washed every week regardless of where I go I guess haha.
Now if a CO wants to give me hell at the landing when at my cabin so be it, I am not going to drain my baitwells.
Quote:
I always pull my drain plug at the landing and remove weeds but for the first month of fishing when I am using shiners I am not going to drain my baitwell! My cabin is down the road a couple blocks from the landing and I leave my minnows in the boat over night with aerators on.
Now before I head to any other lake I put my minnows in the lake tank and spray out the livewell and baitwells. I also wash the whole boat, the boat gets washed every week regardless of where I go I guess haha.
Now if a CO wants to give me hell at the landing when at my cabin so be it, I am not going to drain my baitwells.
I might agree with you except it is the law. Because of that you will comply unless you can plead your case to the CO and he doesn’t issue a ticket. If you get a ticket you will pay the fine or appear before the judge to plea your case. I haven’t heard of many judges who are versed on common sense when it comes to minnows. 
My guess is you will be ordered to pay.
As much as the laws might not make sense we have to go along with things until the DNR and courts sorts through all of this.
Let us know if you find that special judge.
Yeah that whole law slipped by our noses.
It effects the catfishing guys on most every trip.
We fill our live wells or bait coolers with tap or well water, go fishing and bring the extra bullheads home for the next outing.
Now because the CO can’t tell if it’s lake/river or tap/well water, we have to bring along extra water in our vehicles…remove the bait from the boat and the water. Empty out the water, then fill the cooler up with water jugs and transport left over bait in our vehicles.
Most CO’s aren’t up on cat fishing much less a judge. Even if they were, they are sworn to up hold the law and it’s clear, transporting water in your boat is against the law.
Quote:
He did not have his book with him at the time.
Jeff, did he say it wouldn’t have been a warning had his ticket book been with him?
Quote:
Yeah that whole law slipped by our noses.
It effects the catfishing guys on most every trip.
We fill our live wells or bait coolers with tap or well water, go fishing and bring the extra bullheads home for the next outing.
Now because the CO can’t tell if it’s lake/river or tap/well water, we have to bring along extra water in our vehicles…remove the bait from the boat and the water. Empty out the water, then fill the cooler up with water jugs and transport left over bait in our vehicles.
Most CO’s aren’t up on cat fishing much less a judge. Even if they were, they are sworn to up hold the law and it’s clear, transporting water in your boat is against the law.
That’s what those styro coolers are for you silly man! 
Quote:
I might agree with you except it is the law. Because of that you will comply unless you can plead your case to the CO and he doesn’t issue a ticket. If you get a ticket you will pay the fine or appear before the judge to plea your case. I haven’t heard of many judges who are versed on common sense when it comes to minnows.
As much as the laws might not make sense we have to go along with things until the DNR and courts sorts through all of this.
Let us know if you find that special judge.
I know its the law but there are a lot of cases where common sense should take over a law 
I actually got checked last year leaving the landing and I had already taken my fish out at the dock and cleaned them, the guy hard a time following me and that my cabin is down the road and asked to see them again. Told him again….! So after him looking really confused I opened the livewell and baitwell full of water to show I had no fish and he didnt say a word. Got in his truck all confused and pissy
The other thing about the weeds I feel if the state really wants to stop the spreading then they should clean the landing area. Some of them there is no way to get all the weeds as they are stuck between the boat and the bunk.
Quote:
…I am using shiners I am not going to drain my baitwell!
Might not be the best idea to post that statement along with your name and location 
He said that a fine for not draining the boat has not been
enacted as of that time, all they can do at this piont is to issue a warning ticket.
I am not sure when they will be able to issue a fine.
Also I have always drained the boat and livewells at the ramps and checked for weeds…basicly I had a brain fart at the time, Luckily it did not cost me anything.
I am worried about draining my livewells though, due to the design of my livewell drains there is always about 1 inch of water that won’t drain.
When I get the boat home and clean it up, I have to remove the remaining water in the livewells with a shop vac.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
