Roadside Boat Checkpoints Starting This Week-MN

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Make sure your legal and sober if you plan on towing a boat anyplace.

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Well, I’m hanging it up, the fun has been taken out of everything

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Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t it the legislature that dreamed this one up?

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Yep, you would be wrong.

All of this nonsense is the brainchild of our beloved DNR.

While I do agree for the most with what the DNR is trying to do to stop the spread I do not appreciate being singled out will legally driving down the road because I am towing a boat. When and if I do have to stop at one of these checkpoints I will comply but I will ask to speak with a CO and their supervisor.
Here’s the question I will ask them.
I am a pilot and I have several friends who fly float planes. One of the first things you do is pump out all of the water in the floats because no matter how good they are they all leak to a certain degree. Some have compartments for storage, for maybe transporting bait,etc We all seen float planes happily going from lake to lake doing various operations. Some of these planes are on the water from ice out to ice in. Many are beached on shore for practice and such. There is a great possibility that when they go from lake to lake there will be weeds stuck somewhere on the various cables and water rudders on the floats.
My question is going to be when/if they are going to take the same kind of enforcement actions on float planes as they are doing with other watercraft. By the way when a float plane is on the water it IS considered a watercraft.
Wally

I’d suggest being as nice as possible possible. You have to remember, not all COs agree with what they have to enforce, but it is their job.

Should have a catch phrase when voicing your opinion like, “IDO says no, to random inspections and sprayings”. For the first few people the CO might be saying, “WTF”? But after there are a bunch of people they might start getting the point that people just aren’t randomly complaining, but there is organized unhappiness with the practice. Its subtle, but it makes us look more organized and not just randomly upset.

The catchphrase should actually be something that any fisherman can use and can be spread like AIS on other boards as well.

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Following though with this thought, our cars, boats and homes should be checked for AIS if there’s a boat in our yard. We might have brought in some zebs from infested waters in a bait bucket.

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They already can.

The law says that the owner of a watercraft that is in plain sight and has weeds hanging off of it can be ticketed. So, if your boat is in the driveway with weeds on the trailer and that goody-two-shoes neighbor of yours reports it, you may have the weed police at your doorstep with ticket in hand.

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He just said weed police.

Just came off Pepin after a day and was greeted by a couple young fellers with nice DNR shirts and patches. I was pulling my plug and draining the livewell as they walked up. Pretty routine conversation. HAd me run the motor up and down to drain which I was doing anyway. Recorded my registration number in a handheld PDA deal and glanced at the trailer. Asked if I used an anchor and where I’d be launching next. Said I wasn’t sure and they said well a 5 day dry off period was preferred. No lecture and just a couple kids doing there job in the hot sun.

And did they mention why they needed your registration numbers?

I didn’t ask. It’s on the side of the boat for anybody to see. Maybe they will send me cash for being nice.

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Just came off Pepin after a day and was greeted by a couple young fellers with nice DNR shirts and patches. I was pulling my plug and draining the livewell as they walked up. Pretty routine conversation. HAd me run the motor up and down to drain which I was doing anyway. Recorded my registration number in a handheld PDA deal and glanced at the trailer. Asked if I used an anchor and where I’d be launching next. Said I wasn’t sure and they said well a 5 day dry off period was preferred. No lecture and just a couple kids doing there job in the hot sun.

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The DNR would prefer we dont fish twice in 5 days? Or perhaps they would like us all to buy several fishing boats so they can all sit for 5 days after each use?

I’ve always been nice to the launch people and always will be but I dont really care for most of what they have to say anymore. I’ve heard it and I dont need anyone (other than my wife) preaching at me. They used to give you a yearly sticker that showed you have “been to class”. Now we are all treated like idots and “re-educated” every time. I got the info. I’ve been educated. I understand the rules. That is my responsibility.

NOW. Public property. USA. Leave me the **** alone!!

“The right to be left alone-the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men. To protect that right, every unjustifiable intrusion by the government upon the privacy of the individual, whatever the means employed, must be deemed a violation of the Fourth Amendment.”

Oh come on Suzuki. They aren’t asking that much. Just buy 5 anchors and rotate them. Only you can prevent AIS spread.

The Nation Parks and Forestry Departments had Smokey the Bear. I say we introduce Crayfish Craig

I thought about naming him Rusty, but that didn’t seem right.

In the words of the great Ron White, “I have the right to remain silent, but not the ability.”