I’d like to start collecting stories/experiences that anglers and boaters have had in-conjunction with being inspected. At ramps, random roadside spot-checks.
I’m looking for actual experiences that you have had, not what others told you. These will be used to provide feedback and possible change to existing practices.
You can post them here, PM me or email to [email protected]
Vern
The misses checked me out at a random roadside spot check last night. Do I have to report her? 
I wouldn’t if I were you.
The question is if he passed ??? 
What about the other side of this coin—-stories about people who launched without their plugs in because of this stupid and flawed law. I know the boy and I have both forgot to put the plug in. In my case it was when the river was near flood stage and if I hadn’t caught it before I got out in the main current it could have been very bad. Leaving the plug out as you go down the highway accomplishes nothing except makes the DNR’s enforcment of a stupid law easier. I can see requiring you to pull the plug and drain at the landing but you should then be able to put the plug back in. This law is just insane and at some point there will be a loss of life because of it—mark my words 
I agree redneck….there is gonna be an ugly outcome eventually due to this.
And get this – this past spring while waiting to launch at Wheelers Point on the Rainy, we were in line out on the highway and the guy in front of us puts his plug in his boat. I decided to wait until we got into the actual landing parking lot to put mine in. I’m sure you can see what’s coming… the guy in front of me gets a ticket for having his plug in!! Couldn’t believe it…
I think all stories need to be told. Including those that had inspections and passed. I’m very alarmed about a statement made in the Star/Trip where they tagged a guy for not sponging out his livewell.
From Scrib:
Near Baudette, all 20 boaters who were stopped had removed their bilge plugs, but three were cited for failing to remove their livewell plugs and four were cited for transporting aquatic vegetation. Three warnings were issued for transporting water. In at least one of those cases, the boaters had pulled the plug on their livewell, but all the water hadn’t drained out.
“They made the effort,” said Lt. Pat Znadja, but should have used a sponge to remove the rest of the water.
Here’s my story although it does not involve the DNR.
I rent a boat slip from a Marina on Lake Minnetonka (which I might add is very expensive). When I put my boat in on their ramp I got the 3rd degree about when was it pressure washed, and how long had it been dry. I tried to explain to the owner that these are not requirements from the DNR they are recommendations. She didn’t believe me but the boat had been out for two weeks so I launched and went on my merry way. That bothered me a little but I got over it so whatever.
Fast forward to last weekend. I called ahead and left a message to make sure I could use the ramp to pull my boat out as we’re going on vacation next weekend. When I drove in with my trailer the manager came out and said “you can’t pull your boat out”. Uhh what??…..he went on to say it had been in the water long enough (3 weeks) that it was possible I had zebra mussels on it and they did not want to be liable. I asked if I could use their pressure washer – no it is not heated. I offered to have them inspect the boat before I drove off (I clean and scrub it weekly while it’s in the water) – no dice. I went on to explain to him (as I did the owner previously) that it is not required to do these actions his only response was that the Owner’s Association wants it done and they are at their mercy……on and on, he was nice about it and apologized but come on. So I had go three bays and two long no wake zones with two little kids over to the public launch to get my boat back from the marina. The whole thing aggravates me and needless to say I will not be using this marina next year. I’m all for keeping our waters clean but when you start closing ramps and telling people when and where they can use a public lake that’s where I draw the line.
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“They made the effort,” said Lt. Pat Znadja, “but should have used a sponge to remove the rest of the water.”
I guess that is one more thing I need to put in the boat.
I think the boat plug stories are relevant. They are the result of the insane laws and overreaction.
had a very positive experience up on Mille Lacs, once the inspection and lecture were finished, thanked the young man told him he was providing a valuable service and gave him a ice cold Coke. He said “thanks, I don’t hear that very often.” I said “I know, I read internet posts.”
Where’s that beating a dead horse icon? It’s here to stay, although not a perfect system, I think if we all learn habitual mental checklists on what to do, I think their advise can do some good.
If a guy used a sponge to dry out the last water in his livewell would he have to then dispose of the sponge since he could not wring all the water out of it????? If the sponge was contaminated then what about any clothing that had come in contact with the water and was wet??? This whole law is truly insane and serves no purpose other than revenue generation for the DNR.
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Where’s that beating a dead horse icon? It’s here to stay, although not a perfect system, I think if we all learn habitual mental checklists on what to do, I think their advise can do some good.
Your right, we should just give up and give in.
I wouldn’t mind that sort of inspection for the most part either.
In the programming business we have a term called project creep. Its the ridiculous laws, fines and inspection stations that are more “thorough”, not the ones where some kid has a clipboard and runs through a couple questions and suggestions. And these inspections are giving ammo to lake associations for trying to ramrod their own inspections, boulders on public landings and gates. I call that inspection creep.
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“They made the effort,” said Lt. Pat Znadja, but should have used a sponge to remove the rest of the water.
MY skeeter livewells do not drain completely,so now I need a sponge
I have had all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more!
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“They made the effort,” said Lt. Pat Znadja, but should have used a sponge to remove the rest of the water.
MY skeeter livewells do not drain completely,so now I need a sponge
I have had all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more!
Just automatically tell them the last lake you were at was that lake. That’s what I plan to do since they are talking sponges. Of course I likely wont be fishing any different lakes in MN much. They are succeeding in lowering my interest.
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MY skeeter livewells do not drain completely,so now I need a sponge
That goes double for my Stratos (all 3 of them), and my dad’s Ranger. Plus the lip on my spare tire traps water as I’m sure my trailer tubes do……
I’m not saying this is an excuse to do nothing, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
Story!
I took my boat to Lake Nokomis the other day. I met Amy the girl who does the inspection. I timed the inspection, 3 minutes 31 seconds. She said it normally doesn’t take more than 5 minutes. I went fishing and caught some nice Walleyes.
This is the 4th time I’ve talked to Amy in the 3 weeks or so she’s been on the job. I always ask how things are going and how the boaters are responding. Other than a few people who thought the process took to long she says things are going good and nobody as of yet has FREAKED out on her.
I told her about the UPROARS on the internet and she was aware of that and chocked it up to, well, its the Internet. People act differently on the net then in person was our conclusion.
So far no ZEBS have been detected but there has been some missed exotics on some of the trailers and boats upon arrival along with some other violations of the newly enacted regs.
Oh, I almost forgot, she said you guys can leave the Bull-cutters and power tools at home as the chain just hangs on the fence. You won’t have to vandalize any City property to get on or off the Lake when she puts the chain back up.
Also if you choose to go against the regulations and launch while the chain is up she will not call any law enforcement on you. She will, if she runs into you, tell you that you need to have the boat inspected before launching.
Great young lady with a great attitude doing a great job and hopefully slowing down the spread of invasives!
Probably not the story you were looking for but its all I got~ 
A couple of weeks ago we were at Minnewashta. Usually there is an middle aged very friendly guy doing checks.
This time there happened to be a youger guy, with IA plates on his car. He wanted to check our live wells before we got on the lake, I said sure, jump up in the boat and take a look. He just pulled a lid open but said, good to go. There is no way to see into those wells without being in the boat. Bass boat, double center wells on the back deck.
When we left, he approached us and did a little walk around and said you’re ready to go. I asked him if he was sure, then I reached under the jackplate and pulled a big handfull of weeds out and showed it to him. He shook his head and walked away.
Apparently some of the inspection staff just isn’t into doing their jobs.
Jo
Do they spy these people?
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And get this – this past spring while waiting to launch at Wheelers Point on the Rainy, we were in line out on the highway and the guy in front of us puts his plug in his boat. I decided to wait until we got into the actual landing parking lot to put mine in. I’m sure you can see what’s coming… the guy in front of me gets a ticket for having his plug in!! Couldn’t believe it…
I may have gone to jail if that were me. I am pretty sure that would have caused me to lose it. Trev, you should have jumped out of your rig and stuck up for the guy.
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People act differently on the net then in person
I’ll drink to that! 
I’m living proof. I think people who meet me in person think Brian is pulling their leg with the introduction.
Exit inspections???
At a particular lake in Hubbard County the inspectors work set hours. I generally launch in the morning long before they take their first sip of coffee.
One inspector apparently doesn’t understand that the point is to prevent AIS entering the lake, as every time I’m leaving the lake she insists on inspecting my boat, to include asking: “What was the last lake you were in?” I respond by simply looking at the trail of water leading from the lake to my boat.
Then she’ll walk around and feel the underside edges of the trailer. “Um, ma’am, is this lake infested?” “No.” “What are you doing?” “Checking for velligers.” “Again, is this lake infested?” “No.” “You understand that I’m not launching into this lake right now?” “Yes, that’s why I do the inspection when you’re leaving.” “What does that accomplish?” “I get the inspection completed.” SIGH.
I called the area DNR Supervisor in Walker and asked about inspections when leaving the lake. He was surprised to hear this was occurring (probably because it’s stupid), but said the law allows launch site inspections but doesn’t actually specify whether it is for boats going in or coming out.
The upside is that these inspection efforts are going to bankrupt the Lake Associations in short order. They should be spending their money on publicity and education, the Maginot Line failed the first time it was tried, too.
Maybe I missed it, but do people have a right to refuse inspection and launch or exit? If not, what are the consequences?
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Exit inspections???
At a particular lake in Hubbard County the inspectors work set hours. I generally launch in the morning long before they take their first sip of coffee.
One inspector apparently doesn’t understand that the point is to prevent AIS entering the lake, as every time I’m leaving the lake she insists on inspecting my boat, to include asking: “What was the last lake you were in?” I respond by simply looking at the trail of water leading from the lake to my boat.
Then she’ll walk around and feel the underside edges of the trailer. “Um, ma’am, is this lake infested?” “No.” “What are you doing?” “Checking for velligers.” “Again, is this lake infested?” “No.” “You understand that I’m not launching into this lake right now?” “Yes, that’s why I do the inspection when you’re leaving.” “What does that accomplish?” “I get the inspection completed.” SIGH.
I called the area DNR Supervisor in Walker and asked about inspections when leaving the lake. He was surprised to hear this was occurring (probably because it’s stupid), but said the law allows launch site inspections but doesn’t actually specify whether it is for boats going in or coming out.
The upside is that these inspection efforts are going to bankrupt the Lake Associations in short order. They should be spending their money on publicity and education, the Maginot Line failed the first time it was tried, too.
Get a bucket of soapy water and slap a rag in her hand. Tell her the boat is infected and needs to be cleaned.
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Maybe I missed it, but do people have a right to refuse inspection and launch or exit? If not, what are the consequences?
You can refuse a private inspector and they can not deny entrance or exit or ticketed but they can call enforcement to report refusal and license# from there it is up to enforcement to fallow up on it or not. At least that is my understanding.
I would recommend to be sure your clean if you deny inspection. As for exiting no big deal if your clean but entering, that trailer is sittin all alone next to a disgruntled inspector, if you get my drift.
Honestly, they can visually inspect the exterior while I do it but they will not enter my private property. And if they are not done to bad I’m leaving.
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I’m living proof. I think people who meet me in person think Brian is pulling their leg with the introduction.
Yeah, in person you barely say a word.
As a rule they don’t bother me. I’m more upset at the complete waste of money that is being dumped into this. At Verchota landing on pool 5a this last friday there was 3, yes 3 paid staff at this ramp. They had two state vehicles sitting there. As I pulled up I man came over to talk while the other two keep reading there books and never even hardly glanced over. Mind you, this ramp is a one at a time ramp. If this is happening up and down the river and all over the state one can only guess how much money is being poured down the drain. And frankly whats done is done. Nature will take its course and spread all of these exotics around, boats only do it faster.
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