Boat launch inspections

I’m curious about my rights during an AIS inspection at the ramp. I understand these people have a job to do and I’ve come to consider it a part of the launching process just like taking the straps off are a part.
I think I’m a pretty easy going guy and never go in search of confrontation like some do. However some of these people,and we all know the type, a little authority causes head swelling and an ego trip.

What are our rights when it comes to these inspections and a guy that takes way too long to do the job? Can I say we’re done here, step aside I’m going to launch now? Do they have the power to prevent us from launching?

Hopefully you get the point I’m trying to make.
This guy over the weekend had things so backed up and people just getting pi$$ed off and it just gets taken out once on the water, people going wide open and a little edgy.

I’d like to hear the rules of the game and also how you guys and gals have handled some of these over zealous Wyatt Erps. Thanks!!

Resistance is Futile

If the person is sitting in a lawn chair and playing with the smart phone it is probably a relative of some DNR honcho. So no need to confront this person–just there for the easy money and probably no clue what’s going on.

All you ever wanted to know about boat inspections, but were afraid to ask<<

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Q: Do the inspections take a long time or cause big traffic back-ups?
A: No, most inspections are quick and can be completed in less than three minutes; however, if decontamination is required, boaters will be delayed.

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My gripe isn’t with how long it takes, it is how uninformed so many weekend boaters are. Of course it takes longer on a Memorial Day weekend with so many party boaters LOL. My gripe is the guys who take 15 minutes putting their boats in. Loaded up, talk to others, take a leak, and then back up about 15 times to get it in. Of course their batteries are dead, bad gas, motor doesn’t run. Plus 4 trips back to the car or truck for what they forgot. And then when they pull them out they drive about 30 feet from the landing, blocking anyone from using it, while they unload the boat.

Luckily there was no AIS at boomsite this weekend, there typically is…

The Sheriffs boat stopped me on the water though, they were quick to jump in my boat and require me to open my coolers…I know a Conservation Officer has that authority, but i believe a sheriff needs a warrant…

Then the oh so smart sheriff told me there are no big kitties in the St. Croix…I reminded him of where the state record came from and that i had caught fish over 50# on two occasions in the last two years..

I always try to get them to wash my boat. I even tell them my boat leaks like a sive and it’s probably full of invasives…But no “free” wash yet.

I dont care to talk to these poeple. Being searched does not fit well with going boating. Its best if i just go to a landing with out inspections. Still dont understand why they check boats or decontaminate going into infested waters.

They can prevent you, if you launch they probably will probably call a warden and if they are not busy will come an pay you a visit. I was one of these law compliance officers the first year of it and by the end of the season we had a total of 8 hrs on our decon unit. We were at colville, baypoint and hok si la. Mainly had boats show up with plugs in. My intent was to take the job to hopefully get a better position in the department but have since abandoned that and now working on becoming an journeyman electrician. I never understood the whole decon before going into a body of water that is already infested.

I had a visit coming out of the water this morning. Basically I just did what I always do and when he strolled over he said “you’ve done this before, huh?”. Took maybe two minutes. Never inquired about fish, never poked his nose in places that noses weren’t meant for. Nice guy really.

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I never understood the whole decon before going into a body of water that is already infested.

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It’s all easier to understand once you accept the fact that often times the primary reason for the actions being taken is not necessarily to make a positive difference in the situation at hand; they’re just doing something to make it appear that they’re doing SOMETHING.
1. to justify the existence of their department and their job position thus protecting the continuation of their state funding, 2. so when the inevitable happens they have something to point to that they can say “Well. See, we tried.”

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Still dont understand why they check boats or decontaminate going into infested waters.

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The theory is that there is more species of invasives besides Zeebs and milfoil, so despite where you say you have been before, if you dont meet “standards” youre going to get a decon. Also the waterbody may have milfoil but not zeebs or the otherway around. That was what I was told about inspecting incoming boats.

The guy that checked me today asked where the boat would be used next. I told him either the Zumbro or the Mississippi.

This person did not have the sprayer with him. He was simply watching how I readied the boat for the road. All I do is uncork the boat and then wipe up any water that doesn’t make it thru the drain hole. I pick anything on the bunks off before I load the boat. I have a garden sprayer that I keep water and hilex mixed in it and I give the hull and the back portion of the interior where water can pool a quick spray when I get ready to put the boat in the garage. Keeps everyone happy. Makes me feel like I am doing my part….as much as I disagree with the whole shebang.

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I never understood the whole decon before going into a body of water that is already infested.

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So if a body of water is infested with Millfoil or one of the many other invasives we have then its OK to just let other invasives into that body of water because it already has another different single invasive in it..

Good grief!

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They can prevent you, if you launch they probably will probably call a warden and if they are not busy will come an pay you a visit. I was one of these law compliance officers the first year of it and by the end of the season we had a total of 8 hrs on our decon unit. We were at colville, baypoint and hok si la. Mainly had boats show up with plugs in. My intent was to take the job to hopefully get a better position in the department but have since abandoned that and now working on becoming an journeyman electrician. I never understood the whole decon before going into a body of water that is already infested.

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As a inspections person what exactly where you instructed to look for? Im guessing weeds, maybe zebs hanging on something. Anything else? The inspectors Ive run into I dont think even really look at the boat. Just ask some questions.

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I never understood the whole decon before going into a body of water that is already infested.

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Are they checking for other things?

So if a body of water is infested with Millfoil or one of the many other invasives we have then its OK to just let other invasives into that body of water because it already has another different single invasive in it..

Good grief!

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On our lake in Wisconsin the inspectors are unpaid volunteers. The questions they ask are on a form that needs to be filled out and sent into the DNR, part of Clean Waters Clean Boat program.

Mike, yes mainly looking for weeds and sticks, anything that an invasive could attach to, asked if they used an anchor and if so we asked to see that. You would be surprised at how many people do not clean off their anchors worth thr darn.. What I ment by the whole decon thing pertained mainly to the river. The river already has milfoil, and zeebs in it as you already knew. I would say 85-90% of the boats we ran into mainly fished the river or Mille lacs. We would also have them lower their motors as far down as they could to drain as much water out as possible. Boat plugs was another big one, educating people on waiting until they get to the landing before putting it in.

Another was checking to make sure people were changing out water on their bait. This became an issue when people switched over to leeches. Most people would have containers they bought that day and throw in their cooler and never once changed the water on them. Once they got back in by protocol it was considered contaminated water and needed be changed out. However with the common sense that I have I could clearly see that the leeches were still in the same water from the baitshop. I would tell people to next time bring a spare bottle of water to change the water on them or if they were to go to another body of water or deal with another inspector.  

Crawlerharness nailed it, Despite what people want to believe, when I was an inspector, we wanted to help the boaters avoid tickets by teaching them what to do to avoid tickets and stay within the law. It’s up to the individual if they want to listen and take it or leave it. I don’t think anyone on our staff had to call a C.O.the year I did it. I know it gets repetitive and old if you are out frequently, but email the department and don’t take it out on the inspectors if you have issues with the program. MOST of the DNR employed inspectors are on your side and wanting to help. Cant say the same for the lake organizations and other organizations, but most of us at the time were fellow boaters that were doing an internship.

For what it is worth guys, I’ve never had a problem with inspectors.

Me either Pug.

I don’t even know what they look like.

Maybe luck of the draw (bad luck in this case), but my experience with the inspections has not instilled much confidence in the process or the personnel.

(for what it’s worth; I’ve never been ticketed, and my perception of the inspection process has nothing to do with receiving or avoiding a ticket)

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However with the common sense that I have I could clearly see that the leeches were still in the same water from the baitshop.

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Ok, I’ll Pounce…

YOu cannot clearly see anything. You and every other law enforcement agent are all making GUESSES AND ASSUMPTIONS.

Ever seen what minnow water or leech water looks like when you buy them 3 days before you go fishing?

My biggest beef with this crp is that i can be ticketed for perfectly non-infected water because some smuck uses his common sense and assumes that is lake water because it looks like minnows have been crapping in it for 3 days.

Sorry buddy, nothing personal. Just hate these AIS laws.

WISCONSIN – their rule on bait water is quite simple. IF you put lake water in your minnow bucket, then drain it….Otherwise, have a great day.

MN is so dumb.

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My biggest beef with this crp is that….

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Guilty until proven innocent.

No one wants to spread any AIS..I think. But the whole drain plug law won’t make any difference. If there’s water in the ribs of the boat, whatever little buggers are in the water will make it into the next water when the bilge is turned on or the plug isn’t replace and the boat gets “washed out”.

I don’t know how many people were scrambling to replace their plug after their boat was in the water this spring at Everts. A lot and that’s only the people that would admit it or I saw them.

It won’t even “slow” the spread of AIS.

But complaining here will get us just as far as complaining to the Powers that passed these laws. I don’t see them changing until a Governor is elected that follows in the Jesse Ventura foot steps.

BTW Crooked Lake has been found to have Zebs in it. Reported yesterday from a DNR news release.

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However with the common sense that I have I could clearly see that the leeches were still in the same water from the baitshop.

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Ok, I’ll Pounce…

YOu cannot clearly see anything. You and every other law enforcement agent are all making GUESSES AND ASSUMPTIONS.

Ever seen what minnow water or leech water looks like when you buy them 3 days before you go fishing?

My biggest beef with this crp is that i can be ticketed for perfectly non-infected water because some smuck uses his common sense and assumes that is lake water because it looks like minnows have been crapping in it for 3 days.

Sorry buddy, nothing personal. Just hate these AIS laws.

WISCONSIN – their rule on bait water is quite simple. IF you put lake water in your minnow bucket, then drain it….Otherwise, have a great day.

MN is so dumb.

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To me common sense would be asking if it is lake water or not. If the answer is no then good to go.

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For what it is worth guys, I’ve never had a problem with inspectors.

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I haven’t either, except for one lake I frequent. The guy even looks like Hitler. I just wanted to know if I’m twenty minutes into this guys version of the inspection if I can say I’m done and dump the boat in the lake.
I guess there’s only one way to find out.

I understand the inconvenience and frustrations that guys are experiencing with this. I can only imagine how much storage space IDO has burned up with the discussions on this.

However, as much as we(you) don’t like the process, keep in mind that you still have it relatively easy. Take your boat to Wyoming or Colorado and have an inspection done there Granted, from the little that I have personally experience in MN compared to my trips out west, I think the Western states that impliment this do a great job…but also do 10X more. Technically, you need to stop at the port of entry coming into the state and have your boat inspected & certified. If an inspector sees anything they suspect – even though your “certified”, your boat gets a complete enema. Boat gets washed, flushed, live well flushed, engine,……and so on. They then place a thin cable/lock to the boat trailer. This signifies it has been cleaned by their standards. Launch the boat and the cable is broke – they then [censored]-U-ME you launched elsewhere and the process is repeated. Be honest and acknowledge that you just came from out-of-state and you’ll add another 10-20 minutes to the process. My last trip out to Granby, CO and they also inspected my gear, anchor rope, life jackets, & toss in the garbage my towels that I use to wipe the boat down with. They even had a Milwaukee Tool camera for looking into the nooks and crannies that would otherwise not be visible.
Somewhere has to be balance. We need to do what we can to prevent the spread within reason. We all know that it is not 100% preventable and a matter of when – not if. But giving up 10 minutes of time to help pass on a quality lake to our future generations has great value in my eyes. But i also agree that there is a point of diminishing returns on being over-the-top with prevention as well.

That would be my take on it. Nothing to hide good, good to go when ever you want. They better keep up.