So a duck, goose or bird can fly lake to lake and nobody cares but a guy fills a pail to bring his catch home in and people lose their minds.
I like the folks that are quick to scream “CALL THE LAW”…. I’m willing to bet those same folks NEVER EVER take a drink of alcohol and drive a car. 
Some of the “inspectors” aren’t very bright either.
I was fishing Mantrap a few years ago and there was a boat in line in front of me getting inspected before they launched. The inspector was some prematurely grey-haired granola hippie with her Prius in the parking lot.
Upon inspecting their boat, she discovered that they still had a full live well and told them to drain it . . . right there at the ramp so all of the old live well water could go right into the lake.
When it was my turn to be inspected, she happened to find a tiny piece of cabbage that had been caught inside the plastic cover of the spare trolling motor. That motor hasn’t touched water the entire time I’ve had the boat (8 years or so) but she made me take out my tool box, take apart the trolling motor, and remove the 4″ long piece of prehistoric weed and put it in the garbage can.
That lady is a NAZI. I have dealt with her multiple times over the years.
We are about to have Hillary or Trump as our next President. None of has to like it but we all have to live and abide by it. People that don’t like these laws can kick/scream till’ the cows come home but they ain’t going away. Might as well try to avoid the fines and follow the rules (and support whichever one of these idiots we end up electing…)…RR
Or simply set a better example for the younger members. The disregard and ignorance here is disgusting.
Not only have you sent the message that our laws are merely suggestions but you’ve also made the original poster feel really small.
Let’s just assume they had a lake home or cabin a half mile down the road. They’ve done this a hundred times before and never thought anything about it. As full as their trailer was of weeds, even if they’d have cleaned all the visible weeds off the trailer at the access, there still would have been weeds they’d have missed somewhere on that rig I will guarantee. So even a good cleaning of the weeds off at the access when everyone isn’t at their sharpest really doesn’t do what the speculated theory or spirit of the law is intended to do. So what is the point of the law? Clean rigs and pointless, fuzzy, fluffy, feel good legislation imo. That’s deceitful, when they know it will not stop the spread the way it is done currently. That sticks in my craw and bugs me.
I watched a pontoon get launched on west rush by a home owner. They pulled out and that goofy looking pontoon trailer looked like a chia-pet. They didn’t stop or even think about stopping. Drove off with easily 50#s of weeds on the trailer. On a stupid law like that there’s not a chance in the place across the styx river I’d call them in, when they are just going back to their lake home. And I’m not that fond of resorts or lake home owners associations.
Granted it’s the law, but it’s based in ignorance, not effective or efficient and a comically ignorant use of time and funding. Plus it puts undo pressure and expectations on the general public for something that is a waste of time. Clean your rig, great idea, do it every time off the water. Pull the drain plug, been doing that forever. Drain the livewell’s, once again, have always done that.
But forcing it and making it a fine-able offense?
Seriously?
Come on.
And leading our state and country’s constituents to believe it is going to stop AIS to keep from coming in our borders, when the very vehicle that has been transporting AIS into our borders for years is basically left loosely regulated is IDIOTIC! Penalize those that are submissive and stupid enough to swallow the horse pill, of a dictatorship like bureaucracy, that has proven time and time again about their impotence and cluelessness on most every issue they are faced with.
For me I refuse to drink the DNR and state’s cool aid on AIS and the regulatory methods they’ve put into play just to make it seem like they are doing something. It is at its core, shifting the blame of AIS on to sportsman, instead of stopping the source. That is not ok and not something I am willing to just blindly follow and say, ahh, ohh, well it’s the law, so gotta be Beaver Flatulence Cleaver and follow the law cause Bossman says so.
Or simply set a better example for the younger members. The disregard and ignorance here is disgusting.
Not only have you sent the message that our laws are merely suggestions but you’ve also made the original poster feel really small.
The law is what’s truly disgusting. It’s based on a lie, that picking the surface weeds off your rig and pulling the plugs are going to stop something that is already here in our watersheds. And more are being brought into our waters in ships ballast water.
I’d rather have my kids question a law, than blindly follow one like a clone. Our country’s freedom was founded by great men, questioning the law that ruled over them.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>
Or simply set a better example for the younger members. The disregard and ignorance here is disgusting.Not only have you sent the message that our laws are merely suggestions but you’ve also made the original poster feel really small.
The law is what’s truly disgusting. It’s based on a lie, that picking the surface weeds off your rig and pulling the plugs are going to stop something that is already here in our watersheds. And more are being brought into our waters in ships ballast water.
I’d rather have my kids question a law, than blindly follow one like a clone. Our country’s freedom was founded by great men, questioning the law that ruled over them.
LOL…If your going to get raped you may as well put a smile on your face and enjoy it. C’mon dude…RR
I’d like to add speed limits to the list of stupid laws. I absolutely can drive 65 mph+ on a rural highway without causing any problems or harm whatsoever. What idiot legislator came up with this BS?!? Speed limits will NOT stop car accidents from happening. I mean, don’t law makers understand that deer don’t read the laws? I’m sure that speed limits are unconstitutional. I’m sick and tired of this injustice, that’s for sure.
On second thought, while speed limits don’t keep the roads perfectly safe I suppose they’re a good idea overall. They probably do reduce the overall number of accidents even if they don’t eliminate them. And if I think I can safely exceed the speed limit I guess I can live with the risk of getting a ticket.
Speed limit law’s have been studied and that is a public safety issue.
Prove that the ais program is slowing the spread with facts and data or studies.
Speed limit law’s have been studied and that is a public safety issue.
Prove that the ais program is slowing the spread with facts and data or studies.
Just look at the list of lakes infested. Is it any coincidence that the most popular recreational and fishing lakes are always first? Ever wonder why that is?
Oh yes. Ducks. Popular duck lakes are also popular recreational lakes.
Red Hering.
I’m a putter. The vehicles that pass me going more then 55 is the same form of civil disobedience. (Not that I haven’t edged over the limit myself.) 
Some things never change.
Stupid laws turn law abiding folks into outlaws. Just ask George Washington.
Speed limit law’s have been studied and that is a public safety issue.
Prove that the ais program is slowing the spread with facts and data or studies.
Prove that it isn’t.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>basseyes wrote:</div>
Speed limit law’s have been studied and that is a public safety issue.Prove that the ais program is slowing the spread with facts and data or studies.
Just look at the list of lakes infested. Is it any coincidence that the most popular recreational and fishing lakes are always first? Ever wonder why that is?
Oh yes. Ducks. Popular duck lakes are also popular recreational lakes.
It’s totally because the ducks know that humans feed them so they go to where the humans are.
FWIW it would be easier for me if I could transport fish home in my livewell. It’s very common for me to fish 2 hours away from my house. I put the fish on ice. Works great. In my view there is no real good reason to take fish in a bucket of water to your house that is a few blocks away.
Everyone loves to B&M about AIS laws and maybe they have some valid points but it seems nobody has proposed any ideas to make the laws better.
As a side note on the speeding thing. I once pulled somebody over for running a stop sign. He argued with me and later in court that stop signs were an unconstitutional restriction on his freedom of movement.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>basseyes wrote:</div>
Speed limit law’s have been studied and that is a public safety issue.Prove that the ais program is slowing the spread with facts and data or studies.
Prove that it isn’t.
That’s easy.
There is no such thing as invasive species. There are only species.
As I have stated many time you cannot pick and choose what goes on a list.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>basseyes wrote:</div>
Speed limit law’s have been studied and that is a public safety issue.Prove that the ais program is slowing the spread with facts and data or studies.
Just look at the list of lakes infested. Is it any coincidence that the most popular recreational and fishing lakes are always first? Ever wonder why that is?
Oh yes. Ducks. Popular duck lakes are also popular recreational lakes.
The DNR is a day late and a dollar short. With something like this, there’s really no stopping it or even slowing it down, when there’s no manual or tool kit for eliminating it once it’s in a body of water or water shed. As the spread continues, even though we might “slow” it down, once it’s there, it’s not going anywhere.
It’s like slots. Yeppers, they work. But at what? Eliminating one or 2 year classes of fish in a system. Is it fun to fish for cpr? Yeppers. But what about once fishing is nothing more than golf or slow pitch soft ball, yet there’s a victim in it, aka the fish. We are pounding the same fish over and over and over again in certain fisheries, and that is morally and ethically questionable to people who don’t hunt or fish. I’ve had more people tell me they can understand fishing where a meal is a byproduct of fishing. But do not like or support fishing for recreational leisure alone. Don’t be fooled, fishing will start being under just as much scrutiny as hunting as we grow more and more into a civilization that has no understanding of what’s needed to grow/kill their own food. Personally I see the AIS as a back door to controlling recreational travel. And that spooks me. So forgive me if I get the yipp’s with this stuff. It all starts will small sacrifices, that lead to a shrinking pool of people wanting to do outdoor activities. Yet the DNR and the outdoor business community wonder why fishing and hunting is being ruled by the gray haired old guys, with no recruitment. It’s like the moose study having to be so guarded as to not offend anybody, that might even bring up the plausibility that the wolf just may have something to do with calf recruitment. As the problems and threats to our resources mount, and increasing regulations put more and more demands on outdoor people, the risk of honestly missing or just not catching all the regulations is going to grow. The need for regulations is a must, we all get that. But when everything becomes so rigid, fundamental-istic and dogmatic to some degree or form of a religious type ideal, I start to question the motives behind stuff.
Quote black98transam: Everyone loves to B&M about AIS laws and maybe they have some valid points but it seems nobody has proposed any ideas to make the laws better.
The CO’s I know have told me right to my face that they agree with me–“change the law from “transport” to “spread”. In other words–leaving the lake with water would be fine/not spreading…entering an access with intent to launch is spreading. The lawmakers I speak to also agree with simple change–but too many ignorant/inexperienced lawmakers vote to keep the laws the same as written and even more restrictive–for no good reason. Simple—and understandable and more enforceable in court–change the word transport to spread–period.
FYI–I have asked CO’s if THEY could make my boat comply to current transport laws right after pulling it out of a weedy harbor ramp–they say “NO way–not here with no tools/high pressure washer etc.”. So there…
Quote black98transam: Everyone loves to B&M about AIS laws and maybe they have some valid points but it seems nobody has proposed any ideas to make the laws better.
The CO’s I know have told me right to my face that they agree with me–“change the law from “transport” to “spread”. In other words–leaving the lake with water would be fine/not spreading…entering an access with intent to launch is spreading. The lawmakers I speak to also agree with simple change–but too many ignorant/inexperienced lawmakers vote to keep the laws the same as written and even more restrictive–for no good reason. Simple—and understandable and more enforceable in court–change the word transport to spread–period.
FYI–I have asked CO’s if THEY could make my boat comply to current transport laws right after pulling it out of a weedy harbor ramp–they say “NO way–not here with no tools/high pressure washer etc.”. So there…
Bingo!
I think I just found who I am writing in for president.
I’ve had them just shake their heads after pulling out of those types of accesses, shrug, shake their heads and say good luck with that. Most will just tell you to take a pressure washer to it at the first car wash or at home if it’s close after pulling everything you can easily pull.
Black T/A wrote “FWIW it would be easier for me if I could transport fish home in my livewell. It’s very common for me to fish 2 hours away from my house. I put the fish on ice. Works great. In my view there is no real good reason to take fish in a bucket of water to your house that is a few blocks away.”
Unless you don’t have a live well in your boat. Absolutely best to ice your days harvest particularly this time of year but perhaps you don’t have a bag or bucket of ice handy.
BTW, Were/are you a trooper? Or…?
Anyway…off topic, you signed on for the IDO FFL!
The CO’s I know have told me right to my face that they agree with me–“change the law from “transport” to “spread”. In other words–leaving the lake with water would be fine/not spreading…entering an access with intent to launch is spreading. The lawmakers I speak to also agree with simple change–but too many ignorant/inexperienced lawmakers vote to keep the laws the same as written and even more restrictive–for no good reason. Simple—and understandable and more enforceable in court–change the word transport to spread–period.
Ok this is it and I’m done with this. Not worth my time any more and frankly there’s no point.
I find this extremely hard to believe. If the CO had any care at all about enforcing ANY kind of AIS laws, the why the hell would they want authority to enforce ONLY AFTER the AIS is spread?
If any of you think this is more effective than what they currently have, then there’s no point in continuing here.
The other thing I don’t understand is how pulling your damn plugs and pulling the weeds off your trailer is costing the state money. A day late and a dollar short??? How does that apply to breaking AIS laws?
And I’m not that fond of resorts or lake home owners associations.
Please don’t lump all Lake Associations as the “bad guys” In fact the Rush Lake Improvement Association (RLIA) does more good work behind the scenes then a lot of people see. Every year they head out and clean up the ice after the ice shacks are off, they are working to help control run-off into the lake, they work with DNR and other organizations try and keep the lake in as good shape as possible. They also place the hazard buoys on the lake, work on rough fish removal and control of curly leave pond weed.
The money for the RLIA comes from people that live on the lake and pull-tabs in some local establishments. They do not ask for money from the fisherman and recreational users of the lake for this work. For full disclosure yes, I live on Rush lake and belong to lake association. I am sure other lake associations do the same. Not all are like the Christmas Lake association.
Changing the law to “spread” would be about as effective as making it illegal to drive over the speed limit only if you cause a car accident.
Changing the law to “spread” would be about as effective as making it illegal to drive over the speed limit only if you cause a car accident.
You are right! It ( the change from “transport” to “spread”) would NOT be more “effective” as far as AIS being intro’d to a new lake or waterway. But it would be legal and fair. THAT is my point…
If I have a gun in possession, and don’t shoot it at you, I can not or should not be arrested for attempted murder right? If I have lake water in my boat on the road and do not take it from one lake to the next, I should not be arrested for spreading AIS–right?
Can I be arrested for speeding just because I am on the road?
john, you beat me to it, I was going to rant that I saw 491 cars speeding on the way home today and I took pictures of all of them, and then I confronted all of them and told them how they were wrong.
On a kinda off topic, I just love when I see the sign over the highway that says….”1 in 5 traffic accidents are speed related SLOW DOWN”
I think…hmmm so 4 out of 5 traffic accidents involve people driving under the speed limit… To me that means, drive fast, and safe and don’t clog traffic. Its the speed limit drivers causing 80% of the accidents 
I don’t see why there is so much bickering over this topic. Trailer your boat, pull the plug, open the wells (put fish on ice for longer transport), take the weeds off the trailer, and homeward bound. Easy
I don’t see why there is so much bickering over this topic. Trailer your boat, pull the plug, open the wells (put fish on ice for longer transport), take the weeds off the trailer, and homeward bound. Easy
DING,DING,DING,DING,DING…
We have a winner folks, this thread is now closed. 
You are right! It ( the change from “transport” to “spread”) would NOT be more “effective” as far as AIS being intro’d to a new lake or waterway. But it would be legal and fair. THAT is my point…
Why would you bother to change a law that you feel is unfair to a law that is no more fair and completely ineffective?
Wouldn’t you want to eliminate it completely?
I don’t see why there is so much bickering over this topic. Trailer your boat, pull the plug, open the wells (put fish on ice for longer transport), take the weeds off the trailer, and homeward bound. Easy
If only it was that easy. To Steve’s point…you could complete all of the steps you say and still not be in compliance. Without high pressure washers and other sterilizing equipment at the landing, you will never be able to remove every weed fragment or water still pooled down in the bilge. Trying to comply does not qualify as being in full compliance. So that really is just how silly this all is.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>basseyes wrote:</div>
And I’m not that fond of resorts or lake home owners associations.Please don’t lump all Lake Associations as the “bad guys” In fact the Rush Lake Improvement Association (RLIA) does more good work behind the scenes then a lot of people see. Every year they head out and clean up the ice after the ice shacks are off, they are working to help control run-off into the lake, they work with DNR and other organizations try and keep the lake in as good shape as possible. They also place the hazard buoys on the lake, work on rough fish removal and control of curly leave pond weed.
The money for the RLIA comes from people that live on the lake and pull-tabs in some local establishments. They do not ask for money from the fisherman and recreational users of the lake for this work. For full disclosure yes, I live on Rush lake and belong to lake association. I am sure other lake associations do the same. Not all are like the Christmas Lake association.
You guys are imo, what lake association should use as a model for lake associations around the whole state! Rush is a great lake, in large part to your guys efforts.
My hat’s off to you guys!
However, don’t worry. The AIS agents of truth will be gone from boat launches any day now as they all head back to high school and college.
However, don’t worry. The AIS agents of truth will be gone from boat launches any day now as they all head back to high school and college.
Haha true, and by some logic shown on this thread, there will be a spike in AIS infected lakes! Bring your HazMat suits!!! 
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