New Bait bucket and boat sticker laws to take effect (AIS)

[DTro]

We've been talking about it for a while now and here ya go:

The fight to slow the spread of invasive species into Minnesota lakes means major changes for the state's 1.5 million anglers following passage of a law this week.

The biggest change: Anglers will have to drain their portable minnow and leech buckets when they leave any waters -- not just waters infested with invasive species -- if they want to keep their bait. Currently, they are required to do that only after leaving infested waters.

"You're going to have to bring extra water," said Luke Skinner, Department of Natural Resources invasive species unit supervisor. "We're not encouraging people to throw their bait away, they just are going to have to come prepared. They already have to do that when fishing Lake Mille Lacs and other infected waters."

Skinner advises anglers to bring water and leave it in a cooler in their vehicle. Then after draining their bait buckets at landings, they can refill them with clean water. It's illegal to dump bait in lakes or on the ground, and most public accesses don't have garbage cans, Skinner said. The bait bucket provision goes into effect when Gov. Mark Dayton signs the law, which he is expected to do.

Another provision requires the state's 800,000 boaters to place a free invasive species decal on their boats. The stickers will remind boaters to comply with the laws, including draining all water and removing vegetation or invasive species from boats and trailers.

"We'll be distributing them this summer at bait shops, retailers and boat dealers," Skinner said. Boats must have the stickers beginning Aug. 1. Failure to comply will be a petty misdemeanor, though the law doesn't call for penalties until 2014.

The new law also gives the DNR more authority to inspect boats at public or private locations where boats are in plain view, if officers believe they might be infected. Boaters who refuse inspection could be prevented from launching.

The DNR also will set up check and decontamination stations that are not at boat landings, where boaters will be required to stop.

"The advantage is we might be able to capture more boats on a main road that goes to multiple lakes," Skinner said. "We have to take more precautions if we want to protect our lakes. This [law] is a big step in that direction."

Doug Smith • [email protected]

[LMITOUT]

I quit.

[Troller]

So what if you don't use a flow-through-type container? What if it's in a self contained minnow bucket filled with the same water you got at the bait shop??

You still need to empty? If so, that's lame...

[theharvester]

if i bring bait in a cooler never take water out of the lake i still have to change /kill my bait what a crock! and what a waste of money on these stickers this is getting crazy!

[DTro]

I do believe it pertains to all bait containers, coolers, etc, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Here is a reference:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/session...&year_=2011

I use live bait 99% of the time for open water season, and yea this will be a pain in my backside no doubt.

[TruthWalleyes]

I shouldn't have put ice in my minnow bucket last night

Chuck the bobbers, fill the flo trol with cranks and gulp!

[wastewaterguru]

but.....

but.....

but.....

How on earth.

So I have to empty every every ounce of water.....but any true inboard motor has nearly a gallon in the cooling passages at all times and is transported lake to lake every time.

Not to mention boats that sit even a little forward on their trailers will never fully drain with the plug out.....until of course they are tilted back on the next ramp they go to.....or on a hill next to a pristine lake and since the plug has to be out, who knows where this water is going to drain.

Etc., Etc., etc.

There are sooooooooooo many ways for invasives to hitch a ride that this seems pretty darn trivial and downright comical.

[CAMAN]

Are they going to check every duck that flies from lake to lake also?

I don't see anyone being "reminded" about invasives from a sticker placed on a boat, most people don't even read the bright yellow signs at the landings, what a waste of resources.

[Steve Foss]

There are sooooooooooo many ways for invasives to hitch a ride that this seems pretty darn trivial and downright comical.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's politicians (and the top DNR folks ARE political), who feel the need to make it look like they are doing something to halt the spread of invasives. Well, they are doing something, but it's for appearances only, in the race for perpetual re-election/appointment.

All the invasives we've got . . . they're going to spread no matter what we do. I'm not happy about it. I fish a lake with two types of invasives. Bad. I wish the lake was how it was 100 years ago. But it is what it is. Once they're here, there's no going back. Invasives come in, bloom, change the ecosystem, die back to manageable levels, and eventually an equilibrium is reached.

This measure ain't gonna stop it. Banning untreated smelt/cisco for bait ain't gonna stop it. And on and on . . .

I'm not being casual about invasives. I hate them as much as anyone. But the time to halt the spread is BEFORE they enter our waters, eh? Oooops, too late for that. Much better now, IMO, to weight our resources toward assessing impacts, anticipating ecosystem changes and planning for mitigation.

But hey, they are the laws we live by, so I'll live by them, And that orange and black 2011 invasives sticker suuuuuuure looks sweet on the hull of my blue/gray Alumacraft. Bonus! Halloween, anyone?

[reinhard1]

i agree with you on this one. i can see if you take water out of infested water and transport it elsewere. but at the same time even if you pull the plug [ like 99.9% of fishermen have done forever] there will still be some of that water from that body of water in and on your boat [especialy if you have a carpeted bunk trailor or cracks or openings in your trailor] from that body of water.

it is the law and must be followed regardless of how we feel about it. my issue with this is where will this stop? it wont, because stuffed shirts in the leglislature cant help themselves from imposing further restrictions on the majority of fishermen with good ethics from the actions of a few.

FREE STICKERS!!!!!! my arse. that's taxpayer money regardless of the small amount campared to our bloated budget. i am a adult and dont need to be treated like a child to remind me of my responsibility at the boat landing. what's next dnr personel putting a star on your head for doing a good job.

waste of time bringing tap water with you for the minnows wont last long better bring spring water that is kept cool with a device to keep them full of oxygen. cant dump them back in the water, cant dump them on land, so if you dont want them you have to take them home or if your lucky there is a garbage can at the landing.

i run water through my boat when i get home and spray the outside. takes 10 minutes. there will be some who say "we all must do our part". i think most of us have been, for years. it's time for enforcing existing laws. i have two stickers [oh i should have said FREE] one for 02' and the last one for 06'. where are all the boat checkers of the past? those were stickers were i actualy got checked at a public landing by actual part time dnr employees.

i have been advocating for fishing licence increases, first time angler discount licence's, but so far more rules with few to enforce them anyway. all these additional measures mentioned in this thread wont increase participation in this great outdoor activity. i predict down the line the state will spend millions for "decontamination stations" to go through before you enter a lake and leave it.

FREE STICKERS EVERYONE!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK.

[Ed Carlson]

The treat is real, the problem is here, we need to do our best to contain it.

The stickers is an initial step to educate us by means of mandated compliance... or many would not take it seriously at all...we all know that...right.

Same with the checkpoints, checkpoints verify compliance so they may better react to what is found...how else can they do it?

I think once we all know what is expected and we get the drill down it will not be much of a hassle considering the potential consequences if we ignore the situation further.

[TruthWalleyes]

In all the discussions about invasive species, a number of people added that these invasives can be a very miniscule size....Wonder how many latch on to the feathers on ducks/waterfowl.

I think i'd rather wipe politicians off the planet before lawyers.

This law isn't a major concern on me, at least when fishing lakes - not that difficult to keep fatheads and leeches alive.

But it will be tricky trying to keep my catfish bait alive.

And how can they do this: "Boats must have the stickers beginning Aug. 1. Failure to comply will be a petty misdemeanor, though the law doesn't call for penalties until 2014."

[itchmesir]

Keep a gallon milk jug... fill it with water and freeze... leave in a cooler in the truck.. there is your cold water for when you return

[Mark13:33]

Maybe the DNR should quit trying to play God. Name one invasive species the DNR has stopped? Sportsman education is the only way things get better. I read on a previous thread of a boat throwing 25" eyes in the livewell. Educate 'em, a sign or sticker won't stop these people and probably has a 10% success rate. Treating us like we are 10 years old, giving us stickers is nuts. We don't need anymore government or taxes, we need private organizations and lake associations to do their part and educate. This whole invasive species bit is a waste of time and cannot be stopped. I recall milfoil being the end of fishing 10-15 years ago and we still don't have it in my home lake. Do any of you feel like this is a ploy by berkley and gulp to shut down bait dealers and live bait as we know it?

[iix]

Boy oh boy, I can already see the 10 mile backup on next years opener. That is if people are still boating by then.

The DNR also will set up check and decontamination stations that are not at boat landings, where boaters will be required to stop.

[LMITOUT]

Boy oh boy, I can already see the 10 mile backup on next years opener. That is if people are still boating by then.

Fishing license sales were already down 30% this year so if we keep on this path of pistol-whipping everyone that just looks at the water funny the lines will be shorter and shorter every year.

[TruthWalleyes]

Maybe they should do away with opener then!

[Steve Foss]

Fishing license sales were already down 30% this year

[Getanet]

The sticker law is dumb, but it's not really that big of a deal to slap a sticker on your boat.

The bait law is really stupid. Assuming you get pulled over and inspected, how are they going to tell if the water in your bucket is from the lake or the tap? Are they going to take a drink? Also, don't quite a few types of minnows die from regular tap water due to the fluoride and other chemicals in it?

I would imagine there are quite a few CO's rolling their eyes at this new law as well.

[itchmesir]

The sticker law is dumb, but it's not really that big of a deal to slap a sticker on your boat.

The bait law is really stupid. Assuming you get pulled over and inspected, how are they going to tell if the water in your bucket is from the lake or the tap? Are they going to take a drink? Also, don't quite a few types of minnows die from regular tap water due to the fluoride and other chemicals in it?

I would imagine there are quite a few CO's rolling their eyes at this new law as well.

how bad does your tap water look???

[Getanet]

Not bad at the start, but probably not real clean after a scoop of crappies minnows use it as toilet.

[Tator2k]

Boat Sticker really? Because when I ran into Tom, the friendly DNR 'survey' officer, he gave me a sticker and placed it over the '10 sticker on my trailer tongue NOT on my boat.

[reinhard1]

we are containing not preventing at this point. politicians are good for after something happens not before something happens. this bait bucket law in my opinion will do nothing about invasive critters. unless you completly sanitize your boat, trailer, motor, and cloths/shoes [should you enter the water] will it even contain what is already there. yes, and i also believe waterfowl also carry the critters from water to water, just like they do fish eggs. this doesn't mean we should not take great care as responsible outdoor people. we should also follow the law's. but we can speak out and voice our opinion. for it is us that fund the very folks that make these laws and enforce them. good luck.

[TruthWalleyes]

How dirty does your tap water look?

Dirtier than the lake water right now, though the bait has been in there for over a week! DO i now have to get clean tap water before attempting to transport this bait! I debated this a long time ago...they can write tickets for transporting lake water, but have no method of determining if it is actually lake water Silly Politicians - Tap water is clean

[LMITOUT]

This is where the 30% number came from.

Quote:

Minn. fishing licenses down 30 percent from 2010

Duluth News Tribune,

Published: May 17, 2011 7:39:05 PM CDT

ST. PAUL — Sales of Minnesota fishing licenses before this year's opener were down nearly 30 percent compared with the same time last year.

More than 257,000 licenses had been sold on the Friday before the opener, down from nearly 367,000 at the same time in 2010, and from the 12-year average of 364,000 on that date.