transporting bait and fish-zebra mussels

[slick2526]

So from what I understand you are suppose to completely drain your live well, bilge, and anything else that can hold water when you leave a lake for there is no possibility of transporting zebra muscles.

First question is If i was using a large cooler to hold my bait and using a aerator in to keep the bait alive if I was pulled over or stopped at the access do I need to prove the water that I am holding in the cooler for the bait didnt come from a lake? so for example keep have to keep the jugs as proof I used store bought water?

Second question. I understand about draining your livewell as well as long as other things that will hold lake water on your boat. Lets just say I never used the water from the lake again and instead filled the live well partially with ice and decided to throw the fish on ice and decided I wanted to transport the the fish in the cool water after the ice melted. Would i have to prove the livewell only had ice in it from the outing and not lake water?

[CaptainMusky]

The drain plug must be removed and any valve or drain plug that would be used to retain water within the boat must be opened.

There is a FAQ questions page on the DNR HSOforum that talks about this in detail, but from what I understand basically ANY bait container regardless of whether or not it contained lake water or "bait shop" water would have to be drained immediately upon leaving the lake. You could refill with water bottles, but not sure the technicality of proving that in one of their roadside checks, etc.

[TruthWalleyes]

Musky pointed out one of the things i dislike most about this law. There is no way to prove you have spring/tap water just as there is no way to prove you have lake water.

My bait stays in a cooler, water from the bait shop or faucet at home. I use an aerating system. I never introduce lake water to my bait. As you load up your boat, you are supposed to drain your water from your bait. Either fill up the container with tap/spring water or toss your bait in the nearest garbage.

Livewell plugs must be pulled. If you fill them with ice, even with the plug drained, i suspect you're at risk when going down the road. However, if you had a cooler with ice and fish, who's to say that much of the melted ice in your cooler isn't lake water So there is really no way to prove your breaking the law, but in this case the DNR makes you guilty without the ability to prove your innocence. It's all up to the discression of the officer at that time. If they watch you at the landing and you don't dump your bait, you'll get busted for sure. If you dump your bait at the landing and then hit the road and get pulled over - they'll never know that you changed your bait...So..It's a bologna feel good BullCarp law! Good Luck!

[CaptainMusky]

Musky pointed out one of the things i dislike most about this law. There is no way to prove you have spring/tap water just as there is no way to prove you have lake water.

Agreed 100%.

Though, in all honesty you could really tell by looking at if it came from a lake or from a tap in the vast majority of cases. But the second you put something open for interpretation the floodgates open.

[Kyhl]

Here is the DNR fact page.

First off, here is the law.

In 2011 and 2012, the law was modified (Minnesota Statutes. 84D.10, Subd. 4) and as of July 1, 2012 it currently states,

(a) When leaving waters of the state a person must drain water-related equipment holding water and live wells and bilges by removing the drain plug before transporting the water-related equipment off the water access site or riparian property.

( Drain plugs, bailers, valves, or other devices used to control the draining of water from ballast tanks, bilges, and live wells must be removed or opened while transporting water-related equipment.

Based on that, your bait bucket needs to be drained and new fresh water can be added. People have been storing iced water in their vehicles for this purpose.

The live well valve needs to be open so you would not be able to trasport fish in a live well with ice and water.

The way I read it, ice should be fine but that does not mean an agressive agent would not ticket you.

[TruthWalleyes]

Though, in all honesty you could really tell by looking at if it came from a lake or from a tap in the vast majority of cases.

Typically yes, however, if i buy bait, go fishing, empty and refill cooler with tap water, drive home, leave bait in water for 3 days....What's that water look like? Lake water? It Stinks, It's dirty, It's still tap water.

[gwiff100]

bait shops are loving this!!!

buy $10 in live bait...

use it that day but plan on fishing a different lake tomorrow.... yep $10 dollars please...

[gwiff100]

so without the legal verbage.... can anyone tell me what a legal way to carry your bait is that you have caught on your own?

[JohnMickish]

The law on this is very, very simply, people just don't like the change.

ANYTHING that comes off the water and does/can/will contain bait and/or fish has to be drained at the ramp. Period. It's that simple folks, there isn't any gray area.

You do NOT have to throw your bait away. Exchange the lake water with water from your truck and you are 100% legal to go. The problem with cooler type bait containers is that you can't %100 always tell if the water is lake or bottled water (ever see the water on Lake Elmo? It's pretty darn clear) so they just made the rule that ALL water will be drained. You can take the bait out of the container you have them in and transfer the bait to another container (the key here is the second container can't be on the water, it has to come out of the truck) if you want, or exchange water.

I don't necessarily agree but it's the law and it's pretty simple. Drain the water and you will be fine.

[JohnMickish]

so without the legal verbage.... can anyone tell me what a legal way to carry your bait is that you have caught on your own?

Nothing is different. You can not move lake/stream water around the state. Bring your own water.

[ClownColor]

I think your questions being missed.

#1- if you pull up to an access or are pulled over like what you asked in your question, you don't have to prove anything...its only when you leave a lake that u must drain all bait water.

As for #2, you'd be busted. Take fish out of boat and put in cooler with ice. Ice in live well only with drain open may work if water, melted ice, is draining properly and u luck out when they check and u only have ice and fish in your livewell....again, water bad, even if it seems obvious that it came from melting ice.

[gwiff100]

okay so if i catch my own bait... lets say red tails and bring them to a lake 1hr + away in a cooler or some other form of transportation, BUT once i get to the lake dump the water out in the grass or woods or pavement, wherever, and place my bait into my boats baitwell... am i legal?!

or am i going to get tagged for transporting water?

I hope they are putting in as much effort to eradicate the invasive species. Believe me i am all for save waters and boater responsibilities, i just believe there are countless other ways invasive species are traveling to our lakes rather than Bait buckets/containers.

[Kdog10]

How does the law apply to shore fishing? All the legal verbage speaks to the boat and on the water, etc. If I fish from shore with a minnow bucket filled with water from the bait shop am I supposed to dump the water and refill that also?

[JohnMickish]

You can't transport lake and steam water around. Does not matter if you catch your own bait it not.

[Kyhl]

Right, so when you catch your own bait, put them into tap water before being transported.

Drain them when you leave the lake and replace the water with tap water again.

[gwiff100]

i understand that part... however, after 1 day in tap water there is absolutely no way anyone could tell if the was was "tap/well" water or water from a lake.... bait can dirty it up quick.

i also heard a rumor a guy got busted b/c the water he was re-filing his bait container with had a broken seal so the ticket was written.

[Kdog10]

How does this law relate to those who supply bait? They drive around in trucks with tanks in the back. According to the law shouldn't they have to empty their tanks every single time they add more minnows or leeches from a pond?

I dont complain much when it comes to rules/regulations but this seems ridiculous to me. The main reason that I disagree with it is because it is an enforcement nightmare. Without witnessing someone leave a body of water and not change out water for bait there is no way to prove guilt or innocence.

[Alagnak]

Yeah no worry about the bait deals because they already paid the state for 'class' and a license (which we could all do and not have to worry about it either). The state got their money for the year out of them. They're still looking to get their money out of us bait criminals though.

[Scott K]

Plus, the arent leaving the lake.

[TruthWalleyes]

i understand that part... however, after 1 day in tap water there is absolutely no way anyone could tell if the was was "tap/well" water or water from a lake.... bait can dirty it up quick.

Bingo.

[ClownColor]

i understand that part... however, after 1 day in tap water there is absolutely no way anyone could tell if the was was "tap/well" water or water from a lake.... bait can dirty it up quick.

i also heard a rumor a guy got busted b/c the water he was re-filing his bait container with had a broken seal so the ticket was written.

bingo x2

As said, they can only bust you "leaving" a lake, not going to it. Even a mile down the road you are safe...lake water, moon water, whatever...all you'd have to say is that it was tap water...not that I condone it but whatever.

as for the broken seal...I'd like to hear from the source and wouldn't go by hear say. That seems a little over the top...maybe the guy had it coming if anything else.

[TruthWalleyes]

I though the law that was passed allowed a person towing a boat to be pulled over anywhere on the road to be checked. Don't recall the exact wording, but it was beyond the access. I sure hope that they are not ticketing for water brought to the access though, because there is no way to tell if the water is fresh tap water, minnow poo tap water, or lake water.

[gwiff100]

from time to time i wish we had a dnr rep weigh in so we can straighten all this out...

[JohnMickish]

If your drain plug is in, you can get pulled over. If water is leaking out of your livewell, you can get pulled over. If you have water in the cooler in the back of the truck, it can be dirty as mud, but if they don't see you pull it out of the lake, it's your word against theirs.

It really is simple. Don't take any water out of a lake or stream and you won't have anything to worry about. The law isn't there to see if you are transporting dirty tap water, it's there for lake and stream water.

I fish ALOT, and fish on many different lakes in different states and I bet this new rule has maybe added $20 to my yearly fishing expense.

It's not a big deal, just bring a change of water and your bait will last a long time.

[gwiff100]

oh yeah and be sure if you are bringing your bait home with you... also bring a towel.. you have to dry each one of individually just to make sure every last drop of lake water is not transported.