It's not working!

[DTro]

and they clearly said they are going to stop being lenient.

[CANOPY SAM]

I always get a kick out of how the authorities say they are going to "step up" surveillance for intoxicated drivers over holiday weekends as well!

Perhaps it's just me, but I'd kinda hope they'd be pretty diligent about watching for intoxicated drivers ALL THE TIME!!!! Not just over a few weekends each year.

Beg your pardon Harvey, but don't all boat plugs insert from the inside of the boat? Not picking hairs here. It's just all I've ever seen. That really would be a kick in the head to catch the authorities themselves not abiding by their own rules! But would it really surprise anyone?

[20lbSloughShark]

I've seen a boat with a kind of bolt that screwed in the outside. It was a bigger boat, but the one in the picture isn't small either. That is kind of like the news story on county judges that would speed because they wouldn't convict themselves. Nobody is arguing that picking AIS off your boat is a waste. Its about half of the new laws that are just a real pain to live with, and as I said before, don't help anything. Just a few topics down there is a link that claims canada has found a way to kill only zebra muscles. Now that is a solution, not giving out tickets for not throwing out your $10 of bait.

[huskie0302]

We found two boats this weekend that had zebra muscles attached to the boats. I have never heard so many excuses why they didnt clean their boat. Please have some common sense

[highlife4me]

Not all boat plugs are inserted from the inside. My Impact the plug is inserted from the outside and hangs by a small cable when taken out. BTW, Digger Anchor makes a plug that can be left in. It is called the Bail R Matic, kinda like a check valve that lets water out of the boat but prevents water from coming in.

[DTro]

Well yeah, but drunk driving.....well you know... kills people.

I'm not sure we have defined what transporting weeds or water or snails has done. We have been trained to believe its bad and I suppose if you are concerned about your feet getting an owie when swimming or your sprinkler intake getting clogged, or maybe even walleye fishing getting worse well then I guess so.

Zebra mussels do have a positive impact on some native species. Many native fish, birds, and other animals eat young and adult zebra mussels. Migratory ducks have changed their flight patterns in response to zebra mussel colonies. Lake sturgeon feed heavily on zebra mussels, as do yellow perch, freshwater drum, catfish, and sunfish. The increase in aquatic plants due to increased water clarity provides excellent nursery areas for young fish and other animals, leading to increases in smallmouth bass.

[BobT]

Bob,

I don't entirely disagree with you, but keep in mind, if a person does everything they can to abide by the laws of the land, and yet misses one minor detail, I highly doubt the authorities are going to prosecute anyone in that situation to the full extent of the law. The regulations aren't a complete mystery to everyone. They're actually pretty straightforward.

The folks who have checked my boat, which has occurred at a couple of different landings now, have been very helpful and cooperative, as I have as well. I comply with the regulations to whatever degree I can, and for the issues that I may inadvertently overlook, they have a degree of leniency and simply remind me, and encourage me to pay attention to these points in the future.

This isn't impossible to comply with. Make an honest effort to do your best to meet all the new standards, and the authorities will recognize it and respond accordingly. Completely ignore the new laws, play ignorant and hope for the best, and you're likely going to get a ticket.

I get the impression from a few posts following my last that some folks think I am lumping an AIS infraction together, at the same degree as murder or theft. That is not what I am saying at all. What I am saying is there will always be people that ignore, or intentionally disregard the law. Whether they be laws against theft, murder, or not removing the plug from your boat, or at least making an effort to remove hitchhiking undesirable critters.

It's really not that difficult. Try to keep your boat clean and free of aquatic hitchhikers. It's a little silly to make it out to be anything more then it really is.

Honestly, what I find most difficult is picking those tiny dried up pieces of weeds out of my indoor/outdoor boat carpeting. It actually seems to help to fly down the road with the boat cover off. This seems to scour out all the debris from the boat. But I still try to pick out all the bits and pieces of weeds from the carpeting before we leave the lake landing. Keeps a guy really mindful of where those little weeds go when your reeling in weeds on every other cast while fishing bass and pike from a weedy shoreline.

You're probably right.......for now. Eventually it will change when it's decided that we've been given enough "leniency" to the law. DUI is a good example. They keep lowering the limit more all the time. Eventually, it'll get so low some people wouldn't pass the test even if they have never had a drink in their life.

We have lost much of our 2nd amendment rights because too many of us blindly accept small change. Soon there's another small change and another and another until the right to keep and bear arms is no more.

My concern for the AIS law is not fostered out of my desire or even effort to not comply. I probably comply better than most. I do take the time to lower my motor when I come out of the water and let it drain. I pull the plug. I drain my live well. I bring water from home in a cooler, pour the water out of my flow-through minnow bucket, and dump my minnows and leeches in the cooler to bring home. I dry my lures before putting them in my tackle box. I get down on my hands and knees to check my boat trailer and boat hull for invasives. I do these things every time I go out. I don't like it but it is the law and it is Biblical to abide by the law of the land. But that does not mean I must agree with it. It's a stupid, feel good, waste of time, money, and resources putting a band-aid on a problem rather than finding an real solution to it.

[Big Dave2]

You're probably right.......for now. Eventually it will change when it's decided that we've been given enough "leniency" to the law. DUI is a good example. They keep lowering the limit more all the time. Eventually, it'll get so low some people wouldn't pass the test even if they have never had a drink in their life.

We have lost much of our 2nd amendment rights because too many of us blindly accept small change. Soon there's another small change and another and another until the right to keep and bear arms is no more.

My concern for the AIS law is not fostered out of my desire or even effort to not comply. I probably comply better than most. I do take the time to lower my motor when I come out of the water and let it drain. I pull the plug. I drain my live well. I bring water from home in a cooler, pour the water out of my flow-through minnow bucket, and dump my minnows and leeches in the cooler to bring home. I dry my lures before putting them in my tackle box. I get down on my hands and knees to check my boat trailer and boat hull for invasives. I do these things every time I go out. I don't like it but it is the law and it is Biblical to abide by the law of the land. But that does not mean I must agree with it. It's a stupid, feel good, waste of time, money, and resources putting a band-aid on a problem rather than finding an real solution to it.

Well stated Bob!

[Big Dave2]

Beg your pardon Harvey, but don't all boat plugs insert from the inside of the boat?

And YOU'RE the one giving the lectures?

[CANOPY SAM]

Lectures? Really Dave? I guess I should prolly be charging for my services then?

Just sharing thoughts and observations bud. Nothing more.

[CaptainMusky]

My plug inserts from the outside. Cannot imagine trying to put it in from the inside.

Are we eventually going to be checked for invasive species transported by our vehicles? What about the emerald ash borers I may have encountered while driving down the road?

Everyone wants things to be black and white but there is no way you could possibly write laws to combat invasive species.

[walleyefisher10]

How long do the invasive species live once out of the water????

I know milfoil and other plants can be transported from one lake to another on your boat or trailer because of seeds but how long will everything else survive once it is removed from the water?

[ClownColor]

This thread is incredible, especially coming from a outdoor forum.

The best analogy I’ve read thus far is with the illegal immigrants coming into this country. Can we stop it 100%? No, so why are we wasting BILLIONS of dollars doing it? Should we just open the doors to all? Tell me how this is any different? Sure, it’s on a much larger scale but same theory. How about world disease? Look how good they’ve done controlling that!

Seriously, how hard is it to comply with these simple rules. I’ve been checked about a half dozen times this year without one incident while taking not one extra second getting out of there. If everyone, or most comply with these such simple rules, it will save lakes.

A lot of you complain it was large ships that brought these over from foreign countries Per your theories, they should never had been inspected either? Cause it was “going” to happen anyways? If you believe that, then don’t complain that they didn’t do anything in the first place.

Unreal!

[FshBloodRiverMud]

I've said it before, and i'll say it again. My boat leaks, AND also holds water. Bilge pump runs every time on the water. Boat WILL hold over 3 gallons of water even when plug is pulled. That water DOES transfer to the next lake i'm at...AND, i'm not the only one.

So, while i do comply with the laws...It does not prevent the transfer of invasives.

Do i feel bad? No.

DO i feel the invasives are killing our lakes? No.

[ClownColor]

I've said it before, and i'll say it again. My boat leaks, AND also holds water. Bilge pump runs every time on the water. Boat WILL hold over 3 gallons of water even when plug is pulled. That water DOES transfer to the next lake i'm at...AND, i'm not the only one.

So, while i do comply with the laws...It does not prevent the transfer of invasives.

Do i feel bad? No.

DO i feel the invasives are killing our lakes? No.

Then you are okay with invasive species. No point in arguing with you. Cause that's probably the same excuse the boat captains said when they transferred them over here from foreign countries.

So you should also have no problems when the Asian carp makes its way here?

[ClownColor]

I've said it before, and i'll say it again. My boat leaks, AND also holds water. Bilge pump runs every time on the water. Boat WILL hold over 3 gallons of water even when plug is pulled. That water DOES transfer to the next lake i'm at...AND, i'm not the only one.

So, while i do comply with the laws...It does not prevent the transfer of invasives.

Do i feel bad? No.

DO i feel the invasives are killing our lakes? No.

Also, just because you don't have a problem with it, doesn't me others don't so get over you Almighty high chair. Maybe all the smokers should just light up at restaurants cause hey, they don't feel its bad either.

[CaptainMusky]

I guess if my boat leaked I would sure as heck figure out a way to fix it. "My arm is bleeding. I could put a bandaid on it, but it will eventually stop."

[harvey lee]

Canopy, years ago I had a boat that the plug went in from the inside of the boat, very easy to get too. I would guess there are still some older boats out there that could have the plug inside, surely not saying all but some could.

Seems many don't like the fact they have to follow the laws, well, maybe I will go to the bar and then drive my truck, will see what the police have to say about that. Oh officer, I don't like that law, it will never work as only some will comply. Then he writes me my ticket and off to jail I go.

I cannot understand why some believe they can pick and choose the laws they feel are right and if they do not like them, oh well.

[Kyhl]

everytime I have checked by the dnr and the inspectors at the landings they have been very nice and helpful even pulling weeds on the bottom of my trailer while I still was strapping my boat down. The few on here that dam about everything the dnr is doing to slow it down either start doing your part or sell your fishing/boating stuff and find something else to screw up.

I'm sad for you and Harvey that you guys are so willing to give up privacy and consent to searches as long as someone asks nicely.

Will you give me $100 if I ask nicely?

So it's ok as long as they are nice. What happens when their mood changes. At that point does the law become to burdensome? The law didn't change in this instance. Would your view of the law change?

I feel sad for this country when I read dump like this. As long as they are cordial any law is ok I guess. It's all about feelings over logic. Rant over.

[FshBloodRiverMud]

Call it a high chair if you would like.

The point is, the law does not prevent the transfer of invasive water.

Slow maybe. Prevent, no.

[ClownColor]

Kyle-

Are you saying it's illegal(or against your rights) for them to search the exterior of your boat for weeds and others? Have you flown lately? Have you been to a concert or pro sports game? You realize they check your stuff out there as well right?

I'm totally okay with checks "at" landings. You fish, you use the water, you should be checked if they want to...same if you "choose" to fly, or "choose" to go watch a pro sporting event. Now-if you are cruising down the road pulling a trailer-then yes, they should not be able to pull you over. that is implying you went in the water and they can't do that...just like NSA can't inspect your suitcase simple cause you're carrying it down the sidewalk.

[ClownColor]

Call it a high chair if you would like.

The point is, the law does not prevent the transfer of invasive water.

Slow maybe. Prevent, no.

Actually the law DOES. It says to remove all the water from your boat does it not? I get that it may be extremely difficult to almost impossible. But I'm guessing the CO's know whats going on.

[Sy]

Another brilliant post overreacting - like many on this thread! Comparing it to choosing to ignore drinking and driving laws is silly and makes your argument look foolish. I think we all probably break laws (e.g crossing the street illegally, shooting a bottle rocket, going 5 MPH over the speed limit) and that does not equate to breaking a law to murder someone or drive wasted. I am not sure that qualifies as letting people "pick and choose the laws they feel are right" when comparing this to drinking and driving. The enforcement of each law is usually based on some common sense or the ramifications of breaking that law.

I think what a lot of people are saying that are against some of this law is there is almost no stopping this and it is a very expensive and far reaching attempt just to slow it down. Maybe the money and energy could be better spent on something that delivers better results. In the end, some of the obscure parts of the law are probably too much effort and too "invasive" for not enough reward.

I also will add that I think most people I fish and boat with would not be against some level of effort to slow it down(pull plug, drop motor, so on) as the bigger things probably do help but some of the stuff like emptying all the bait, using a suction tube to get every drop out of the live well (happened to me at a check station), power washing and hand drying the boat as you leave(happened to me at a check station), and etc. might be over reaching with out much gain.

[Kyhl]

Actually the law DOES. It says to remove all the water from your boat does it not? I get that it may be extremely difficult to almost impossible. But I'm guessing the CO's know whats going on.

Not that I can see.

84D.10 WATERCRAFT AND WATER-RELATED EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS

Subd. 4.Persons transporting water-related equipment.

(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.

Does not say it needs to be dry. It says drained by removing the plug.

Anything more is an over reach by the inspector.

[Kyhl]

Kyle-

Are you saying it's illegal(or against your rights) for them to search the exterior of your boat for weeds and others? Have you flown lately? Have you been to a concert or pro sports game? You realize they check your stuff out there as well right?

I'm totally okay with checks "at" landings. You fish, you use the water, you should be checked if they want to...same if you "choose" to fly, or "choose" to go watch a pro sporting event. Now-if you are cruising down the road pulling a trailer-then yes, they should not be able to pull you over. that is implying you went in the water and they can't do that...just like NSA can't inspect your suitcase simple cause you're carrying it down the sidewalk.

I was referring to random roadside inspections. If you are already stopped in a public location then anyone can look at what you are presenting publically.

I wonder if the the livewell was locked or lockable if they may need a warrant to inspect it's contents. Similar to a locked storage compartment of a car.