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 • dsmith@startribune.com
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