Has anyone had kayak inspected for quagga mussels?

What’s the procedure?  Do they poke around inside the kayak?

I’m surprised how damp it gets inside my Hobie. I inserted a fan in there to move some air around. Dry it up.  ( a simple ducted fan with some flex hose would be very effective)

Do the inspectors need a bone dry kayak?

Some places are more thorough than others. If I were to drive 1.5 hrs to get inspected, I’d make sure it’s bone dry. Check before you leave your house and pull over somewhere close to your destination to check again.

The kayak has to be completely dry inside and out. The only exception is when it is raining, and even then it is at the discretion of the inspector. 

Lmao who HASNT been inspected.

Play jr psychologist for a moment. 

Imagine ur only job and professional authority is to find moisture in an expensive plastic toy. Ur dehydrated and slaving under the hot sun wearing dickies and the tan embroidered shirt issued by the county (or govt contractor) while the impatient stranger standing b4 u is potentially moments away from enjoying the cool splash of the water ur trying to keep free of mussels.

You are the one and only arbiter of whether someone may launch or is sent home packing.  The outcome turns solely on your exercise of discretion, and your decision is neither reviewable nor appealable.

The reality of the situation is that, in that moment, u r at once a peon and a god. The seduction of power calls to you, like the dulcet tones of a  sirens song.  If the grape nuts n coffee did they job that morning, then your a happy man.  If NASA did not launch its rocket ur prolly cranky.

What do you do, what do you do...

Lmao who HASNT been inspected.

Play jr psychologist for a moment. 

Imagine ur only job and professional authority is to find moisture in an expensive plastic toy. Ur dehydrated and slaving under the hot sun wearing dickies and the tan embroidered shirt issued by the county (or govt contractor) while the impatient stranger standing b4 u is potentially moments away from enjoying the cool splash of the water ur trying to keep free of mussels.

You are the one and only arbiter of whether someone may launch or is sent home packing.  The outcome turns solely on your exercise of discretion, and your decision is neither reviewable nor appealable.

The reality of the situation is that, in that moment, u r at once a peon and a god. The seduction of power calls to you, like the dulcet tones of a  sirens song.  If the grape nuts n coffee did they job that morning, then your a happy man.  If NASA did not launch its rocket ur prolly cranky.

What do you do, what do you do...

Oh yes......had an overzealous teenaged albino kid in the brown county parks button give me the business.  I had already had the yak inspected a couple days before so they gave me a return tag (zip tied across my seat) so I wouldn’t have to pay for another inspection on my next trip back.  Barney Fife looks at the return tag and said no go, have to pay for a new inspection cause I could have unscrewed the handle and slipped the ties off.  Fuckin doofus won that round......nerd was walk-in tall that day I’m sure.

Inspections can vary wildly, even at the same place.

I used to go to Lexington Reservoir once in a while. One time, the guy told me that I didn't need to open any of the hatches on my AI, as he could see (thru the thick plastic, apparently) that there was no water standing inside. He must've had x-ray vision. Another time (different inspector), I had to open everything up, including the little vent caps on the amas, and the guy took forever. He was obviously disappointed when he couldn't find a reason to fail me.

On Hobies, in particular, there is always some moisture trapped somewhere. If you don't believe me, take off one of those plastic screw-in pad eyes after you have not had your kayak in the water for 6 months. It will still be damp. And, if you use grease in your mirage drive, that'll trap moisture forever too. So, IMHO, if you have a Hobie and they really want to fail you, you will fail.

 

Hell to the yeah!

Really mess with the inspectors and bleach the inside of your kayak then lock it up. When they open the hatch they get a big whiff of chlorine and back off. 

I used to always bleach the inside of one of my kayaks because it always took on a little water. Killed everything inside so it never got anything to grow or breed inside.

Not only your kayak, but some will check your seat, pdf and paddles, too, if you have it out.  So either stow that stuff away or be doubly sure it’s all dry.

Not only your kayak, but some will check your seat, pdf and paddles, too, if you have it out.  So either stow that stuff away or be doubly sure it’s all dry.

I take everything out of (and off of) the kayak and put all of that stuff in my car prior to leaving home. At every inspection I've had, they never asked about that huge pile heaped in the back of my CRV. Then when I get to the boat launch, I load the kayak up with all sorts of things that get wet, but have not been inspected.

It seems to me that the inspection process is a joke, but not a funny joke if you fail. One time, I went to San Luis Reservoir, and about a mile before the inspection station, I drove thru a patch of fog, not thinking anything of it. Of course, some things were damp, and I failed the inspection.

Some places are more thorough than others. If I were to drive 1.5 hrs to get inspected, I’d make sure it’s bone dry. Check before you leave your house and pull over somewhere close to your destination to check again.

Not only your kayak, but some will check your seat, pdf and paddles, too, if you have it out.  So either stow that stuff away or be doubly sure it’s all dry.

I take everything out of (and off of) the kayak and put all of that stuff in my car prior to leaving home. At every inspection I've had, they never asked about that huge pile heaped in the back of my CRV. Then when I get to the boat launch, I load the kayak up with all sorts of things that get wet, but have not been inspected.

It seems to me that the inspection process is a joke, but not a funny joke if you fail. One time, I went to San Luis Reservoir, and about a mile before the inspection station, I drove thru a patch of fog, not thinking anything of it. Of course, some things were damp, and I failed the inspection.

Both of these quotes are most relevant.

I went to Shadow Cliffs once it was raining untill about 4am. I dryed the kayak off before I left, there was mist coming off the trucks and cars in front of me from the road, was told I would not pass an inspection from the person at the front kiosk, and that I should have "pulled over somewhere out of sight of the park and toweled off the kayak before I come in"

key part of the suggestion is not anywhere the rangers or inspectors can see you, because then they will fail you if they can.

it is a joke, they know it's a joke, it's just a very unfunny joke.

Had to bump this, if nothing else for &'s perfect words of wisdom 


But also, because I keep thinking I need to pull a prank of these guys some day, but get it all on video  . Here is a pic of what I was able to gather at the edge of the water at the Forebay.  Imagine going inside, gathering a bunch of this stuff and putting it inside your kayak then come on in to one of these inspections and see how it goes when they find them 

If its wet at all no fishing today
Sad program
I do like the bleach idea

That's insane. 

Since I almost never fish fresh water from a kayak, and when I do it's in oregon, I'm only used to the border inspections.  If they don't like the cleanliness of your boat, they will clean it for you.  But mostly they don't care if you are only ocean fishing.

These aren't pimple faced parks dept. kids either.  Full grown ODOT workers making good money.

Had to bump this, if nothing else for &'s perfect words of wisdom

Yes, that's a true classic.

Thanks for bumping this, as I plan to fish freshwater more this year, and it's a good reminder...