Del Valle failed inspection, saved the day at Lafayette

I passed with flying colors even with moisture in the air.   

Went to try Del Valle and both my buddy and I failed the inspection. The ranger, who was a nice enough guy, really gave the inside of our boats the white glove test. I've never had to open my hatches before at any east bay lake, just an outside hull inspection.

My friend had a tiny amount of sand on the inside of his boat maybe a teaspoon. This was actually left over after he washed and drained it. Apparently, the sand didn't make it out of his drain hole. There was zero standing water in his boat, but there was a little surface moisture.

I failed when he pulled out the foam inserts in my Hobie Outback and said there was moisture trapped between the hull and the foam. Apparently, this is protocol now.

Needless to say I was steamed, but we packed up, got our refunds at the gate and skipped over to Lafayette. Same open hatch inspection there, but they didn't pull out my foam inserts and we both easily passed. We made sure to give a quick wipe to the inside of the hulls with a spare t-shirt.

Anyway, the fishing was slow (hot and sunny) but I managed to pull a nice bass out of the weeds with a baby bass swimbait. Had some 4-6lb lunkers follow my bait but they were pretty shy. At least I got to work on my farmer's tan!

Yea that guy at Del Valle is an asshole. Been through the ringer w him. He spent about 30 min fingering my kayak. 

They told me at San Pablo Res that if they find zebra mussels in the lake they have to drain the lake and close it for five years.  Thats pretty serious.  It would make sense to have inspection requirements posted somewhere.  Its good to know ahead of time  that absolutely no moisture is allowed.  My inspector considered failing me for moisture on my paddles caused by early morning dew.

That why I always fish salt or delta. Delta hardly ever.

All of the excessive and overlapping fees have kept me from East Bay lakes for years, pisses me off what they charge when so much is free! Delta rules!

Should probably start a new thread on Mussel Inspection's...

i'd like to see the inspection training guidelines on  distinguishing ambient atmospheric moisture from water residue of a foreign source.  Good luck with that one! 

who is down for a StormTrooper fish n chill, show up en masse on a rainy day, "wut happens next will shock you" lol

I was wondering that myself. Rainy days/foggy days ehhh you get a pass on those. I am wouldnt be surprised if some Johnny muscleseed person introduced them into  lakes ponds and rivers on purpose. I bet the only reason they are concerned about them is that if they get in the peripheral canal they will clog the pumps and pipes. We cant be  reducing the sucking sound of all the Deltas water being pumped south.