MUSSELS ON THE MIND
Mary VanFleet
Spring is upon us up in the Rocky Mountains and it won’t be long before you are thinking of getting your boat ready for summer fishing. Here’s something to be thinking about as you do.
We read this last week in a Montana FWP newsletter that three boats were intercepted carrying invasive mussels over this past week. This was at an inspection station near Anaconda, MT which is a stone’s throw from Henrys Lake and a long way from the Eastern border of the state of Montana.
One boat was coming from Michigan heading for Yakima, WA. Another boat was on its way for the Seattle area from Florida. The third boat was headed for British Columbia coming from Ohio. All three boats had been out of the water for some time, and the mussels were not viable. But it demonstrates the casual behavior of some boat owners as they travel into different states.
All drivers transporting motorized or nonmotorized watercraft coming into Montana or Idaho must have their watercraft inspected before launching. Boat owners are required to stop at all open watercraft inspection stations. If you purchase a used boat, you are responsible your new watercraft is clean, drained and dry before bringing it into Idaho or Montana.
Always ensure your boat is clean, drained and dry when removing it from the water. Help to keep Idaho waters invasive species-free. Everyone needs to do their part. Thank you from Henrys Lake Foundation, and happy fishing and safe boating!
