ifsteve
Steelhead
For a long time I have bought AIS and boat registrations for my power boat and pontoon for use in MT. Did so again this spring. Last week I was headed to fish Henrys Lake. As anybody who fishes there knows at this time of year its typical to have a decent early bite. But we knew heading up there that it was going to be windy, all a matter of how early the wind started. Well we got up to the State Park at just after 7. As we are preparing to turn in off the highway we see one of the guides we know pulling out. So we know right away the south end of the lake is blown up. Ok we'll head to the north end. Go past the boat inspection station at 0715 and its closed so we keep on going. Turn towards Reynolds Pass and get to where we can see the lake and its blown up big time. No problem we'll just turn around go to Hebgen.
Have a solid day at Hebgen and late afternoon here comes the MT wildlife boats. No worries. They check our licenses, boat registration, and safety gear and all is in order. Then they ask for my AIS inspection receipt. We tell the officers that the inspections station wasn't open when we went buy. The main guy said well that doesnt matter you have to have your boat inspected before launching. So we asked them just what are we supposed to do when the station is closed and he said you have to take your boat to Bozeman and get it inspected there. Like sure dude we are going to take a 200 mile rt up there to do that. He doesn't give a crap and writes me a ticket. No warning just a ticket for $135.
Now the kicker. On the way home the inspection station is open so we stop and in talking to the inspectors ask them just when are you open. He says they are typically there by 0730 now get this on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. So 3 days a week they aren't open at all. And even that schedule is somewhat random. Its not posted at the station. Its not posted online. Only the Idaho workers actually know what days they are working each week.
So heads up. A station being closed is not adequate to get you from getting your boat inspected. Station is closed. Tough shit. Go find another station. I ahve talked to every body I know that heads up that way and 100% the understanding of them was that if a station was closed then you are ok to go. Well thats not correct as I found out the hard way.
Have a solid day at Hebgen and late afternoon here comes the MT wildlife boats. No worries. They check our licenses, boat registration, and safety gear and all is in order. Then they ask for my AIS inspection receipt. We tell the officers that the inspections station wasn't open when we went buy. The main guy said well that doesnt matter you have to have your boat inspected before launching. So we asked them just what are we supposed to do when the station is closed and he said you have to take your boat to Bozeman and get it inspected there. Like sure dude we are going to take a 200 mile rt up there to do that. He doesn't give a crap and writes me a ticket. No warning just a ticket for $135.
Now the kicker. On the way home the inspection station is open so we stop and in talking to the inspectors ask them just when are you open. He says they are typically there by 0730 now get this on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. So 3 days a week they aren't open at all. And even that schedule is somewhat random. Its not posted at the station. Its not posted online. Only the Idaho workers actually know what days they are working each week.
So heads up. A station being closed is not adequate to get you from getting your boat inspected. Station is closed. Tough shit. Go find another station. I ahve talked to every body I know that heads up that way and 100% the understanding of them was that if a station was closed then you are ok to go. Well thats not correct as I found out the hard way.
