Clear Lake & Motherlode Combo -- inspections?

[fish_and_birds]

Hi!

 

I booked a few nights camping/fishing at Camanche in April. I'm stoked!

Question: Is it possible to do a combo trip Camanche & Clear Lake? Or would boat inspections make this a giant fail?

 

It sounds like the boat only needs to be dry when you originally get inspection the sticker, but then can be wet when you return?

 

My current plan is to go to Clear Lake first to get the sticker (A few hours of driving out of the way...), then head to Camanche with a dry boat to pass inspection there. Then when I return to Clear Lake, I will not need a dry boat to pass the screening.

 

Has anyone done this? Any advice? Thanks!

 

 

[NorcalBassin]

If I was you I wouldn't bother with the pre-drive to Clear Lake to get passed and then go to Comanche. Your boat should have plenty of time to dry on the drive between those two lakes, and if you get approved for Clear Lake and then put your boat in Comanche you need re-inspection anyway. Clear Lake's inspection is good for a calendar month, but once your boat goes into another body of water that prior inspection no longer applies. Not to mention, wiping down and drying your boat before launching is a very small inconvenience to help protect one of the best bass fisheries on the planet.

 

Have a great trip and best of luck!

[fish_and_birds]

Thanks NorCal, this is helpful! I was misunderstanding the re-screening process. So that saves me unnecessary driving.

 

I'll definitely wipe down /dry off / inspect between lakes. My main concern was residual moisture in the bilge. After I sponge/towel everything out, a bit of water has a way of creeping back there when I tow. I wasn't sure if that would be an automatic fail... But maybe I'll dry off the best I can and hope for the best.

 

Thanks.

[NorcalBassin]

You should be set with that plan. Comanche will likely do a fairly thorough inspection and odds are in your favor that Clear Lake will be much less formal and nothing to worry about. Worst case they'll pass you after a quick pressure wash, but in all the years I've been going there I've never seen anyone needing that. 

[schplurg]

The mussels these rules are meant to protect the lakes from are actually very nasty. I hate the inspections but I understand them.

 

Where I live if one drop of water comes out of your motor or is found anywhere on the boat you are banned from a number of weeks. Interesting that Clear Lake will let you wash it. Sounds more reasonable.

 

Of the many times I have paid for an inspection only one person gave it a halfway decent look. Everyone else just took my money and let me pass, maybe glanced at it. Kinda made me mad since I'm paying them to inspect my yak.

[gulfcaptain]

So quick note for clear lake. Carry white vinegar  with you. Put it in your live well, floor drain, and bilge. Leave plugs in. Wipe boat down with vinegar.  This will kill any mussels without hurting anything or causing anything toxic in your boat. FYI, the vinegar  tip came from the inspectors at clear lake.