Even if May just finally feels like spring for many of us, in most years by the time May rolls around, many anglers have already enjoyed a few outings wetting a line.

Regardless of the zip code your home is in, the first spring fishing action on the Missouri River is becoming more popular, no matter if you’re travelling from Williston, Wahpeton, Dickinson or Grand Forks. It’s a testament to the interest anglers have in a good day of walleye fishing and travelling distance isn’t that much of an obstacle, especially when most of the other waters in the state are still covered in ice.

That same angler mobility and accessibility is also why the fishing community needs to do more than simply check their trailer bearings or make sure the safety chains are hooked up. Obviously, those are important when it comes to regular fishing and boating list of things to do.

The other important checklist involves the aquatic nuisance species requirements that are in place to reduce the potential for spreading invasive species like zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil or who knows what from one water body to the next.

It’s pretty safe to say that anglers who love their fish want to do the right thing. They do. The spread of zebra mussels, for example, is a serious threat to all waterways and anglers want to preserve the health of their favorite fishing spots for the next generation. But wanting and doing are not always the same thing, which is why there are rules and regulations in place. Even with those laws that have come on the books in North Dakota over the past 6 years or so, unintentional transport is still a possibility, but the following regulations significantly reduce the potential:

· All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats, personal watercraft, trailers, and fishing and hunting equipment such as fishing poles, bait buckets, lures, duck decoys, and waders before leaving a body of water. That means “vegetation free” when transporting watercraft and/or equipment away from a boat ramp, landing area or shoreline.

· All water must be drained from boats and other watercraft, including bilges, livewells, baitwells and motors before leaving a water body.

· Live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation may not be transported into North Dakota.

· All water must be drained from watercraft prior to enter