Visually inspect hard surfaces such as docks, dock floats and supports, swimming platforms, boats, motors, anchors, and any objects that have been in the lake. Check areas where zebra mussels may be attached, such as trim tabs, rubber gaskets, grooves along the keel of pontoon boats, and sailboat centerboards. During early infestations, zebra mussels are likely to be small (1/4-1/2 inch long) and the number attached on any object is likely to be low. You can also examine rocks and other hard surfaces along the shoreline and in shallow water, especially near water accesses.

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You can also make your own monitoring device. Hang a PVC pipe , brick or cinder block under a shady spot of your dock (zebra mussels tend to avoid direct sunlight). Suspend the object as deep as possible at the end of your dock, keeping it at least one foot above the bottom. Examine the monitoring object regularly and immediately report if you find a zebra mussel attached.