Canada passed a law late last summer where if you are fishing a border water but never anchor or actually touch land you don’t have to go thru customs. Does anyone know if this means I can fish the Canadian side of Basswood without an RABC. Assuming, of course, I have all the rest of the stuff?

I believe this is only on lake of the woods

Can you provide a link to some documentation? Thanks.
Tom

http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/S-233/royal-assent
Also resorts on rainy have said they can do it there.

I always thought the border lakes where commonly used as long as you don't go to shore or fish in an inlet type bay. I think there's a bunch of places that it's just over looked. The portage by Lower Basswood Falls comes to mind. Also based on the location of the markers on Crooked, I apparently spent a lot of time in Canada last October. I also say if you're not a jerk to the Ranger, being on the wrong side of the imaginary isn't a big deal.

I think you can. Originally when I found this new law out from Rainy Lake Houseboats , they stated of course just the Canadian portion of Rainy Lake. I had no idea it was all Canadian waters along the border. But don't trust me. I would contact someone that really knows.

I just talked to Canada Border services and they confirmed that you wouldn’t need an RABC

So, I can fish the Canadien side of Ottertrack on my way through without a RABC?

Blatz: "I always thought the border lakes where commonly used as long as you don't go to shore or fish in an inlet type bay. I think there's a bunch of places that it's just over looked. The portage by Lower Basswood Falls comes to mind. Also based on the location of the markers on Crooked, I apparently spent a lot of time in Canada last October. I also say if you're not a jerk to the Ranger, being on the wrong side of the imaginary isn't a big deal. "

I wouldn’t count on it. I don’t believe that this means you can fish the Canadian side without following their regs (such as no live bait and barbless hooks) or without the proper game/fishing permits/licenses. If you do and get caught you’ll likely end up regretting it.

The common use agreements your likely thinking of is using the portages for crossing without an RABC (like at Lower Basswood Falls). It sounds like this is now expanding to the water bodies themselves as well.

Right I would either. But if I have a Canadian license and the quetico travel permit I’m I’m good to go. It pretty much opens up a whole other half of a lake.

MrBadExample: "So, I can fish the Canadien side of Ottertrack on my way through without a RABC?"

Yes just get a quetico day use pass a Canadian fishing license and follow quetico fishing’s regs. Just don’t anochor or touch ground. Haha I’m like a kid on Christmas. Now if only they would let us use live bait on those same waters. I don’t see how you are stopping invasive species when they are allowed on the other side of the imaginary line.

Blatz: "I always thought the border lakes where commonly used as long as you don't go to shore or fish in an inlet type bay. I think there's a bunch of places that it's just over looked. The portage by Lower Basswood Falls comes to mind. Also based on the location of the markers on Crooked, I apparently spent a lot of time in Canada last October. I also say if you're not a jerk to the Ranger, being on the wrong side of the imaginary isn't a big deal. "

Well, hopefully the new regulation changes things,but in the past I can assure you that there was zero tolerance for what you are speaking of. As I've mentioned before, we were given a very stern warning while traveling down the Basswood river when our kids in a separate canoe were seen casting to the right instead of the left. The only reason they were not fined is that they were kids. Another group that we know of was actually arrested on the north side of Crooked and transported out by float plane. All border portages can be used by both Canadians and US boaters by treaty.

I wasn't referring to fishing since I don't fish, just traveling.

Upon reading the statute amendment, it clarifies the ability of travelers to utilize Canadian waters in their travels from one USA place to another USA place. It states that the waters may only be used as a means of transportation to a destination outside of Canada. It is not worded such that you may take a side trip to a Canadian bay or other waterway during your travels unless you report to customs.

In the case of Lake of the Woods, it is not worded such that you may take a house boat and zoom around in Canadian waters recreationaly. You can pass through Canadian waters towards your US destination. The same is intepreted when traveling the border route. You can travel through Canadian waters from USA point A to USA point B. It is not construed or worded to allow fishing, or other non-transporation related activities. So I would say, nothing has changed.

I will further editorialize that even if you have a Canadian fishing license or day-use Quetico permit, you still must possess an RABC or pass through customs first.

If someone else can read the statute differently, I would enjoy their feedback

Tom

tumblehome: "Upon reading the statute amendment, it clarifies the ability of travelers to utilize Canadian waters in their travels from one USA place to another USA place. It states that the waters may only be used as a means of transportation to a destination outside of Canada. It is not worded such that you may take a side trip to a Canadian bay or other waterway during your travels unless you report to customs.


In the case of Lake of the Woods, it is not worded such that you may take a house boat and zoom around in Canadian waters recreationaly. You can pass through Canadian waters towards your US destination. The same is intepreted when traveling the border route. You can travel through Canadian waters from USA point A to USA point B. It is not construed or worded to allow fishing, or other non-transporation related activities. So I would say, nothing has changed.


I will further editorialize that even if you have a Canadian fishing license or day-use Quetico permit, you still must possess an RABC or pass through customs first.


If someone else can read the statute differently, I would enjoy their feedback


Tom"

I agree.

When I called Canadian Border services they said as long as I didn’t anchor or touch soil.

Frankie_Paull: "When I called Canadian Border services they said as long as I didn’t anchor or touch soil. "

Same with Rainy Lake Houseboats. *** edit ***

this was in a promo email flyer about 5 months ago. I think they jumped the gun because according to their web site (you would think if the above was true it would be changed on their website) it still says you need a RABC. From their website---

Do I need a Canadian Fishing License?

Most of our guests stay on the MN side of Rainy Lake, needing only the MN fishing license. If you plan on fishing in Canada, you will need an RABC and a Canadian fishing license. Below are the links for a RABC (Remote Area Border Crossing Permit) and nonresident Ontario Fishing license and Outdoors Card. You need a valid Outdoors Card to purchase a fishing license. If you do not have an Outdoors Card purchase it first before trying to purchase the fishing license. 95% of our guests purchasing a non resident Ontario fishing license get the 8 day conservation license. The sport fishing license does not allow you to keep more than one walleye per day, Conservation is one walleye per day two in possession.

So it appears that nothing much has changed as stated.

old thread

other site

Pioneer Press

Lotw: "I believe this is only on lake of the woods "

I think your right and maybe Rainey also?

I also think there is a lot of guessing on the regulation pertaining to Quetico and to the East regulations. It is confusing.

There always was a law while traveling the border waters you could use the portage if on the Canadian side without a permit.

While the amendment might have been written to aid travelers to reach US soil on Lake of the Woods, it is written such that it applies to all border waters. But it is written in such a way that it does not change the way we use BWCA/Quetico waters so it does not help or hinder us. Contrary to what the interweb might say, it does not allow recreational use of Canadian waters without the usual requirements to do so. The key word is conveyance.

"the action or process of transporting someone or something from one place to another."

Link to ammendment

Just talked to the RABC people they said the way the law is worded you technically don’t need it. As long at you don’t anchor or touch soil.

So soil does mean bottom of lake,using bottom jigs, weeds in the lake. I seen a 2015 post and than in the eastern part of the country you could travel straight line,but you couldn't jump out and like swim in the middle of the lake C anadian side or other recreation?

I would like to believe you can wander around on the border and paddle into Canada. However, I would give very, very little credence to what someone who answered the phone at the RABC issuing office says. They issue permits but are not likely involved in the enforcement side of things.
Now if the Canadian version of Border Enforcement(the ones that issue tickets and haul you out for violations) said this I guess we would be able to take them at their word!

WhiteWolf:
95% of our guests purchasing a non resident Ontario fishing license get the 8 day conservation license. The sport fishing license does not allow you to keep more than one walleye per day, Conservation is one walleye per day two in possession. "

A sport fishing license allows you to keep normal daily keep limits. A conservation license allows you to only keep 1/2 of a normal daily keep limit. This means if you have a sports license you can keep the normal daily limit in your freezer. After you have your daily limit in your freezer you cannot keep any more the next day. Once you fill the possession limit you are done keeping fish.

So you stated that with a sport license you can keep one Walleye a day, and a conservation license you can keep one Walleye per day and two in possession.

From what I read in the Ontario fishing guide is totally different. I understand that with a sport license you can keep 4 Walleye a day, with a conservation license you can keep 2 Walleye per day. Am I misreading the regulations?

Much of the area were talking about walleye limits vary in Zone 5. Rainy lake vs much of the rest of the zone.

Also you better find out what is border water and how far you can go in a bay or can not?

Savage Voyageur: "

WhiteWolf:
95% of our guests purchasing a non resident Ontario fishing license get the 8 day conservation license. The sport fishing license does not allow you to keep more than one walleye per day, Conservation is one walleye per day two in possession. "

A sport fishing license allows you to keep normal daily keep limits. A conservation license allows you to only keep 1/2 of a normal daily keep limit. This means if you have a sports license you can keep the normal daily limit in your freezer. After you have your daily limit in your freezer you cannot keep any more the next day. Once you fill the possession limit you are done keeping fish.


So you stated that with a sport license you can keep one Walleye a day, and a conservation license you can keep one Walleye per day and two in possession.


From what I read in the Ontario fishing guide is totally different. I understand that with a sport license you can keep 4 Walleye a day, with a conservation license you can keep 2 Walleye per day. Am I misreading the regulations? "

It was copied and pasted directly from rainy Lake Houseboats site. I have no clue.

WhiteWolf: "

Savage Voyageur: "

WhiteWolf:
95% of our guests purchasing a non resident Ontario fishing license get the 8 day conservation license. The sport fishing license does not allow you to keep more than one walleye per day, Conservation is one walleye per day two in possession. "

A sport fishing license allows you to keep normal daily keep limits. A conservation license allows you to only keep 1/2 of a normal daily keep limit. This means if you have a sports license you can keep the normal daily limit in your freezer. After you have your daily limit in your freezer you cannot keep any more the next day. Once you fill the possession limit you are done keeping fish.



So you stated that with a sport license you can keep one Walleye a day, and a conservation license you can keep one Walleye per day and two in possession.



From what I read in the Ontario fishing guide is totally different. I understand that with a sport license you can keep 4 Walleye a day, with a conservation license you can keep 2 Walleye per day. Am I misreading the regulations? "

It was copied and pasted directly from rainy Lake Houseboats site. I have no clue."

An Ontario sports license allows you to have four walleye, this includes what’s in your boat, in your refrigerator and in the skillet. A conservation license allows you to have two, whether in the boat, fridge or skillet.