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Date/Time: 03/29/2024 12:59AM
Quetico Ranger Warning?

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
bassman 06/10/2019 02:27PM
Pinetree: "bassman: "We've been checked several times over the years. Only once were we let off with a warning and that's when we had one dinner bass that was just over the 14 inch (or whatever it is in centimeters) limit. They let us slide. BTW, that's the only time we were ever in non-compliance too.




One time we were in Ranger Bay on Basswood and a guy went speeding by our camp in a motorboat at dusk. Not even close to the border. Our guide, an Ely local, knew exactly who it was. He said that the guy not only regularly breaks the motor prohibition, but actually has some secret camps with cabins in various places in Quetico."




There was a couple of guys who went into Quetico on snowmobiles,fished certain lakes for lake trout. They would throw beer cans(like a couple dozen) all around. Hang some on bushes and portages, make smart remarks on a piece of paper that taunted the canoers when spring first arrived. They were locals and have been caught I believe in recent years. They even pretty much burnt a small island down about 15 years ago. You could also see where there carbide rods dug into the rock ledge rock-boulders and cut roots on cedar trees."



SMH.


Pinetree 06/10/2019 01:47PM
As far as Rangers,I would change it the Quetico warning to a welcome visit.
Always looked forward to seeing Chris every spring. He always came in when the Prairie Portage station would open.
He went out and opened portages in the spring and checked their condition. As he went he checked the campers out. After awhile he just quit checking us and visited when we saw him. Very fun to visit with and you could see he loved his job.
I believe he was once a teacher and he took a pay cut to become a full time Ranger and help maintain and do what was needed to keep Quetico in good condition.
Pinetree 06/10/2019 01:40PM
bassman: "We've been checked several times over the years. Only once were we let off with a warning and that's when we had one dinner bass that was just over the 14 inch (or whatever it is in centimeters) limit. They let us slide. BTW, that's the only time we were ever in non-compliance too.



One time we were in Ranger Bay on Basswood and a guy went speeding by our camp in a motorboat at dusk. Not even close to the border. Our guide, an Ely local, knew exactly who it was. He said that the guy not only regularly breaks the motor prohibition, but actually has some secret camps with cabins in various places in Quetico."



There was a couple of guys who went into Quetico on snowmobiles,fished certain lakes for lake trout. They would throw beer cans(like a couple dozen) all around. Hang some on bushes and portages, make smart remarks on a piece of paper that taunted the canoers when spring first arrived. They were locals and have been caught I believe in recent years. They even pretty much burnt a small island down about 15 years ago. You could also see where there carbide rods dug into the rock ledge rock-boulders and cut roots on cedar trees.
bassman 06/10/2019 10:07AM
We've been checked several times over the years. Only once were we let off with a warning and that's when we had one dinner bass that was just over the 14 inch (or whatever it is in centimeters) limit. They let us slide. BTW, that's the only time we were ever in non-compliance too.


One time we were in Ranger Bay on Basswood and a guy went speeding by our camp in a motorboat at dusk. Not even close to the border. Our guide, an Ely local, knew exactly who it was. He said that the guy not only regularly breaks the motor prohibition, but actually has some secret camps with cabins in various places in Quetico.
mutz 06/03/2019 01:30PM
timatkn: "merlyn: "My only experience with Quetico rangers was very positive. We were checked for permits etc. and when everything was ok, he went on his merry way. A couple of days later, the same guy saw us on a big rock working on the canoe. The ranger spent at least an hour and loaned us tools from his boat to help us fix a large tear in our canoe.

That was then, this is now - a friend in the Canadian armed forces told me that with the "trade war", the pres. is so fond of and his better then you attitude ( I really cleaned up what he said) to Canada in general that many Canadians are not very fond of us right now. I would not be surprised to see that reflected in a ranger's treatment of someone caught violating the rules, no matter how minor.

I intend to make damn sure I have everything in order for my Q trip."

One of my employees has dual citizenship between Canada and the US and he reported the same thing. He is harassed at the border and asked questions about Trump frequently when he goes back to visit his mom. Really unprofessional behavior by the Canadians--especially considering you have less than a 50% chance of coming across a Trump voter. This guy is definitely not a Trump supporter...whats hilarious is his Canadian Mom is :) He often Jokes the Canadians know more and care about the US president than they do their own Prime Minister. Now that is a complex that needs therapy..."

I have been across the border at multiple locations at least 20 times since President Trump was elected and no border guard has ever asked about him. Normally when people claim they were harassed at the border they should check there attitude and will probably find the problem.
joewildlife 05/27/2019 11:21PM
QueticoMike: "I had a barbed treble hook go throw a finger while trying to lip a smallmouth that decided to make one last leap and came down on the side of my finger. So then I had this big smallmouth thrashing around on one hook while the other hook was stuck into the side of one of my fingers. My partner didn't want to help on extracting the lure until he got a picture of the fish and my hand.


I was up on Kawnipi. Too far to paddle out for help and had no means to call for an emergency extraction. I showed my fishing partner how to pull a hook out using fishing line. His first attempt failed and hurt like hell. The second attempt got 'er done, didn't flinch or make a noise. Then I just poured a little vodka over it, took a shot for medicinal purposes and started fishing again. "



Reminds me of a trip I made to Wabaskang with a friend who worked in the ER. I buried a treble in my hand and he pulled it out with dental floss while pushing down on the hook, and it worked great.


I grind all my barbs down, as required in Quetico. But I do the same for trips to WCPP as well, at least the treble hooks, for my own safety. Not necessarily the single hook jigs, in WCPP. I don't see any difference in catch rates with barbless trebles, but definitely see the difference with jigs, especially with smallmouth who know exactly how to throw a barbless jig back at you!


back to the OP...I've never been checked by anybody in 11 or 12 trips in BWCA/Quetico/WCPP, so I wouldn't know. But I think I'll leave my MAGA hat at home just in case :)


Joe


timatkn 05/24/2019 10:08PM
merlyn: "My only experience with Quetico rangers was very positive. We were checked for permits etc. and when everything was ok, he went on his merry way. A couple of days later, the same guy saw us on a big rock working on the canoe. The ranger spent at least an hour and loaned us tools from his boat to help us fix a large tear in our canoe.

That was then, this is now - a friend in the Canadian armed forces told me that with the "trade war", the pres. is so fond of and his better then you attitude ( I really cleaned up what he said) to Canada in general that many Canadians are not very fond of us right now. I would not be surprised to see that reflected in a ranger's treatment of someone caught violating the rules, no matter how minor.

I intend to make damn sure I have everything in order for my Q trip."



One of my employees has dual citizenship between Canada and the US and he reported the same thing. He is harassed at the border and asked questions about Trump frequently when he goes back to visit his mom. Really unprofessional behavior by the Canadians--especially considering you have less than a 50% chance of coming across a Trump voter. This guy is definitely not a Trump supporter...whats hilarious is his Canadian Mom is :) He often Jokes the Canadians know more and care about the US president than they do their own Prime Minister. Now that is a complex that needs therapy...
merlyn 05/24/2019 01:02PM
My only experience with Quetico rangers was very positive. We were checked for permits etc. and when everything was ok, he went on his merry way. A couple of days later, the same guy saw us on a big rock working on the canoe. The ranger spent at least an hour and loaned us tools from his boat to help us fix a large tear in our canoe.

That was then, this is now - a friend in the Canadian armed forces told me that with the "trade war", the pres. is so fond of and his better then you attitude ( I really cleaned up what he said) to Canada in general that many Canadians are not very fond of us right now. I would not be surprised to see that reflected in a ranger's treatment of someone caught violating the rules, no matter how minor.

I intend to make damn sure I have everything in order for my Q trip.
24kGold 05/20/2019 06:37PM
During my second trip in 2001, we returned to camp on Saganagons and found a note left by park rangers. Said our campsite was not secured enough in case of strong wind. Said it was cluttered and messy. Since then, I'm careful to remind everyone to secure loose items in camp before they leave for the day to fish.


I've been checked a couple of times since then for permits but never another warning.


Terry


Pinetree 05/16/2019 10:13AM
billconner: "I believe the rangers who man the PP station go into Ely to shop and such. Must not be too hard to figure out."
Yes they do at times.
billconner 05/12/2019 06:32AM
I believe the rangers who man the PP station go into Ely to shop and such. Must not be too hard to figure out.
mgraber 05/12/2019 01:25AM
carmike: "mgraber: "Two boys that went with us a few years ago got a warning for casting towards the Canadian side of the Basswood river on a BWCA trip. The ranger even escorted them back to our camp and spoke with us. They had been warned not to cast toward the Canadian bank, but you know teenage boys."
Did you ask the rangers if they had the appropriate paperwork to be in U.S. waters? :) "

:) That would have been an interesting question, but never thought about it! I suppose he would have said that both he and the boys could legally travel both sides of the river, but they were in violation because of no Canadian fishing license. But then does he have any jurisdiction after he enters US waters? He can paddle on the US side, but can he apprehend "criminals" on the US side, or write citations? And I'm not even sure you can legally paddle both sides,even though many do.

All interesting questions, but considering he was friendly and polite, it was probably best that I did not give him a hard time. Now I'm curious. Hmmm.
carmike 05/11/2019 11:46PM
mgraber: "Two boys that went with us a few years ago got a warning for casting towards the Canadian side of the Basswood river on a BWCA trip. The ranger even escorted them back to our camp and spoke with us. They had been warned not to cast toward the Canadian bank, but you know teenage boys."



Did you ask the rangers if they had the appropriate paperwork to be in U.S. waters? :)


BearMandolin 05/10/2019 03:05PM
I've been stopped a number of time in the Q, including once via a plane, and asked for permits, licenses, bait, no barbs, etc. I well remember Shan Walshe coyly asking, "Can I see your food?" in 1982. Always in compliance so never any problems.

Had an interesting campsite visit by a pair of rangers in 2017 on Agnes the morning after a hellacious storm. They arrived very quickly and quietly while we were cooking pancakes. They glanced around and noted that our dog should be on a leash (!!) but that he seemed calm enough so he shouldn't bother any wildlife. Hank was eleven at the time and wouldn't bother any wildlife when he was three. They said they wouldn't write me up, but maybe that was because I offered them pancakes. The cakes had burned due to their visit, which is maybe why they declined to join us for breakfast.
rusteegmc 05/09/2019 11:01AM
Our group is heading to knife lake and maybe ottertrack soon. I imagine these same rules apply on those bodies of water. I guess my question is how to handle fishing on a body of water as skinny as ottertrack(how far to stay from the canadian shorline and such). If anyone has fished knife or ottertrack and could weigh in, it would be much appreciated.
AmarilloJim 05/09/2019 10:52AM
timatkn: "AmarilloJim: " "
That middle pick made me queasy...the third pic looks like ya did a good job!


T"

It doesn't hurt if you get it out in one quick jerk. If you only tent the skin up, that's when it hurts.
timatkn 05/09/2019 09:16AM
AmarilloJim: " "
That middle pick made me queasy...the third pic looks like ya did a good job!

T
mgraber 05/09/2019 12:18AM
QueticoMike: "I had a barbed treble hook go throw a finger while trying to lip a smallmouth that decided to make one last leap and came down on the side of my finger. So then I had this big smallmouth thrashing around on one hook while the other hook was stuck into the side of one of my fingers. My partner didn't want to help on extracting the lure until he got a picture of the fish and my hand.

I was up on Kawnipi. Too far to paddle out for help and had no means to call for an emergency extraction. I showed my fishing partner how to pull a hook out using fishing line. His first attempt failed and hurt like hell. The second attempt got 'er done, didn't flinch or make a noise. Then I just poured a little vodka over it, took a shot for medicinal purposes and started fishing again. "

So that's how you do it, Mike! Spoken like a true fisherman. I have a few stories like that too. Lol!


AmarilloJim 05/08/2019 01:48PM
After watching botched attempts with different techniques on You tube I just rip them out with pliers now. Never been lucky enough to have the barb go in and through.


mtn 05/08/2019 11:13AM
QueticoMike: "I had a barbed treble hook go throw a finger while trying to lip a smallmouth that decided to make one last leap and came down on the side of my finger. So then I had this big smallmouth thrashing around on one hook while the other hook was stuck into the side of one of my fingers. My partner didn't want to help on extracting the lure until he got a picture of the fish and my hand.

I was up on Kawnipi. Too far to paddle out for help and had no means to call for an emergency extraction. I showed my fishing partner how to pull a hook out using fishing line. His first attempt failed and hurt like hell. The second attempt got 'er done, didn't flinch or make a noise. Then I just poured a little vodka over it, took a shot for medicinal purposes and started fishing again. "

This is actually why I keep a wire cutter--actual wire cutter, not one on a pliers--in my tackle box. Cut the hook off of the lure, deal with the fish (meaning hand it to someone else), then deal with the hook in my hand. Cut the barb off with the wire cutter, then pull the hook out.

But this is a good idea: Add Vodka to the tackle box. Except I don't like Vodka, which works better as an antiseptic? Bourbon or Gin?
QueticoMike 05/08/2019 10:27AM
I had a barbed treble hook go throw a finger while trying to lip a smallmouth that decided to make one last leap and came down on the side of my finger. So then I had this big smallmouth thrashing around on one hook while the other hook was stuck into the side of one of my fingers. My partner didn't want to help on extracting the lure until he got a picture of the fish and my hand.

I was up on Kawnipi. Too far to paddle out for help and had no means to call for an emergency extraction. I showed my fishing partner how to pull a hook out using fishing line. His first attempt failed and hurt like hell. The second attempt got 'er done, didn't flinch or make a noise. Then I just poured a little vodka over it, took a shot for medicinal purposes and started fishing again.
timatkn 05/08/2019 07:43AM
mgraber: "Two boys that went with us a few years ago got a warning for casting towards the Canadian side of the Basswood river on a BWCA trip. The ranger even escorted them back to our camp and spoke with us. They had been warned not to cast toward the Canadian bank, but you know teenage boys."
Now that you mention it, I saw two Boy Scouts get a warning at the bottom of Basswood Falls. They landed their canoe on that tiny island at the bottom of LBF and were casting towards the falls. That small island is on the Canadian side. They got a warning and the leaders were talked to about fishing across the international boundary. That was in 2005 or ‘06. We were doing the Canadian side portage. Another group was having lunch on the Canadian portage in a Falls over look area and they were warned to move on as well. So I stand corrected... I have seen people get warnings. I do think for many BWCAW groups that is a confusing area and I don’t think in the past some outfitters gave good advice about the area.


T
timatkn 05/08/2019 07:39AM
QueticoMike: "AmarilloJim: "The only thing I would worry about is the pinched barbs. Sometimes I'm a little lax on that one, particularly when throwing jigs below rapids."
I don't think I have ever had a lure hook a fish deep enough to do any damage to it up there. I could see if you were throwing live bait to them, but you can't do that anymore either. I really don't see the point of that one. "

When they made the barb ban, the Park Superintendent admitted in an interview that the research was poor on whether barbed/barbless made any difference in mortality, but said the main reason for barbless was the rise in costs/frequency of emergency extraction calls due to barbed hooks. They figured this would raise money for fines, reduce costs, and barbless isn’t going to be bad for the fish so why not?

T
mgraber 05/08/2019 12:14AM
Two boys that went with us a few years ago got a warning for casting towards the Canadian side of the Basswood river on a BWCA trip. The ranger even escorted them back to our camp and spoke with us. They had been warned not to cast toward the Canadian bank, but you know teenage boys.
QueticoMike 05/07/2019 05:17PM
AmarilloJim: "The only thing I would worry about is the pinched barbs. Sometimes I'm a little lax on that one, particularly when throwing jigs below rapids."


I don't think I have ever had a lure hook a fish deep enough to do any damage to it up there. I could see if you were throwing live bait to them, but you can't do that anymore either. I really don't see the point of that one.
AmarilloJim 05/07/2019 07:11AM
The only thing I would worry about is the pinched barbs. Sometimes I'm a little lax on that one, particularly when throwing jigs below rapids.
bobbernumber3 05/06/2019 08:14PM
timatkn: "bobbernumber3: "billconner: "My understanding - told by park superintendent - the park has to basically pay for itself, so permits and fines become their pay check."
Camping permits and park regulations are the Quetico Provincial Park and the park rangers. Fishing violations are the Ontario MNR wardens. Used to be that one did not enforce the other, but that has blurred in recent years. I'm sure the money is segregated."

MNR can give camping/park violations and vice versa...been checked by both at different times the only thing they didn’t care about was the RABC—-which I thought was weird but whatever.

T"

I haven't been checked/caught in a while...
billconner 05/06/2019 06:36PM
timatkn: "bobbernumber3: "billconner: "My understanding - told by park superintendent - the park has to basically pay for itself, so permits and fines become their pay check."
Camping permits and park regulations are the Quetico Provincial Park and the park rangers. Fishing violations are the Ontario MNR wardens. Used to be that one did not enforce the other, but that has blurred in recent years. I'm sure the money is segregated."

MNR can give camping/park violations and vice versa...been checked by both at different times the only thing they didn’t care about was the RABC—-which I thought was weird but whatever.

T"

Park rangers in both US and Canada seem to not enforce immigration laws. What I've read is they don't want to get shot.

Perhaps fishing fines collected by Q rangers are not a part of the user fees which the provincial parks rely upon.
timatkn 05/06/2019 06:08PM
bobbernumber3: "billconner: "My understanding - told by park superintendent - the park has to basically pay for itself, so permits and fines become their pay check."
Camping permits and park regulations are the Quetico Provincial Park and the park rangers. Fishing violations are the Ontario MNR wardens. Used to be that one did not enforce the other, but that has blurred in recent years. I'm sure the money is segregated."

MNR can give camping/park violations and vice versa...been checked by both at different times the only thing they didn’t care about was the RABC—-which I thought was weird but whatever.

T
bobbernumber3 05/06/2019 05:05PM
billconner: "My understanding - told by park superintendent - the park has to basically pay for itself, so permits and fines become their pay check."


Camping permits and park regulations are the Quetico Provincial Park and the park rangers. Fishing violations are the Ontario MNR wardens. Used to be that one did not enforce the other, but that has blurred in recent years. I'm sure the money is segregated.
allfish 05/06/2019 01:15PM
What are you supposed to do when you have 6 guys in 3 canoes fishing all over the place, and there is only one permit to show??? It happened to us on the U.S. side, and the guy just said "You have to carry your permit", and left...
tumblehome 05/06/2019 08:05AM
I have seen so many violations in the Q and the BWCA that I would hope and expect them to ticket and fine every violation they can.


90% of the Q and BWCA users follow the rules and 10% bring the trolling motor, pull bark off trees, leave garbage in camp, travel without a permit, etc. And it's the 10% that I see every trip I take. And those same 10% cause 90% of the problems.


Agreed that 'accidentally' slipping into Canadian water to fish without the permits, is about the lamest excuse you could offer if caught. There should be a surcharge on the ticket for offering such ignorance when in reality it is well planned.

Tom
billconner 05/06/2019 05:41AM
My understanding - told by park superintendent - the park has to basically pay for itself, so permits and fines become their pay check.
timatkn 05/05/2019 09:37PM
I’ve been stopped a few times and my opinion is they will do everything they can to fine you. I think warnings are completely against their policy. I don’t say this in a bitter way, they were always friendly and courteous I am just saying that the policy is distinctly different than the American side which is more of informing and of education.


I get it though they have a small staff and fines send a message.


T



sedges 05/05/2019 04:17PM
In the days before GPS they were probably only ticketing real obvious violations. These days there is no excuse. If you are interested in fishing near the border carry and turn on your GPS. It will tell you, with about 20 foot accuracy, where you are in relationship to the border.


It is your responsibility to respect that border. It is their job to bother you if you don't. If you don't have the skills or tools to identify the border then stay obviously clear of it.


Fishing both sides of border lakes legally is expensive, but pretty easy to do. You can get an RABC permit, an Ontario fishing license and an Ontario Park seasonal day permit. All those together would keep you legal.


That said, there are very few border lakes where the fishing is significantly that much better on the Canadian side!
gravelroad 05/05/2019 12:45PM
Not Q or B'dub, but AK:


Camped along the Deshka River with my parents on a float trip for king salmon. Room in the brush at the water's edge only for our two small tents.


Two very seedy looking guys in worn jeans and flannel come upriver in a john boat and pull right into our spot. I notice they're both packing heat on their belts. Uh oh.


One guy comes to the bow and steps off: "Folks, may I see your fishing licenses, please?"


I actually broke into laughter and applauded them on their wardrobe.


QueticoMike 05/05/2019 11:07AM
barehook: "QueticoMike: "Have you ever been stopped or questioned by a Quetico ranger for doing something wrong and they let you off with a warning? If so, no need to explain what your violation was, just curious if they just gave you a warning."
Following up but at a slight tangent....I've wondered in this day and age of drones, GPS, etc., just how 'picky' they would be if one was fishing a couple hundred yards over the border into Canada on one of the big border lakes. Mid-summer, I've fished some mid-lake reefs where quite frankly, I'm not quite positive which side I'm on. If they could prove I was a little bit over into Canada, would I get get stopped at all, warned, or ticketed? And of course, how far over would one need to be?

Thoughts, Mike? You have a lot of Quetico experience."

I have no idea what they would do for sure, but with the rangers I encountered, I would think they would write you ticket and sit there until you moved back across the border. I'm sure they know exactly the cutoff points for borders. Some probably carry GPS units, I don't know? I wouldn't be surprised if they came back later to check and see if you came back. Maybe you find one that is willing to give you a warning, but my encounters they seem gung-ho to write you up for an infraction? That is why I asked the question to see if anyone did something and was let off with a warning. I just don't think it happens very often.
barehook 05/05/2019 08:33AM
QueticoMike: "Have you ever been stopped or questioned by a Quetico ranger for doing something wrong and they let you off with a warning? If so, no need to explain what your violation was, just curious if they just gave you a warning."


Following up but at a slight tangent....I've wondered in this day and age of drones, GPS, etc., just how 'picky' they would be if one was fishing a couple hundred yards over the border into Canada on one of the big border lakes. Mid-summer, I've fished some mid-lake reefs where quite frankly, I'm not quite positive which side I'm on. If they could prove I was a little bit over into Canada, would I get get stopped at all, warned, or ticketed? And of course, how far over would one need to be?


Thoughts, Mike? You have a lot of Quetico experience.
Rob Johnson 05/04/2019 07:54PM
Fastest paddlers I have ever seen. Late 80s. You could see their perfect paddling cadence all the way across the late. They had nearly twice the distance to cover and still beat us. We thought they were another group racing us to a good campsite. We got in trouble because the two canoes in our group got separated while fishing. Note: the other canoe was carrying our permits. Thankfully they showed up in about 15 minutes. Yes, got a stern talking to...but got off with a warning.
marsonite 05/04/2019 04:12PM
Technically not in the Q, but back in the 80's, I nearly got a ticket for having a campfire during a fire ban on an island in Lacroix. They had put the ban on after we went in, plus it had just poured rain the night before. He did let us go, but scared the dickens out of us.
Coy1084 05/04/2019 03:18PM
My parties have been stopped twice by Quetico Ranger, a guy named Ben, who never let us off, however we were not doing anything wrong. Bother cases were in early May when there was no one else to check on. Both cases, he was in an aircraft and we were on lakes big enough to land on. We knew what was happening when the plane circled. The second time, he only checked our permit, barbs, and fish in camp, and was very friendly otherwise.
QueticoMike 05/04/2019 03:12PM
Have you ever been stopped or questioned by a Quetico ranger for doing something wrong and they let you off with a warning? If so, no need to explain what your violation was, just curious if they just gave you a warning.