When fishing along the US-Canadian border, for example on Crooked Lake, a US citizen with a US fishing license wishing to fish the Canadian Shore will obviously need a Canadian fishing license. My question is, do you need a passport if you stay in the boat?

i believe you need the RABC permit, canadian fishing outdoors card and license. the passport is used to obtain the RABC or to physically cross at border crossings where there is a manned crossing station.

rabc form not sure if this is the most up-to-date application form.

As mocha said plus I think a Quetico day pass but not 100% sure on that.

Also you would need to be barbless (hooks on your line) and possess no live bait on the Canadian side.

T

Okay that's a little excessive. So what's the fine for getting caught with none of the above?

I think this has changed. I know here on lake of the woods now I do not need to check in or have a rabc as long as I don’t touch land in Canada. I assume it’s the same all along the Mn Ontario border but I’d check into that.

Lotw: "I think this has changed. I know here on lake of the woods now I do not need to check in or have a rabc as long as I don’t touch land in Canada. I assume it’s the same all along the Mn Ontario border but I’d check into that. "

Yea, I’d check on that. I thought that was for Lake of the Wood only, but not sure. I think the details are still being ironed out and the main issues was to address the constant check in and out of both countries for the Northwest Angle.

drrick, I don’t think there is much leeway for fishing as of now. If you are on the line they might just talk to you. With GPS they can pull up you are over the border pretty easily. The barbed hooks is $200-250/person, live bait the same, fishing license I would assume is more, but I don’t know. Not having an RABC is in the thousands, but rare they would have a border agent checking the BWCAW border. The fee for not having a Quetico permit is $150/ person but they may just fine the canoe and not each individual if you aren’t a jerk to them. I got those numbers from our Boy Scout meeting last month, last year or the year before they observed a group get fined for fishing on the portage at lower Basswood Falls which is on the Canadian side.

T

drrick: "Okay that's a little excessive. So what's the fine for getting caught with none of the above?"

As I've said on here before, our teenage boys got a very stern warning from a Canadian ranger for making casts to the right side of the canoe instead of the left as they floated down the Basswood river, so they are pretty strict as far as border fishing . Not sure what all to be legal just for fishing, but a quick call to Atikokan would get you the answers.

As I've said on here before, our teenage boys got a very stern warning from a Canadian ranger for making casts to the right side of the canoe instead of the left as they floated down the Basswood river, so they are pretty strict as far as border fishing . Not sure what all to be legal just for fishing, but a quick call to Atikokan would get you the answers. 807-597-2735

I was told you can paddle in Canadian waters if it's for navigation purposes (getting to portage). You cannot fish while floating on their side of the border or obviously from shore without all the proper permits explained above.

Unless you have gps, it's best to be safe when guessing where the line is in the border lake or river. Same goes for ice fishing up there, ask the guy that got his state record laker confiscated along with a huge fine for being just across the line into Canada.

Side question, mgraber, where are you from in KS? You referenced fishing Marion Reservoir.

If your last name is Graber, that sounds like Pretty Prairie lol

In addition to the above stated fines, they can and will confiscate all of your gear used in commission of the violation. That will include the canoe. Not to be messed with.

We need to hire some of those Canadian boys to work the southern border.

drrick: "We need to hire some of those Canadian boys to work the southern border."

Well they only catch a few out of many who knowingly or unknowingly break the rules so not sure I want their success rate. As far as the southern borders go, the saying, "you can't squeeze blood out of turnip" comes to mind when assessing fines. You can fine them and put them in jail until they pay, but if they can't pay then you are paying for their incarceration which costs more than you ever are going to get in fines. Totally different economics.

ok, so i wonder what the American authorities charge the Canadians that cross over and fish on the US side without papers and permits.

drrick: "ok, so i wonder what the American authorities charge the Canadians that cross over and fish on the US side without papers and permits."

Why would they cross over? The fish are on the Canadian side already ;-)

barehook: "Side question, mgraber, where are you from in KS? You referenced fishing Marion Reservoir.


If your last name is Graber, that sounds like Pretty Prairie lol"

Yes, I'm from Kansas. I live in Wichita, but all of my dad's side are from the Pretty Prairie area. Why do you ask?

Grew up in Moundridge. Every Graber I knew had roots in Pretty Prairie or Freeman, SD area (or Moundridge). If inclined, send me an email at tim@normalmennonite.org, and we probably can find some common acquaintances and swap KS fishing stories.

drrick: "ok, so i wonder what the American authorities charge the Canadians that cross over and fish on the US side without papers and permits."

Why would someone from Canada want to fish in the States? haha :)

The best thing to do would be to get a RABC, an Outdoor Card, a fishing license and a Quetico permit.

timatkn: "

Lotw: "I think this has changed. I know here on lake of the woods now I do not need to check in or have a rabc as long as I don’t touch land in Canada. I assume it’s the same all along the Mn Ontario border but I’d check into that. "

Yea, I’d check on that. I thought that was for Lake of the Wood only, but not sure. I think the details are still being ironed out and the main issues was to address the constant check in and out of both countries for the Northwest Angle.


drrick, I don’t think there is much leeway for fishing as of now. If you are on the line they might just talk to you. With GPS they can pull up you are over the border pretty easily. The barbed hooks is $200-250/person, live bait the same, fishing license I would assume is more, but I don’t know. Not having an RABC is in the thousands, but rare they would have a border agent checking the BWCAW border. The fee for not having a Quetico permit is $150/ person but they may just fine the canoe and not each individual if you aren’t a jerk to them. I got those numbers from our Boy Scout meeting last month, last year or the year before they observed a group get fined for fishing on the portage at lower Basswood Falls which is on the Canadian side.


T"

Yes only lake of the Woods and maybe Rainy lake area? Not Quetico

Did we on this site ever resolve what can be done and can not? Can you actually fish the BWCA-Quetico border without a RABC pass now(when the border reopens) ? I know Rainy lake I believe you can.

drrick: "Okay that's a little excessive. So what's the fine for getting caught with none of the above?"

They can take your boat and fishing equipment

2018 Canada:

When anglers who fished Canada come back into the U.S., the U.S. makes it very clear at this point they go by the definition ice = land. Consequently, they are required to check in with U.S. Customs. The new pilot project, currently exclusive to Lake of the Woods, is in place where people can check back into the U.S. using tablets at many of the resorts, Jerry’s Restaurant, etc vs having to go to an OARS phone. That same program is also available to download on smartphones and it is called CBP OARS. CBP stands for Customs and Border Protection.

Pinetree: "2018 Canada:


When anglers who fished Canada come back into the U.S., the U.S. makes it very clear at this point they go by the definition ice = land. Consequently, they are required to check in with U.S. Customs. The new pilot project, currently exclusive to Lake of the Woods, is in place where people can check back into the U.S. using tablets at many of the resorts, Jerry’s Restaurant, etc vs having to go to an OARS phone. That same program is also available to download on smartphones and it is called CBP OARS. CBP stands for Customs and Border Protection."

Transferred to general discussion page-check there

As far as I know this was only for the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

If this went into effect for the entire border the only thing it changes is you would no longer need an RABC to cross over the International Boundary and fish the Canadian side. That’s from personal experience fishing the RainyRiver.

To fish on the Canadian side you still would need an outdoors card, Ontario fishing license, and if it was in Quetico a day permit or pass. I think there is a vehicle pass you can get that is good for your canoe. Never done it myself though.

T

So it sounds like fishing in any Canadian water right now is off limits. Is that the case?

If and when the border opens again it will take a Ontario fishing licenses and card. RABC and Quetico permit? Is that correct?

BigDadE: "So it sounds like fishing in any Canadian water right now is off limits. Is that the case?


If and when the border opens again it will take a Ontario fishing licenses and card. RABC and Quetico permit? Is that correct? "

That is my take, I think calling the park is the best way to know for sure. I think the unknown is the goal for fishing Canada/MN border waters they seem to be working on phasing out the RABC as long as you don’t touch any land.

T