I have a trip planned this fall for Iron Lake and would like to be able to fish the Canadian side. With recent rule changes since Covid, I’m not sure of the requirements. Do I need an RABC permit or just a non-resident Canadian license or am I not allowed at all?

It's my understanding that it's not allowed at all unless the legal requirements are covered.

The big one is you would need an RABC permit (not available right now, but possible if you already have one that's valid). If you have that base covered, these next three things are a piece of cake. You'll need a Quetico permit and certainly an Ontario Outdoors Card and non-resident fishing license to be legal.

I’ve done enough research on this topic to feel confident fishing the Canadian side of border lakes with no RABC. That said, it could have changed since last summer, so anyone crossing any border should verify the laws with the CBSA and not on a paddling forum.

Before you ask me to post supporting proof for my stance…. I challenge you to show anything official in writing this refutes my stance :)

I do agree with recent changes in rules an RABC is no longer required on the condition you DO NOT set foot on any Canadian soil. That means no shore lunch, no bathroom breaks, you also cannot anchor your canoe/boat…weird rule…but it is the rule. This is likely to change in September of 2026 where reportedly there will be a new call in system.

But for Iron Lake, you would be crossing into Quetico, I am very sure you would need an Quetico Park permit. A day permit from a Ranger station would work or in the past having a vehicle permit for Ontario parks for each canoe would work.

In Summary
1. Do not land on Canadian soil
2. Do not anchor in Canadian water
3. Need a park permit
4. Need Ontario Outdoors card
5. Need Ontario License
6. Need to follow Quetico rules: No live or dead (organic) bait in possession while fishing in Quetico waters.
7. The hook on your line must be barbless
8. You should have a passport, passport card, or if you are from MN, NY, MI, VT, WA an enhanced Drivers license will work. A Real ID is not good enough. Remember you are entering into a foreign sovereign nation and then re-entering into the US. Failure to supply proper documentation could get ya in trouble with either country.

Other than that…no big deal LOL

T

Okay…..so I’ll be fishing the US side of lake! Thanks all!

I'm not going to look up supporting documentation.

You can use Canadian waters without customs and permits but only as a means of conveyance. Meaning you are traveling from point A in the United States to point B in the United States. Recreatiion while passing through Canadian Waters is a violation.

Tom

You could also contact Quetico Park directly and get an answer. I’ve been surprised at how responsive they can be with questions.

If you were on Sag, Rainy, LOTW, parts of Lac la Croix that weren’t part of Quetico…you wouldn’t need to worry about the Quetico rules (park permit, no live bait in possession, no barbed hooks) makes it a lot easier.

Although the loosening of the RABC is somewhat controversial at the Canadian Border for fishing Canadian/US waters. Complaints of US guides and clients crossing into Canada to fish, not using Canadian resorts while the US is more restrictive and not allowing reciprocity has many Canadians calling for revoking this privilege…also lets face it…most people want to go to Canada to fish (less people) not cross into the US to fish (except parts of the BWCAW Lac La Croix First Nation guides target at times). I don’t expect this to last…

T

A similar question if I may: assuming that you, as a US citizen, have proper Quetico permits and licenses in hand, can you also fish and camp in the bwca while traveling border lakes like Iron and Crooked? Or do you need separate permits and licenses for the bwca whose dates overlap with the Quetico dates you have already secured?

Camping in the BWCA would certainly not be allowed as you would have to have a permit for any day you camp there. And since you would have to have a new entry permit for each day you wanted to camp on the US side... Just don't see any way of making that work that'd be worth it.

Suspect the same for fishing, but I'll defer on that one.

I would be curious how specific rangers (from either side) are regarding the border and fishing. If you troll down basically the middle of the lake....

If you are actually at the middle of the lake…they won’t do anything.

Maybe have a conversation…at most… if you are over by an obvious amount (pretty easy to see now a days on GPS) there are documented fines ranging from a couple of hundred bucks to thousands…

T

tumblehome: "I'm not going to look up supporting documentation.


You can use Canadian waters without customs and permits but only as a means of conveyance. Meaning you are traveling from point A in the United States to point B in the United States. Recreatiion while passing through Canadian Waters is a violation.


Tom"

As of approx 2022 this is not accurate. Google loop movement fishing Canada border. I believe the CBSA press release was April 2022. Its been posted multiple times.

timatkn: "If you were on Sag, Rainy, LOTW, parts of Lac la Croix that weren’t part of Quetico…you wouldn’t need to worry about the Quetico rules (park permit, no live bait in possession, no barbed hooks) makes it a lot easier.

Although the loosening of the RABC is somewhat controversial at the Canadian Border for fishing Canadian/US waters. Complaints of US guides and clients crossing into Canada to fish, not using Canadian resorts while the US is more restrictive and not allowing reciprocity has many Canadians calling for revoking this privilege…also lets face it…most people want to go to Canada to fish (less people) not cross into the US to fish (except parts of the BWCAW Lac La Croix First Nation guides target at times). I don’t expect this to last…

T"

The bait thing is still an issue because you can’t bring live bait from US to Canada even if it’s the same lake. On Sag we buy our bait on the Canadian side if we have RABC, otherwise we fish artificial only.

Interesting point on the guides. Not sure I totally buy that as a reason for the change as the Ontario govt makes good money on those non-citizen angling licenses and I believe the guides have to pay to be licensed as guides in CA as well? I only know of 1 or 2 guides on the Canadian side of Sag, they couldn’t possibly meet the client demand from the US side. My 2 cents .

Good points on the live bait. I believe the complaints from Canadians is more about Rainy Lake and LOTW. Although this can happen in the Crane Lake as well. I know guides based on Kabetogama will run up into Canada as well. It happens a lot more than you think. Took me less than 5 minutes to find multiple articles about Canadian complaints about the current access they allow Americans. Not trying to argue…more just trying to show it is hot button item along the border.

American Guides

Call to Change Regs.

Negative Economic claims

Canadian Complaints

thegildedgopher: "

tumblehome: "I'm not going to look up supporting documentation.

You can use Canadian waters without customs and permits but only as a means of conveyance. Meaning you are traveling from point A in the United States to point B in the United States. Recreatiion while passing through Canadian Waters is a violation.

Tom"

As of approx 2022 this is not accurate. Google loop movement fishing Canada border. I believe the CBSA press release was April 2022. Its been posted multiple times."

Correct: I think Tumblehome likes to see the actual rules :)
reporting requirements

Fishing Border Waters non-Quetico:

Good review of Border fishing

Thanks Timakn for the link. Here’s why I wrote that you can pass through Canadian waters:

Reporting exceptions
Foreign national boaters
If you enter Canadian waters, you are not required to present yourself and report your goods to the CBSA if you:
~ Do not land on Canadian soil and do not anchor, moor or make contact with another conveyance while in Canadian waters.
~ Do not embark or disembark people or goods in Canada

If at any point during the transit you come to port, anchor, moor or make contact with another vessel, you must report to the CBSA immediately.