What border crossing is best to Canada?

I am heading up this friday to Ignace, Ontario, and was just wondering where everyone would recommend crossing. Our group will be meeting in Duluth. We crossed two years ago at the Thunder Bay checkpoint and went right through. We were going to try International Falls this time, but I just read about how many people had trouble crossing there and all the trouble that the border patrol caused. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Also, what type of jigs and plastics worked best for anyone who has fished up there. Just looking for a few more aces in the hole to try out if it slows down a little. Thanks again. Ted

i’ve heard horror stories at both before, so i think it’s your luck of the draw. Personally i’ve never had a bad experience at either one.

Rainy River!!!!!

Otherwise, I would go to Intl’ Falls.

we were up to Eagle lake last week. crossed at the falls on wednesday a.m. WARNING- if any of your party has a DUI, they probably will not get into Canada- we had 3 of our group denied entry for DUI that were from the 90’s.
and coming back on saturday a.m., the line to cross back to the good old USA was 4 miles long, took the beter part of hour and half to get back.
and really pay attention to your speed- tehre is a speed trap just east of fort frances on 11, we found out the hard way…………..

I fish north of Ignace. We have gone up both ways. Lots less traffic at Pigeon River and the drive times to Ignace are basically the same using either crossing. We usually go up through I Falls and stay in Dryden. Eat at Knobbies in Sioux Lookout , then head to camp on Saturday morning. I return home through Pigeon River………Definitely better roads from Ignace to Thunder Bay. ………In fact its under 30 days finally

Thanks for your responses. We are going to try pidgeon falls and hope for the best!!! Ted

g3/8:

You may wish to pm me with your answer, but when did the DUI’s in your party occur? Early, mid or late 90’s? As I understand it anything over 10 years stands a chance provided they show proof of rehabilitation. Anything less than that you may be taking your chances getting in without going through the rehabiliation process. According to anything I have found on the Canadian Consulate website, takes a min. of 6 months for them to process and I have still haven’t found out how much the process costs. Then add in the amount of time it takes to get the info that they require, you probably should be working on rehab process better than a year in advance. Good luck, I am taking my first shot next month and if lucky will only have info for my rehab with me. That’s with a DUI from ’83!!! We are going through I Falls.

Mark

I just got back from North of Pickle Lake. We crossed the border on a Friday N=night at midnight 1 boat ahead of us and we got right through. Coming back to the states we crossed at about 6 am. the line getting into Canada was about 3 miles long. I think alot depends on the time of the crossing. No potatos from Idaho are allowed. Just FYI.
Good Luck and have fun!!!!!!!

I will say, in all the times i’ve been across the border, they barely say hi. They just ask for ID’s, look at them, ask us where we are going, how long we will be there, and the normal firearms/tobacco/potatoes questions. It never takes more than 2 min, if even that. This is at International Falls.

Thanks for the feedback. We got a hotel in Thunder bay for friday night and plan on crossing the border at about 11 PM in pigeon falls. Thanks again. Ted

I am going to be heading up there at the end of the month and one of the people in my group got a DUI this past year, What type of rehabilitation info do you need? what else should they know?

I know that he has been trying to work with some Canadian goverment agency on seeing what he needs to be clear but is getting responses very with ssslllooowww.