I’ll tell you what I just got done reading through old posts on the Rainy and it’s got me excited! Sounds like there are some Real Pigs to be caught. My buddies and I are heading up there this spring, probably the 1st week in April. It will be my 1st time, though my partners have been there before. Hopefully, we hit it right! Is Anyone else, planning on hitting Rainy this Spring?
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Lindy
I have fished Rainy for the past 5 years! Its the best time of the year to catch a “pig”!!!! 
One thing about Rainy is you have to go as soon as you can get a boat in at any access! That is the best time to fish! Once the river turns to chocolate milk, might as well forget about walleyes and hit the sturegon!
If you have never had the chance to try this, I reccommend it highly! Its also amazing to see the amount of people that love to catch the mighty walleye!
Good Luck and see ya on Rainy! 
We went up to Borderview Lodge to ice fish LOW the year that we had a couple of 70 degree days in early March (2000?) When we got there they said the ice was unsafe but they found us a couple of guides that would take us on the river. We had to push the boats over a 6 foot rim of ice but we got on. The fishing trip of a lifetime and by accident too. Our two boats caught over 400 walleyes that day. We estimated about 100 of those fish were 7 lbs and over and about 30 were 10 lbs and over. I won the most fish contest in our boat with 69 walleyes in 8 hours. I’ll never see that again although the guides said that they have had other days close to that.
Hope you see those days too.
What a blast Putz! If we are even half as successful as you it will be way more than I expect. 1 10lber is worth the trip and a strugeon is always fun. Ranger29 hopefully we can hit it just right unfortanately it’s a 5-6 hr drive for us and we are pretty set in when we can actually go.
In-Depthangling Field Staff
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Lindy
Lindy,
I agree with Ranger as well. As soon as you can get access to the river. Even if it means dragging a small boat over the ice shelf to get in is the best time to be on the water. Considerably less people and the fish are pretty less spooky with the lack of boat traffic. What we have done over the years is to put the boat in whatever ramp is useable and then run downriver. My favorite area was fishing between Frontier and Clementson. Most years this early, the ramp that was open was Birchdale. We would put in and run down as far as we could and start fishing. One thing that we used to do is fish the holes early in the morning and then as boat traffic started to show up, we would start fishing the flats in between the holes. Here we would switch to pitching jigs out to the side of the boat while slipping the current and slowly walk the jigs back to the boat quartering the current. Once you find an active school pause in the area and pick off as many as you could and then continue on or go up and make another slip drift?
Get there early and plan to spend the day there!!
Its a blast. Our best day for 3 guys was just over 200 walleyes with lots over the 7# mark.
Good luck and take lots of pictures!!
Lindy, This spring will be my 8th trip in the past 9 years going. Last year I took the family to Florida. Like Steve mentioned the strech between Frontier and Clemenston is my favorite strech. I do try to get there as early in the season as possible. This year I am leaving on March 30th. History has shown more times one of the 3 ramps are open. This Link has good reports of the river conditions. I will start looking at it daily for conditions starting next week.
Also, be careful not to fish on the Canadian side of the river. I do not have first hand experience with it but have been told that the Canadian DNR (Ministery of Natural Rescources)can be hard on Americans fishing on Canadian side of the river with heavy fines. There slot is smaller, need a border crossing permit, need a Canadian fishing liciense, and minnows are not permitted.
Good luck!
fish any time is correct. On our trip, we watched two guys back down the Canadian ramp in an old Ford truck with a 12′ boat in the pickup. They were wearing flannel shirts and old beat up caps. They unloaded the boat, hooked on a motor, threw in some rods, and took off around the bend. A while later we happened to drift into Canadian waters 
and here they come. They were Canadian officials (not sure which ones) and had a spotting scope and even a credit card acceptor. Cost our guides $200 each, which we chipped in and helped with. It would have been worse if we would have had any beer or overlength fish in the boat.
Thanks, for the tips steve! Did you have good luck with plastics or hair up this way on the rainy or did you primareily use a jig and minnow. Also, I see clemston on the map, but not frontier, is it upriver or downriver of clemston? We will be up there for 3-5 days, that should give us plenty of time to lay into some hawgs. I plan on bringing my digital and a disposable camera just in case.
Fish any time I have also, heard bad things about Americans fishing on the canadian side. thanks, for the heads up I thought I would be ok having a MN and Canadian license, but I don’t have a border crossing permit.
Lindy
In-Depthangling Field Staff
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DON’T CROSS THE BORDER!!!
Unless you are catch-release only, no minnow, have a Canadian License, Have a RABC Permit, Have no alcoholic beverages in the boat. Then you can cross!!!
A guy would think that I would learn my lesson after the first time!!!!!! 
Both times, I got off without a fine, other than once fishing Ontario waters without a license.
However, if you plan on it, with just plastics or pulling cranks (3-ways), with no booze, I highly recommend getting the license and the permit. It can me more rewarding to get away from the crowds.
By the way, the border line is the center of the river from shoreline to shoreline. If you cross the middle, you are wrong……..
Lindy, I forgot to mention, when you go to the link click on “River and Road Map”. There is will show the mile markers and access names:Clemenston, Frontier, and Birchdale. Clemenston Resort has a good website once you look around. When the river open up more they will have digital pictures of the river and tell you what mile marker the river is open to. Also, it has ice out dates from years past.
So how do you know if you have crossed the center line. GPS? Markers? or is it just a judgement call.
Thinking I might have to make the trip this year. Never have giving this a try before but sounds like I need to. My jon boat sounds like it will work great. If anyone else wants to take a midweek trip up there shoot me a message.
Mike, I have always used my judgement and not had an issue. There are not any markers. I guess a GPS would work. It’s by belief that the people who are blatant are the one that either are ticketed or receive a warning.
No markers, just judgement.
Centerline is centerline………….Shoreline to shoreline.
Just be aware, that when you cross that line, you are no longer in America. You have illegally entered Canada. At that time, it is no longer your vessel, it is there vessel (boat)…..
This isn’t something to joke around with. My buddies father got caught a few years back. Between him and his 3 buddies, it cost over $3,000 in fines for minnows, beer, fish, fishing, border crossing.
By the way, if you want to get technical about this……….crossing back into America without going through customs can lead to a $5,000 fine and time in prison.
Illegal border crossing should be taken serious and with caution. Ignorance is no excuse.
If you plan on fishing up there alot, get the Remote Area Border Crossing Permit. I got one last summer and I can cross the border at any time at remote locations, without worrying about customs. It allows me to cross LOTW, Rainy River, Rainy Lake, and remote areas of BWCA at my own free given will. My permit expires this fall.
So what happens then when I see them coming and shoot the boat back into the states? They cant follow you can they?
Quote:
So what happens then when I see them coming and shoot the boat back into the states? They cant follow you can they?
Technically, NO.
However, if you make a “run for the border”, they claim they do have “good communication” with the MN DNR where the MN DNR will bring you back to Canada to settle the dispute.
(When we got caught the first time, which was a true accident, I took the liberty to ask lots of questions to the wardens. They let us go, with just a fine for fishing Ontario without a licence. They were good guys about it.)
Here is the important facts.
Customs and Border Patrol are not the DNR. The DNR is not Customs and Border Patrol. They are two different branches of government in both the US and Canada.
They will get you no matter what if you are “blatantly over the line”.
If you have beer in the boat.
The initial fine is $50 Canadian money, plus $1 for every can (empty and full).
If you have minnows in the boat.
It is $3 Canadian per minnow.
Fishing Ontario waters without a license.
$100 Canadian.
Fish:
If the fish are alive (which is against the law in Canada to have live fish in a live well).
They will let you release them.
If they are dead???
I don’t know, but they will release one fish at a time to ensure each fish swims away healthly.
This is pretty much what you will encounter. The dollar amounts posted are what we experienced back in the late 90s. So, times and money does change.
The first time we got caught, was right in front of Borderview Lodge on the Rainy in the fall. We were trolling the grass bank line. We were under the impression that the river was the river, shoreline to shoreline.
We saw them, as they had a boat pulled up on shore with the fisherman standing on Canadian grounds. They finished up with them and buzzed over to us. We thought nothing of it, until we saw the Canadian badges.
They asked us for license and when we told them we were from Minnesota and gave them MN license. They asked for the Canadian license.
Then they proceeded to inform us of how we broke the laws of minnow, beer, fish, fishing without license, crossing the border without customs. When we explained it was a true honest mistake, they let us go with just the fishing fine. But they made us release the walleyes we had in our livewell.
The second time was up on Oak Is. We crossed the border to go get our daily border crossing permits and stopped to do a little fishing at a hot spot along the way. Sure enough, here comes a game warden. Told him what we were doing. He said it was ok “today”. But to leave the beer, minnows, fish at the lodge, and not take it across the border. We got lucky….
My buddies father didn’t get lucky. The game wardens had a kid on the shoreline with a big stop sign. As people came by, they stopped and asked the kid what he was doing. That is when the wardens popped out of the bushes and stopped the guys.
As the wardens wrote up tickets, they had the kid count the minnows in the minnow pail, one at a time. They were fined for fish, fined for each minnow, fined for beer, fined for fishing without license. Between the four guys, the total fine tallied up to around $3000. The game wardens held the boat and gave one of the fisherman a ride back to the resort, where money was wired to pay the fine right there. They held the other 3 fisherman and the boat until the fine was paid that day. This occurred back in the mid-90s.
Wow. Sounds like a blast. What is the deal with the minnows and no live fish? I seem to remmember fishing out of ear falls with minnows the resort supplyed. Has something changed.
No live fish. Does bleeding them take care of this problem?
I have also read somewhere about the different slot sizes for the other side also.
Fishing where a guy needs a Phd to get a grip on all the regs just stinks. But what are you going to do.
When I was booking a trip to Lac Suel I asked the same question about the livewell and no live fish. I guess there there is no culling(sp?) thus the fish were iced. I believe this is what is going on on the Rainy.
Yes, the Canadian max. length fish can only be 18.1″ long, I believe. I have no idea what is up with the minnow thing.
I guess if you stay on our side of the river and go about your normal fishing business and keep no more than your 2 allowed fish, if you want to keep any, you will be ok.
Gary,
Any difference if you are staying on Canadian grounds during your stay and access the river from the Canadian side or all rules still apply?
I thought I remember reading something that stated this?
Sounds like a boat load of trouble. Does the MN DNR/US border patrol have such a strong presence also, because if they don’t I’m with Mike W on this issue. 
“see ya later dudes” 
Otherwise the remote border passes are an option.
Could the minnow thing have something to do w/ the fact that the minnows were from the US and you can’t bring minnows, american soil via night crawler containers and potatoes etc. into Canada. Or maybe they just banned livebait during the spring walleye runs. The no live fish rule is news to me I have kept live fish in my livewell in CAN on numerous occasions. What about the barbed hook issue? Ah forget about it I’ll just stick to my guns in the good old US of A.
Fish any time that river map clears things right up.
In-Depthangling Field Staff
http://www.fishthestcroix.com
[email protected]
Lindy
Dont get me wrong. I wont be planning any runs for the boarder. Was just wondering what would stop a person from doing such a thing.
Just kidding 
I wouldn’t recommend anyone try that.
In-Depthangling Field Staff
http://www.fishthestcroix.com
[email protected]
Lindy
Steve;
I’ll look into this and see what I can find. Right off the bat, I think that it is simple rules on the Canadian side. You can have minnows, they have to be purchased from Canada. No beer. Not sure what fish possesion is?
Lindy;
You HAVE to do this trip!!!
It is a bite of a lifetime!!!!
Don’t worry about the Canadian wardens. Just don’t cross the line. There is plenty of river to fish!!!
Yes, the MN DNR is there too. They are at the ramps, doing boat inspections for over limit and big fish. They are also on the river. They need to be. There can be 400+ boats out there in a small stretch of river. The MN DNR 2 years ago was following the Canadian wardens about 100 yards back, making sure they were keeping things in check/balance.
The window for this bite can be very short. You have to get there as soon as the ice melts and the river opens, but before you get a big run-off. The big run-off/melt turns the river to chocolate milk and the bite gets really tough.
A buddy called me last night on this. We didn’t go last year because of the quick melt, turning the river to chocolate milk. The bite last year wasn’t very good for alot of people. This year, we are planning on going April 10th to the 12th, pending on weather/run off.
This thread must have changed your mind about going Gary?
I think I had a sixth sense, being that my buddy called me out of the blue yesterday and asked to go!!!
It must mean I’m going to catch TUNAS up there!!!!!!!
Just a few more questions on the river.
What can a person expect to find for depths on the river? Maybe a average hole depth, channel depth.
Any one spent much time fishing plastics up there? Since this is my bait of choice I would hate to think about switching back to minnows.
Is there any other presentations other than jigging that a person should be prepaired for when heading up? Trolling, three waying, Ect.
We have pulled 3-ways and cranks up river from our drifts with jigs.
This river is a bit different. It is just a really long stretch of river with some major bends and holes. Being that rivers change from year to year, you have to explore a bit. Most fish are probably in the 15 to 20 foot range.
Look at the “mouth” of holes for your more agressive fish. Also, don’t be afraid of sand flats too!!!
Once you find fish, work them hard. When the bite slows down, change up presentations, and when you picked them off, move……….
Here are some basic Canadian boat regulations:
Minimum Required Equipment for Boats in Canada
From the Canadian Coast Guard Small Vessel Regulations
Less than 5.5 metres in length (18.0′)
1 approved PFD (or throwable life-saving device) for each person
Sound signalling device
1 hand-bailer or manual pump
1 Class B-I fire extinguisher if vessel has inboard motor or fixed fuel tank OR heating or cooking appliance that burns liquid or gas fuel.
Lights must comply with Collision Regulations if permanently fitted
2 oars with rowlocks or 2 paddles
5.5 – 8 metres in length (18.0′-26.2′)
1 approved PFD for each person on board
Sound signalling device
1 hand-bailer or manual pump
1 Class B-I fire extinguisher if vessel is powered or has heating or cooking appliance that burns liquid or gas fuel.
Lights must comply with Collision Regulations if permanently fitted
1 approved lifesaving cushion or buoyant heaving line or life buoy 508, 610 or 762 mm diameter
6 approved distress flares: three A, B, or C type flares AND three A, B, C or D type flares [Except if vessel is engaged in racing and has no beds/bunks or operating in a river, canal or lake in which the boat can never be more than 1 nautical mile from shore, or boat is propelled by oars or paddles].
2 oars with rowlocks or 2 paddles or 1 anchor with 15 m (50′) rode
Mike, have you planed when you will be up there yet?
Not yet. I was working on a ice fishing trip on LOW some time during of the 25. Now Im keeping my eyes on the river reports to see if it might be open. Still in the planning stages.
If I go it would most likely be during the week to try to avoid some of the crowds. Wouldnt be suprised if its a last minute trip.
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