I’m going to LOTW over Labor Day. This will be the first time for me. I’m looking for someone to correspond with…any takers???
I’m looking for info on border crossing, bait purchase, type of rigs to use, ect…
There is bait shop on the edge of town,I think it’s called Sunset?They have good quality and a pretty good stock of things that the locals use.We usually fly out to outposts so I can’t be of much help on LOTW.
Brady;
Kinda tough question here……..
But I will pipe in as much as I can to help.
Border crossing:
Where are you crossing? Int’l Falls??? Border crossing is simple/easy. Just have a current pic ID (driver’s licence) and also pack along a copy of your birth certificate for extra precaution.
Don’t bring anything into Canada that isn’t allowed in the USA. As for alcohol: 1 case of beer or 1 bottle of booze. You are allowed 1 carton of cigarettes.
NO FIREARMS
As for crossing, drive on up and they ask you who you are, where are you going, and for how long. Then they ask if you have any firearms, alcohol, and tobacco. Answer the questions and they tell you to have a great stay!!!! Done deal!!!
Bait: Get bait accross the border in Canada. You can’t bring leeches, minnows, or worm “dirt” accross the border. Only worms on worm bedding. Freeze dried or “preserved”/salted minnows are ok, but not live. When you purchase bait, I always find a place that takes credit cards. Your credit card company will take care of the US/Canadian dollar exchange rate, so just buy on that and you don’t have to worry about having the right or right amount of cash. This applies to all purchases that you will do in Canada, I recommend using credit cards.
Are you going up with a group of friends??? Bringing your own boats???? Going up with a guide??? What are you fishing for????
What kind of lodge are you staying at?
Awesome help…thanks guy’s.
I’m heading to resort named PipeStone Point. There is going to be plenty of walleye riggin done…that’s nothin new for me. (Alway’s looking for new ideas though).
But here is the deal…
I understand there is great oppertunities this time of year for Muskie’s.
I have a friend that I can borrow gear from…but I have never cast for one of the beasts before. I hope to get some insight on this before I go.
I have done most of my LOTW musky fishing during the heat of the summer, in the “Big Narrows”.
As for ski fishing over Labor Day??? I would focus on casting to reefs, adjacent to large bays, large cabbage beds, and rocky rubble points, all leading to deep water. Look for saddles (two reefs, or even very small islands with deep water inbetween) (this is a very common “staging” area for feeding muskies).
ALSO;
Going west of Kenora, towards Shoal Lake, around Corkscrew Island, there is plenty of “deep water”. Deep water ranging from 40 to 100′. Much of this deep water is in “narrows”, where the shorelines are close together, or close to “reefs”. As you drive over this water, watch for suspended bait fish pods. If you find bait fish, I would HIGHLY recommend putting on an assortment of good crankbaits (Jakes, Ernies, Depthraiders <my favorite for this style of fishing>) and troll through those pods of bait fish. You just might be very surprised at the quality and quantity of pike and muskie that are suspended over these pods of fish. You also may just hook into some very good, quality walleyes doing this as well!!!!!
Been to Pipestone myself many a time! Are you by chance going through a wholesaler? That’s what we did!
About 45 min from the Kenora boat landing is “Souix Narrows” I think. That is where we usually get our bait and licenses. You may need a guide to the resort, so you would call them from there and that will meet you at the landing! Nice resort, Pete is the owner, great guy!
Ask any of the helpers at the resort, they will tell you where the muskies are!
Walleye fishing is never a problem. Usually Jig heads with leeches or Crawlers!
Good Luck!
\P.S. I think that it is cheaper to pay the fine to bring your own alcohol over then to purchase it there!
Its probably not a bad idea to have your passport with you when you leave the country, its not necessary yet but it will be soon.
Let your insurance company know that you are heading into Canada and they will issue you a card that you must have when you are driving in Canada.
If I were going to take 4 baits to Canada they would be:
1. Lead head jig and power leeches
2. One ounce gold Rattle Trap
3. Large white swim jig or grass jig
4. Deep diving Depth Raider
If you were to dump me on LOTW without a bottom bouncer and spinner rig harness for either crawlers/leeches/minnows…….I would be a lost soul……….
As for muskies,
If you chase them, make sure you get the proper size net (walleye nets won’t cut it), get bolt cutters, long nose pliers, and a jaw spreader that has a rope attached to it, that is attached to the boat.
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