Im going to Campfire Island on Rainy lake next week. Bringing lots of food for large group of anglers. Any tips or pearls of wisdom for a seemless entry? I havent been up there in decades. I have my vax card, passport and I downloaded the ArriveCan app on my phone. I was told not to bring raw chicken. Was curious if eggs are not allowed as well? Thanks for any info!
Don’t bring eggs, chicken, or bait (dead or alive) of any kind. Other than that you’ll be fine.
What Matt said. I just passed through this crossing about a week ago. It was quick and easy!
Chicken and eggs are a no go. Use the arrive can app and upload your info up to 72 hrs before your arrival. No live bait at all.
Yes to all above. I always wear a mask when I approach the window. Can’t hurt.
We’ll be up there again on September 11.
We were on Rainy 6 weeks ago and the grocery store in Fort Frances was a little bare. I would plan on brining what you need instead of buying in Canada.
$11 to pay at the MN booth before crossing the bridge to the border station at the crossing in Fort Frances. Why is this?
Not sure if 5 mile dock is open yet – it was closed on July 22 and we parked at the first landing on the left on your way over the causeway. _ no problems there.
Happy fishing!!
If wearing sun glasses take them off before getting to the window. Answer all questions honestly. Even the one about how much alcohol you are bringing in with you. The last thing you want is to get checked and have then find more than you declared. They will assume if you lied about that you probably lied about other things. Hope you get a good border crossing agent ( About 95% of them are ) The other 5% seem to be on a ego trip and want to mess with you. And hope you don’t get selected for a random Covid test ( process is a pain in the _ss ) I’m not even sure if they are still doing them. I hope not. Crossing on Sept. 9th and don’t want that hassle again. Good luck – I’m sure all will go well.
Yes to all above. I always wear a mask when I approach the window. Can’t hurt.
We’ll be up there again on September 11.
We were on Rainy 6 weeks ago and the grocery store in Fort Frances was a little bare. I would plan on brining what you need instead of buying in Canada.
$11 to pay at the MN booth before crossing the bridge to the border station at the crossing in Fort Frances. Why is this?
Not sure if 5 mile dock is open yet – it was closed on July 22 and we parked at the first landing on the left on your way over the causeway. _ no problems there.
Happy fishing!!
It’s a privately owned toll bridge.
If wearing sun glasses take them off before getting to the window. Answer all questions honestly. Even the one about how much alcohol you are bringing in with you. The last thing you want is to get checked and have then find more than you declared. They will assume if you lied about that you probably lied about other things. Hope you get a good border crossing agent ( About 95% of them are ) The other 5% seem to be on a ego trip and want to mess with you. And hope you don’t get selected for a random Covid test ( process is a pain in the _ss ) I’m not even sure if they are still doing them. I hope not. Crossing on Sept. 9th and don’t want that hassle again. Good luck – I’m sure all will go well.
Still doing random testing.
Years ago we were asked to roll all our windows down so they could see in. So now I automatically roll all my windows down upon approach.
Otherwise do just as the others have said. I always say “sir” or “ma’am”, never joke with them unless they joke with me first, and answer questions directly, honestly and quickly like you know what you’re talking about. Do that and you should be fine.
Took us maybe 90sec when we crossed 3 weeks ago (but others ahead of us were sometimes questioned for nearly 7 minutes)
All windows down….hats and sunglasses off. Never had an issue.
Crossed last Thursday – 2 of us. Was very surprised that all he asked for was passports, never checked any of the Arrivcan stuff we had ready on the phone.I did claim a box of wine but was mistaken on its size. Agent thought i was wrong and I did check and correct it prior paying duty but I believe my confusion was enough to trigger a minor checkout. All was good and off we went. Gotta be very clear on those details. I knew that. If you have a case of beer state a case of 24, exact number or cigars, exact oz of pipe tobacco, exact number of chew cans, that kind of thing. Hard boiled eggs are ok, I claimed them and no issues.
By the way – duty on a $19 box wine was just under $14
A case of beer in canuckerville is a 12 pack. Took me a couple years living with them in college to realize that. 
I would make that clear.
Bridge is privately owned, 5 mile still closed
In Ontario a case is 24 ,
In B.C it is 12
I have never had anyone check to see if a case was 18,24, or 30 cans. When it comes to ammo they say pay a duty fee over 200 rounds but I have brought 500 plus rounds many times and have never had to pay a duty. I know that I get treated better because I have had a PAL license for 15+ years.
It all depends on which crossing you choose and the person behind the counter.
Crossed last Thursday – 2 of us. Was very surprised that all he asked for was passports, never checked any of the Arrivcan stuff we had ready on the phone.I did claim a box of wine but was mistaken on its size. Agent thought i was wrong and I did check and correct it prior paying duty but I believe my confusion was enough to trigger a minor checkout. All was good and off we went. Gotta be very clear on those details. I knew that. If you have a case of beer state a case of 24, exact number or cigars, exact oz of pipe tobacco, exact number of chew cans, that kind of thing. Hard boiled eggs are ok, I claimed them and no issues.
By the way – duty on a $19 box wine was just under $14
Hey Dan, when they take your passport, they scan it and all the information from the ArrivCan App is pulled up! I thought the same thing the first time I went through, I asked the guy about it the second time we went up.
Hey Dan, when they take your passport, they scan it and all the information from the ArrivCan App is pulled up! I thought the same thing the first time I went through, I asked the guy about it the second time we went up.
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I had our ArriveCan stuff printed out, in hand, waiting to give it to him after I handed him our passports. He asked about 6 quick questions, handed me our passports back and said “Your Arrivecan is good. Have a good vacation”
Dutchboy, – thanks for the education on the privately owned toll bridge
Cheers – thanks for the 5 mile heads up
Have anything subject to inspection easily accessible. When they ask. ” we have 4 cases of beer, to bottles of whiskey, 2 cartons of cigarettes right inside the tail gate, fish on the way back if you bring them, tell them what you have and that it is properly marked.” for example. On the return we had gifts for our wives. They were all in the front seat, with the receipt in the bag, and they were told all under duty amount. Like most LEOs, they can smell bulls*#t. One last piece of advice. If you have a comedian in the group. Invite him to shut the F&%k up on the way through. It got us unloaded. No, they don’t help you reload your stuff.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dan Hofman wrote:</div>
Crossed last Thursday – 2 of us. Was very surprised that all he asked for was passports, never checked any of the Arrivcan stuff we had ready on the phone.I did claim a box of wine but was mistaken on its size. Agent thought i was wrong and I did check and correct it prior paying duty but I believe my confusion was enough to trigger a minor checkout. All was good and off we went. Gotta be very clear on those details. I knew that. If you have a case of beer state a case of 24, exact number or cigars, exact oz of pipe tobacco, exact number of chew cans, that kind of thing. Hard boiled eggs are ok, I claimed them and no issues.By the way – duty on a $19 box wine was just under $14
Hey Dan, when they take your passport, they scan it and all the information from the ArrivCan App is pulled up! I thought the same thing the first time I went through, I asked the guy about it the second time we went up.
Thanks for the clarification, makes sense.
Just write an exact list of all alcohol and tobacco on board and hand it to the agent. Get’s you a lot less questions than telling them you have “about three and a half cases and four bottles plus a carton of smokes, 4ish tins of chew, and a couple cigars”. They don’t like that.
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