watched some of ur shows on rainy river fishing in the spring and finding slower current around river bends, when going to different sides of the river are you still on the Minn. side or is the border different the farther east you fish? we fish west of Baudette and the border is close to the middle in places or am I reading my GPS wrong
Border is down the middle, you can fish both sides if you have all of the right paper work and nothing in the boat you aren’t supposed to have and everything that you are supposed to have.
Border is down the middle,
The border is NOT down the middle. A good map chip will be close, but I repeat, the border is not down the middle.
Yes if you get an Ontario fishing license and a RABC, ypu can fish both sides.
I know some of the areas James fishes is on the CA side but that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas on the MN side that are just as good.
Check the boating rules in CA if you decides go that route.
Griz,
First off James is down and out recovering seasonal bugs so I don’t think you’ll be hearing from him in the near future.
The above two posts are both correct depending on your prospective.
If you’re boating as in going from one place to the next, using the middle of the river is fine. The fine folks in Canada won’t bother you.
On the other hand, if you are fishing you might want to know where the actual border is. You can loose your boat along with stiff fines and a large delay in your vacation time. Some or all of the above.
Sorry I can’t help you with where they fish but I doubt they are filming in CA as there is an expensive permit for each person to do this. (To be clear, I don’t know where they are fishing)
If you’re boating as in going from one place to the next, using the middle of the river is fine. The fine folks in Canada won’t bother you.
Brian is correct here. I should’ve been more specific. You are allowed to cross the border to navigate but you are not allowed to fish without the paperwork.
Also don’t push your luck. They show up in a flash and they know all the spots to catch people fishing illegally. I’ve seen it happen.
Also, no targeting sturgeon in Canada.
Slower current is relative to the areas around. Some area are ripping and others not so much just look for the little differences in current. Feeding shelves will usually have slower current. It takes time to read the current the more you try things it will become second nature.
The good news is a RABC is no longer needed if you do NOT touch Canadian shore, tie up to another boat while on the Canadian side, anchor down on Canadian side, or Talon/Power Pole down on Canadian side. This is for open water only. Ice fishing is another deal in itself.
You will however need an Ontario fishing license and Ontario outdoors card. Read up on Ontario fishing laws as they differ a little.
Suggest getting a quality chip as mentioned before the middle of River is not the border.
There are plenty of “slack” water area’s on the American side to fish too. Important about fishing any river is being able to read the river, seams, slack water, etc. Lots of different ways to catch fish on the Rainy in the spring…..Under 10 weeks now!!!!!
When did those changes take place Cal?
Cool!!
When did those changes take place Cal?
Cool!!
new for 2018! I called the Fort Frances port of entry and that this what they told me.
Griz,
First off James is down and out recovering seasonal bugs so I don’t think you’ll be hearing from him in the near future.
The above two posts are both correct depending on your prospective.
If you’re boating as in going from one place to the next, using the middle of the river is fine. The fine folks in Canada won’t bother you.
On the other hand, if you are fishing you might want to know where the actual border is. You can loose your boat along with stiff fines and a large delay in your vacation time. Some or all of the above.Sorry I can’t help you with where they fish but I doubt they are filming in CA as there is an expensive permit for each person to do this. (To be clear, I don’t know where they are fishing)
They are definitely fishing on the Ontario side. The current flows from Rainy Lake to LOTW. If you look close you can see the current direction. In all their videos from the Rainy the boat is facing up stream and they are fishing out the port side.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Brian Klawitter wrote:</div>
When did those changes take place Cal?Cool!!
new for 2018! I called the Fort Frances port of entry and that this what they told me.
That appears to be the case, here is a copy and paste from the Canadian Border Services Agency:
New Reporting Exemptions
The reporting requirements for private boaters have changed. You no longer need to report to the CBSA if you meet the reporting exemptions detailed below.
Reporting Exemptions
If you are visiting Canada, you are not required to report 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, and
do not embark or disembark people or goods in Canada.
If you are returning to Canada, you are not required to report to the CBSA if you:
did not land outside Canada and did not anchor, moor or make contact with another conveyance while outside of Canadian waters, and
did not embark or disembark any people or goods while outside Canada.
Awesome! I heard about this last year but wasn’t sure when it went into effect or if it included the RR.
In regard to the chips. Canadian DNR doesn’t care what your chip or track shows. If they deem you to be in Canadian waters don’t argue. Apologize and be polite. Claiming the chip to be correct and getting huffy will just garner you a citation at best. You are a guest in their country. If that will be a problem i suggest staying on the bank of the united states.
Just remember you still need Canadian fishing license, no live bait across the border and no beer or booze in the boat.
we allways try to fish the Minn. side and watch are gps carefully, I just see so many boats on the wrong side and wonder if they have permits to fish there? talked with guys staying at same resort as us and a few of them say they don’t worry about it. I worry about it cause I’m not giving them my boat and I don’t go there to break the law,just trying to get more info on all this
Griz,
If you’re boating as in going from one place to the next, using the middle of the river is fine. The fine folks in Canada won’t bother you.
On the other hand, if you are fishing you might want to know where the actual border is. You can loose your boat along with stiff fines and a large delay in your vacation time. Some or all of the above.
Sounds almost like crossing over into Red Lake MN Reservation waters. 
BTW, BK…you’ve updated your profile pic to look like the rest of the “Pro Staff”. Reminds me of an Olan Mills portrait. 
You get a promotion or are they finally going to put you on the TV show? 
The good news is a RABC is no longer needed if you do NOT touch Canadian shore, tie up to another boat while on the Canadian side, anchor down on Canadian side, or Talon/Power Pole down on Canadian side. This is for open water only. Ice fishing is another deal in itself.
You will however need an Ontario fishing license and Ontario outdoors card. Read up on Ontario fishing laws as they differ a little.
Suggest getting a quality chip as mentioned before the middle of River is not the border.
There are plenty of “slack” water area’s on the American side to fish too. Important about fishing any river is being able to read the river, seams, slack water, etc. Lots of different ways to catch fish on the Rainy in the spring…..Under 10 weeks now!!!!!
Cal, RLHB’s sent me this same info this fall and confirmed it at the SBC open house with Chris Grandrud for fishing Rainy Lake this next year summer. Never fished the Canada side of Rainy. LFTI
Great info, thanks for posting Cal!
Just remember you still need Canadian fishing license, no live bait across the border and no beer or booze in the boat.
And no firearms
I like the changes of not having to report if only boating over. However, other than rainy river spring time (plastics), how do you guys get bait in Canada then? If we head to The Canadian side of rainy on our annual trip but we aren’t allowed to bring live bait which would be enough for me not to cross. Not much interest in trolling. How do you guys remedy this? I’m hoping that I am missing an easy fix here.
Just remember you still need Canadian fishing license, no live bait across the border and no beer or booze in the boat.
I knew about the no alcohol in the boat but I thought you couldn’t fish with minnows. Crawlers in bedding were ok. I thought you could have minnows in the boat but not fishing with them. None on your jigs. What if minnows were purchased in Canada?
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