Are You Thinking Of Going To Canada?

By Gordy Johnson - July 20, 2005

A Beautiful Canadian Sunset

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Over the years I have been asked about going to Canada by just about every Esox enthusiast that has never been there. Everyone that has ever asked me questions on the subject, at the mere mention of the word "Canada", had a reverent look in their eye like we were going to be talking about some unobtainable vacation where the fish were always huge and literally jumped into the boat. I have had people say, "it must be great to catch a good fish on every cast" or "Of course you caught a big musky, you went to Canada". I must admit that I was also filled with these expectations and the belief that it would be a once in a life time trip if I ever had a opportunity to go. God's Beauty

Canada is truly a fantastic place and that is why I have been going at least twice a year for almost 20 years now; however I would like to clear up some misconceptions and provide some information as to what you typically can expect. I will discuss the truths you should know before you go, crossing the border, the fishing and coming home.

If you are considering Canada for a fishing trip here are some of the things you may or may not know. First of all it is not exotic or unreachable for the average guy. Like in the States, the pricing for stays in Canada vary from the inexpensive to super expensive and everything in between. A general rule of thumb is that the more remote the location, the more expensive the stay. Again, like with the States, there are those places that are not that remote that are considerably expensive because they either offer amenties or wish to distinguish themselves as being exclusive. Amenties could include maid service, complete guide service, specialized meals, fish cleaning, etc., etc. If you can think of special amentity somebody is providing it with an obvious cost associated with it. The good news is that if you are going to be driving in, more often than not you can have access to exactly the same water for a wide range of different prices depending on where you choose to stay. Fly-in trips are more expensive than those you can drive too, and you will be restricted on what you can take in, as it has to be transported in the plane along with you. You need to contact the resort owner as to limitations on the size and weights of equipment that will be allowed.

Accommodations, again as with the States, offer housekeeping (you do your own cooking, dishes, and make up your own beds), American Plan (meals and maid service provided), or modified American Plan where some meals maybe provided with/without Housekeeping Cottage Kitchen Area

maid service. A lot of places offer packages where they will assemble different services for various prices. I should also mention that many of the resorts quote their prices in U.S. Dollars. This is done for several reasons: first, most visitors to the resort are from the U.S. and secondly many of the resort owners actually reside in the States during the winter. One other thing should be mentioned is that rates in many locations are quoted on a per person basis (usually American Plan) or will specify the number that must stay in a cabin. Example: The rate for a two bedroom housekeeping cabin is $100 per day per person, with a four person minimum. This means that the resort owner expects to get $2,800 per week for the cabin. That was just an example, but it points out how the rate structure can work. As you can also see that you definitely need to watch the prices if you are going as a family. Again it is important to bear in mind that the rates vary greatly from one resort to the next.

You should also be aware that better resorts are pretty well booked, so make contact early (a year in advance isn't to early) and don't be surprised if there are quite a few prime weeks completely booked. There are also those places that you can contact at a moments notice to make arrangements. Another general rule of thumb is more remote locations require more advanced reservations.

The actual cost of accomodations are pretty typical with that in the States, so don't panic if the first place you checkout is high, keep looking to find something you can afford. There are three other things that you should be aware of when booking the trip. The price of the accommodations is one factor into the total cost, but there are other charges you will pay. If you are bringing your own boat, most resort owners charge a daily docking charge, usually $8.00 - $12.00 per day. They may also charge for launching the boat as well. Also, be advised that you will have to pay taxes on all the charges. Example, Ontario has a combined tax of GST and PST (General Sales Tax and Provincial Sales Tax respectively) of approximately 15%. Foreign visitors can reclaim the GST tax on lodging and goods only, which I will discuss later. If you are not bringing your boat and want to use a resort provided boat, that is additional. Many places in Wisconsin provide a boat with the cottage, not in Canada. In Canada the boat and motor and usually some allotment of gas, will run $60.00 a day and higher. The price can be equivalent to what you will pay for the cabin on a weekly basis. Speaking of gas, the price of gas in Canada has always been higher than that of the States. The last time I was in Canada, the price of a litre was approximately $1.00 Canadian or roughly $4.00 a gallon. This figure is dated, so I wouldn't be surprised if that hasn't gone up as well. If you are running a larger engine this cost can be significant. Over the years I paid an average of $350 to $400 for a two week stay, just for gas for my boat. I have a 90 horse engine, and I really don't do a great deal of running. If you think about it, the cost is for about 100 gallons of gas. Thinking about it for a period of 13 days, that is less than 8 gallons a day.

Crossing the border is another thing that needs to be discussed from several standpoints. First, if you are planning on staying on the U.S. side the night before and then crossing in the morning, let me tell you you better have reservations made way in advance for virtually any place offering accommodations on the border. The first year I went I assumed that you could just go to a motel, and I saw plenty of them in the yellow pages. What I didn't think was that everyone would be booked on Friday nights during the fishing season. If you are planning on crossing the border on Saturday morning, the wait times can be several hours long during the prime time (9:00 A.M. till about noon). Once you have made it to the customs booth you might be asked to provide some documents, such as a valid driver's license and birth certificate. Other documents such as car and boat registration should also be taken. It has also been stated that you maybe asked for proof of insurance. I have never been asked for documents going into Canada, but it is always best to be prepared. Canada has become increasely strict on people that drink and drive. I know of two seperate cases (no pun intended), where a person had been previously convicted of a DWI or DUI (driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence) and was not allowed to cross the border. If you have have been convicted, I would only say to check with Canadian Customs ahead of time. When crossing the border answer all of the questions honestly. The border guards are trained to spot liars or people that are not totally forthcoming so being honest is the best policy. Going into Canada they typically ask you:

Where do you live?

Are you a U.S. citizen?

Where are you going?

How long do you plan on being in Canada?

Are you carrying any firearms?

Are you carrying any tobacco or alcohol beverages. These items are not illegal, but the quantities are limited before import duty is charged.

They ask if you have any live bait?

They ask if you are bringing anything in the country you don't intend to bring back?

The last two years I have been asked if I had any potatoes? Yes, potatoes! Apparently there has been a disease on some potatoes from the States and the Canadians will confiscate any raw potatoes that you have.

I have also been asked about the quantity of gas that I was bringing into Canada.

When all is said and done, it is possible that you will be asked to pull off to the side where customs officials will search your car, boat, etc. Obviously any lies you told could come back to haunt you if you are searched. One other thing, radar detectors are illegal in Canada. They can be confiscated and tickets issued, so don't have them displayed or operational in Canada.

A lot of people wonder if they should exchange their money for Canadian dollars. I generally go with this rule of thumb, exchange at the government office at the border and get only what you know you will spend. I always error on the conservative side as I don't like paying to change back unused currency when I go back home. I have never found any place that I have been in Canada where they wouldn't take U.S. currency. If you use U.S. currency, businesses will not give you the same rate of exchange as the government office, but it is usually pretty close.

A fishing license is required in Canada and is typically sold in two lengths of duration and two types. The two durations are weekly or seasonal and the types are conservation or regular. Many resorts have been including a weekly conservation license as part of the cost of your stay. You should ask your resort owner if that is the case. The conservation license differs from a regular license in that the limits of fish you can keep are significantly reduced. If you are not contemplating on keeping a lot of fish, the conservation license is cheaper.

I will not attempt to stipulate all of the fishing rules in Canada, as they change frequently. Please read the regulations that you are given with the license carefully. The regulations are difficult to interpret as a single lake can have multiple rules on a single specie depending where you are on the lake. This is further complicated as the rules are in several places in the book. Again, I would suggest you discuss any questions with your resort owner. A couple of things that have been pretty standard in Ontario is that you are only allowed to fish with one rod, and trolling is legal. I have seen several people from the States believe that they have the same rules in Canada, THEY DON'T!!! It is also illegal in Canada to have any open intoxicate in the boat.

Now, lets discuss the fishing.  As a general statement, fishing can be better in Canada than in the many places in the States.   With that said, it is not a fish on every cast and every fish is not a monster.  You                              Uncrowded Lakes

can get as easily skunked in Canada as you can in the States.  Going to Canada is not a guarantee that you are going to catch fish.  All of the things you know to find fish in the States are needed in Canada as well, and often more so.   A lot of lakes in Canada are much, much larger than most of the inland lakes in the U.S. consequently you are fishing bigger bodies of water, which means the fish have a much bigger area to roam and can be harder to find.   To me going to Canada means two things: first I will be on water capable of producing a trophy fish, and secondly I will not be crowded on the water by a ton of boats.   When you are on a large lake, whether in Canada or elsewhere, you don't learn to fish the lake, you learn to fish a section of it.  I have been fishing Lake of the Woods for about 20 years, the last 14 years on Sabaskong Bay out of Nestor Falls.   I have come to know know maybe an 8 mile radius fairly well.   Sure, I have explored further out (the lake is 100 miles long and probably 40+ miles            Good Fishing is Available

wide), but you soon realize that there is just to much lake to know and you waste valuable fishing time traveling to remote spots.   Another thing definitely needs to be mentioned, it is real easy to get lost on a Canadian lake.   There are many, many islands and on a huge lake you can easily get turned around.  If you are not getting a guide, start out slowly venturing short distances and get to know the area.   It is also highly advisable to get a good map, compass, and a GPS if you are going any distances.  If you are going to use a GPS, leave it on so that you can follow your track back.   While traveling on the water, be advised that Canadian waters have many shoals or rocks that can take-out your motor quicker than a blink of an eye.  You can be in 100 feet of water one second and scrapping the bottom of boat the next.   Another rule of thumb, don't take anything for grant it when it comes for safe navigation, being far from shore is not a guarantee of deep water.

When you pay your bill at the resort you will be given an invoice which will break down your charges such as lodging, dockage, gas, bait, etc. This is important as you can reclaim the GST tax on the lodging. Many resort owners will provide you with the form you will need to make this claim or you can pick one up at the Government Tourist Office at the border. Make sure you hang onto all of your invoices for gifts and/or keepsakes as you can reclaim the GST on those as well (food, gas and services are excluded). This rebate can amount to a good deal of money so just don't think it isn't worth doing. I have also found that some resort owners will charge the GST and then subtract it off the bill so you don't have to claim it, but are getting immediate credit.

When coming back home you will have to clear U.S. Customs to come back to the States. The wait time coming out of Canada can rival the time it took you to get into Canada. Usually the rush hour is on Saturday and starts in earnest about 10:00 A.M. The requirements coming back into the States are becoming more strict as time goes on, especially since 9-11. In years prior, if you were even asked, a valid drivers license would get you across the border. Currently, don't be surprised if you are asked for a birth certificate and another means of identification. It is been stated that in the not to distant future, you maybe required to have a passport. Passports are relatively inexpensive and are good for 10 years (in the U.S.), so it maybe prudent to arrange for a passport before you go. It may also be required to get into Canada at some point as well. The rules can change on a moments notice, so it is better to error on having everything in order. U.S. Customs typically goes quicker than the Canadian counterparts. They typically will ask:

Where do you live?

Are you a U.S. citizen?

How long have you been in Canada?

How many people are travelling with you?

Did you buy anything in Canada that you are bring back with you?

Has anybody given you anything to take back to the States?

Are you bringing back any fish?

As I have stated earlier, they want identification for everyone and a passport is the best form that you can have. They also have been checking under boat covers for any individuals that might be hiding there. The last two trips that I have taken to Canada where I have had my boat, I have been asked to drive through a device that literally X-rays the boat looking for people and/or other illegal materials. It is quick and you are on your way quickly.

Going to Canada is definitely a great thing to do. Most problems aren't problems if you use some common sense and are prepared for the trip. Hopefully this article has answered some of the questions that you have. Please understand that this article isn't the Gospel on travel to Canada, I would strongly suggest talking with your resort owner, checking with customs, and getting any updates on laws and/or fishing regulations as part of your preparations for the trip. Have fun, catch lots of fish, and let us know how you did.

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Last updated on ... July 25, 2005