Dumb question from a Red Neck

[Rangerman]

Just got back from fishing St. Clair and smoked the SM during catch and release. Great time. Looking to come back later this year (700Mile) one way. What the hey is closed season? I understand you can't keep fish, I never do anyway, but can you fish during closed season not that I would, just asking. We don't have to deal with such here in NC and Hell Yes we power load we got good ramps.  that's a little Southern Humor. Thanks guy and y'all come on down when your water gets hard

[motocross269]

IF the LEO watches you catch bass after bass and it is pretty obvious that you are targeting a fish out of season he will write you a ticket....I know a few were given out on LSC last year and there were some write ups on that subject in a few papers....

Check out the "Michigan bass Season" room for more discussion on the Bass season...

[Rangerman]

Thats what I was guessing. Really enjoyed fishing LSC from June 9-17th. Best SMB trip I ever had. Looking forward to coming back this fall late Sept Just got to learn my way around and the the rules you guys got, don't want to leave any extra $$ with the local law. Almost worth the ride for Buddys Pizza

[Big dreams]

I live 2.5 hours away and I have never made the trip.  Something about hauling a boat in the city worries me.  There are too many bad drivers in the country, can't imagine being bumper to bumper.

[fiker]

Being a "country boy" city driving with the boat or not bothers me.  Every Spring it takes a trip or two to get used to it, but it's really not that bad.  St. Jeans is easy to get to, so is the launch at 11 mile.  The DNR launch at Crocker isn't too hard to find either.  Harley Ensign isn't that far off of the E way either.

The trick for me is to leave a little earlier to beat some of the work traffic.  I then get off the lake about 1:30ish and beat the work traffic home. 

I must be doing something right.  One day I drove next to JVD for about 10 miles on the way down.   

[Skulley]

In the fall, Erie really lights up. Big smallies move up and getting a Canadian license is a good idea. There are some good spots on Erie in Michigan waters too but you'll want to have that Canadian option.

I've launched at St. Jeans. Getting there is always an adventure. I've been fishing out along the south shore in Canadian water and have been still had some steady catching. South shore of LSC can light up as well.



BD.                             

[Rangerman]

How much is the Candian Non Res. Fishing Licence?? and whats the deal about crossing from US to there side, told you got to go to customs and then to US customs in returning. Which to me is a real pain the butt if you don't get out of the boat. But Da Law is Da Law. Ding Dong sure don't want to spend no time in a Yankey Jail or Locked up a broad beside the Candians take a real dim view of a pistol packing Bass Hole from NC

[Skulley]

A non resident Canadian license is about $65 for the season. When crossing by boat, you must stop at where you are crossing and call Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) and call. You are responsible for your passengers and reporting in for them. I haven't heard of anyone who has called being asked to report to a Canadian port-of-call for inspection. That doesn't mean it can't and won't happen.




BD.                             

[Firefighter Jeff]

  I think a weekly or 10 day license is also a option.  They also used to have a conservation license.  Using it you are only allowed to keep like two bass per day.  Since you catch and release, that's not a issue and they are cheaper than the other licenses.
  If you are making a 700 mile trip I think it is well worth buying a Canadian license just to give you more options. Weather is a big influence in the fall, so if you have more areas to fish, the better. 

[Waterfoul]

I live 2.5 hours away and I have never made the trip.  Something about hauling a boat in the city worries me.  There are too many bad drivers in the country, can't imagine being bumper to bumper.

Do what I do (I also live 2.5 hours away).  Go EARLY... fish ALL DAY... and leave LATE.  Avoid the morning and afternoon rush.

Or we have been known to get a hotel room so we don't have to leave at all!

[djkimmel]

At the moment, it is illegal in both Michigan and Ontario to target any fish during its closed season. We are working on bringing them into the modern era but it is slow and frustrating work. Walpole Indians have basically the same regulations as Ontario with an exception mentioned below during their hunting season.

The power-loading issue is because we haven't, in general, diked off our launch ramp construction areas to extend the concrete out into the lakes. 'We' apparently prefer to build our ramps in a way that ignores the modern era of drive-on trailers and so we can spend time and money repairing them often... Many of our ramps are just concrete planks or even gravel/rock so heavy power-loading does cause some of them to collapse. Most of the major St. Clair ramps are concrete but they have short aprons. At all MDNR ramps, having the motor above idle on your trailer can get you a ticket. WARNING: at Elizabeth Park (country ramp), having your outboard in gear on the trailer can even get you a ticket. Especially if you have a 'flashy' bass boat.

If you drive your boat by water into Ontario waters, you need to stop and call 1-888-CANPASS (226-7277) as soon as your boat crosses the international border - get a NOAA chart or a good map card on your graph to determine that (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/canpassprivateboat-eng.html). The fishing can be pretty good in places on the US side of the lake if you want to avoid that. The Ontario side can get really good from mid-September until ice up. It is best to have your passport, enhanced drivers license and/or certified copy of birth certificate on you just in case. Never had to use mine but I have them with since they are mentioned as necessary on the Canadian border website. Everyone in the boat needs to have some type of proof of citizenship.

DO NOT PACK A PISTOL if you decide to try Ontario waters. Leave it somewhere. The Canadians are pretty friendly overall so you'll be safe. The main lake is fine. The Canadians do have some different laws on riparian rights in canals and other enclosed areas though so if for some reason you ever find yourself entering an island canal or canal off the lake that is posted private, no trespassing, go somewhere else. The good fishing is mostly out in the lake anyway.

If you come later than mid-September, and fish the Northern part of the lake and in/around the channels, be aware that you may need a Walpole Indian fishing license also and once they get close to their duck season you cannot fish inside their stakes - mainly outside of the main river channel and inshore areas from the shipping channel over to the edge of Mitchells Bay. Usually around September 15 inside the stakes is closed to fishing the Walpole Reservation waters. Tons of good water to fish without going inside the 'stakes' or leaving the channel edges.

If you do not plan to keep any fish, get the Ontario conservation license as suggested. The only difference is the reduced creel which does not affect someone who only practices catch and release. To buy an Ontario fishing license, you need to buy an Outdoors card first. They last 3 years for about $10 CA and are their method to allow more automation and electronic reading of licenses. You can get your Ontario fishing Outdoors Card from http://ontario.ca/outdoorscard (info; direct link:  ; Outdoors Card Help - 800-387-7011). (Note: there are separate hunting and fishing cards - the hunting card is more difficult to get and includes fishing but you only need the hunting card if you ever plan to hunt in Ontario.)

Once you purchase your Ontario fishing Outdoors Card, you can get a fishing license online if you have a printer available and free Adobe PDF Reader 4.0 or newer - you can print your actual license right away and be all set for fishing: https://www2.on.wildlifelicense.com/index_hf.php

Or you can call 800-667-1940 to order a license that will be mailed to you. I believe this number still works. There aren't any places on the US side of the Lake St. Clair to get Ontario licenses immediately though you can there are two places that you can call ahead of time who purchase your license and then you can pick them up from them later that week. They can get you a Walpole license also and sometimes have those 'in stock.'

Ontario has the following non-resident fishing license options as of today, all except the 1-day in either the regular Sport fishing or Conservation reduced-creel variety: 1-day (Sport only), 8-day, 1-year and 3-year. The 8-day Conservation non-resident fishing license is less than $29 CA.

The 8-day license is 8 consecutive 24 days starting at 12am. You can enter the starting date you want the license good for when you order it.

Luckily, the fishing on Lake St. Clair is well worth the complications of non-scientifically supported closed seasons, international borders, urban traffic and ramps not designed to acknowledge modern boating as well as they should. Also, the local businesses are getting on board very well lately with the idea of attracting more anglers to Lake St. Clair.

[djkimmel]

You know? "Dumb questions from a redneck" would make for a funny new section on the forum?? Maybe not...

[Genie]

Dan Kimmel for mDNR president!

[Rangerman]

Thanks for all the info, now I know what I have to do, what and what not to do. Sure Nuff Thanks, y'all come on down when your water gets hard. Yep I knew the Candians have a very dim view on hand guns and even long guns Looking forward to getting back up in late Sept. Just kidding ya guys about your ramps I was thinking y'all used a softer concrete I'll pack my passport, flares, and more money for the next trip. I never keep any of the fish anytime. Strong believer in Catch and Release. All Ya Ole Boys are invited to the LKN Rally Rally here on Lake Norman in Oct. 25,26 and 27, 2012. We don't catch as many fish but we sure do eat and drink good and tell lots of lies and drink a little shine BBT thats bassboattalk not the Socialist network Eh!

[bsimpson]

I know you have to stop and call the Canadians as soon as you cross into their waters, but do you have to stop and call the Americans when you return and cross back into the good ole' USA?

[djkimmel]

I know you have to stop and call the Canadians as soon as you cross into their waters, but do you have to stop and call the Americans when you return and cross back into the good ole' USA?

ONLY if you LAND in Ontario by the 'old' Canadian definition is my understanding from my last discussion with US Customs, and from web review. This is no guaranty because things can change any day and I may not be aware of it. As far as I know, the US side is still going by landing in Canada meaning anchoring (some say yes, a few say no), tying off to or boarding a Canadian vessel/dock or stepping foot on Canadian soil like a marina dock or shore.

If you do not 'land' in Canada by the original definition we were all lead to believe, you are not required to call in at one of the special US marina-located phones or a US Customs crossing location.

There is no designated phone number to call for the US from your cell for the average boater. A few extra programs can grant you some improvement in this process but all of the programs require that EVERYONE on the vessel be a party to the particular program. If you land in Canada (get gas, go to the store, go on shore to buy a license, anchor, tie to a dock or a Canadian boat) you either have to re-enter US shore at one of the US Customs checkpoints or proceed directly to one of the specially designated phones at various marinas to call in to US Customs. You can't call from your cell phone or from some other phone when you get on shore. I don't have the link handy right now, but there is a link showing where the official call-in phones are marinas are located on the US shore. My advice is to never land in Canada on a day of fishing, especially a tournament day, if you can help it.

The burden of proof on whether you landed or not is on you. US Border patrol could still claim that you landed, or may have landed, and ask you to report to an agent or border checkpoint (Algonac, Marine City, Detroit, etc.) but that is extremely rare for anglers.

I have asked previously if you could show them a track from your GPS/Graph and they didn't say that would be sufficient proof that you did not land. If someone reports that your vessel landed or they believe they witnessed you land, you may hear from them. Remember, both US and Canada have programs asking citizens and other boaters to report behavior they think is suspicious. US Customs has sent out letters in the past to owners of vessels that were reported or seen landing in Canada that they had no record of someone reporting in from that same day. Do not think because no one is around that you won't be seen. My friend who got such a letter never saw anyone yet somehow they knew the date and time that he stepped on shore from his bass boat to buy a few things from a store. This was in a remote area.

I have also had a tiny number of people tell me they were told they had anchored because they had a rope in the water but what they claimed they had was a sea anchor not an actual anchor on the bottom. Again, the burden of proof will be on you but if you are polite and respectful you increase your odds. The only single case I know of a bass angler getting in trouble with US Customs and border patrol was someone who was not respectful and not cordial. For a while, things did not go well for him. The odds are not in your favor if they take a disliking to you...

Other than that, I only know of a few people who were told verbally or by letter that they landed but did not report and could be subject to action. Very rare.

Always carry some type of official citizenship document with you on border waters. Don't land and not report. Don't put your boat up against Canadian vessels if you do not need to for an emergency or something. Be polite and respectful if you are ever approached. Odds are you will just enjoy the great fishing out there.

[Rangerman]

Looks like the best thing for this Fat Boy is not cross the Sea Buoy Line  This gets deeper and deeper.

[djkimmel]

Once you have all the info it's not that big a deal for the hundreds or thousands of anglers who do it all the time. As long you have identification on you that proves citizenship and you just go fishing, you'll be okay. Just make the call as you go into Canadian water and stay in your boat fishing. No problems for 99.9999999999999% of the anglers who do this.

[Skulley]

There are no dumb questions.....even if your a redneck.




BD.                       

[cameraguy]

...What the hey is closed season?...We don't have to deal with such here in NC and Hell Yes we power load we got good ramps...Thanks guy and y'all come on down when your water gets hard

Our bass season has been set up by people who think that it is more important to make it easier for DNR enforcement than individual liberty. There is no scientific basis for the season as it stands now.

Also, Michigan insists on building ramps the same ignorant way they have always built them as if the outside world doesn't exist and that they can't travel to other states or get advice from people who KNOW HOW to build them BETTER!

My parents lived in the great state of NC for about 15 years, in Kernersville. I always enjoyed my trips there although I didn't go fishing there very much. However, I did rent a jonboat from a tackle shop on Lake Norman. The beast of a boat had no motors and I look back now and have to laugh as I had my poor arthritic mother wrestle with the oars to maneuver the heavy tub as I implored her to get me close to some docks so I could throw a plastic worm under them. She went along with it but I think she secretly wanted to club me over the head with one of those oars. God rest her soul.