Licenses For Mich BFL

[skeeterman190]

 Hey guys was trying to get things in order for the upcoming season. This is gona be the first year fishing the BFL(boater) what licenses and other things as far as paperwork do i need? thanks-skeeterman-

[cr]

Make sure you have your proof of insurance in the boat .

[motocross269]

Going as a boater you will control your own destiny....I would say Canadian for sure, and you can decide as you go if you want Ohio or Walpole....

2 years fishing as a Co I have bought both Ohio and Walpole and never needed them..

[cameraguy]

Isn't one of the tournaments being held at Sandusky Bay.  If so, you need an Ohio license.  The other licenses you should have are;

Michigan
Ontario
Walpole

[FOB]

FYI for everyone - if you are purchasing a Canadian lisc. this year, or in the future, you will also need to purchase a Ontario Sportsman card for I believe $9.00 ( good for 3 years ).  This will put you into their system, and then by this fall you should be able to purchase your lisc. over the internet.  I talked at length with the Conservation Officer from Ontario at the Grand Rapids Show about this.  Pain in the rear up front, but will be worth it in the long run.  
Word of advice though.  If you use a third party to get your lisc., and any of the information is wrong, you are responsible.  I plan on going across the border for the first one just to be sure.

[REEL_MAN]

not sure where it stands right now but it might be good to have your passport or passport card if you plan on crossing over to the Canadian waters. I have mine and I'm planning on having it on board just in case.

REEL MAN

[Buckeye]

Just from experience last year, if you go to the ferry in Algonac, you can take the ferry to Canada, and the Conservation Officers come right to the ferry to sell the licenses.  There fore, you never step foot on Canadian soil, and therefore, won't need a passport. 

"but"....

If you set foot on Canadian soil, you will need one.  I plain on getting a Canadian, Michigan, and I already have my Ohio license.  I'll have to think about a Walpole license.

And, having been a co-angler in the old Buckeye division that fished Erie, I drew a boater who dindn't know if he was running to Michigan or not.  Thankfully, he didn't, but I showed up to the ramp on day 2 of the super tourney and he says to me, "we're running to Michigan".  I said, I don't have my license and you were supposed to call me last night if you were going to run to Michigan so I could purchase a license.  It was messed up. 

I urge everyone to talk at length with their boater.  Get an idea what you might need, and buy it.  This division's tourneys are mainly on water where you might need 4 licenses.  Who wants to sit in the back of the boat and not fish because you don't have a particular license?

Eric

[djkimmel]

Don't buy the conservation license from Ontario either. Last I knew, you could only creel 2 bass with that license. You want the full non-resident fishing license.

[dashaver63]

I had an officer from the Ohio Division of Watercraft inspecting boats at our last club meeting and I asked him about fishing in Canadian waters. As long as you do not anchor, land at a Canadian port, or stop within 15' of any vessel, (that is to say that if you come close enough to pass any kind of parcels, he said mostly the drug traffickers) then you do not need to report. In other words, I would have the passcard, or passpprt or what ever you need.

[motocross269]

Isn't one of the tournaments being held at Sandusky Bay.  If so, you need an Ohio license.  The other licenses you should have are;

Michigan
Ontario
Walpole

That's right I forgot that I didn't fish Sandusky bay last year...It wasn't on my Radar screen

[Mark117]

can anyone tell me why the michigan BFL's have the fewest anglers and have the greatest waters to fish?  oh ya? we need 4 different licenses, we travel from northern michigan to sandusky ohio, we fish two different states (ohio/michigan), and two different countries!!!!! maybe the bfl's should listen to the anglers? hello grand river?

i heard the ohio anglers didn't want to spend the extra money fishing michigan or canadien waters......smart anglers?

let michigan travel to ohio?

                                MARK 1:17
p.s. michigan bfl " the smallmouth trail? "

[REEL_MAN]

I fished as a co-angler for many years and purchased all the licenses needed for the MI division. I never asked my boater if I need this or that license. It wasn't his responsibility. Now going as a boater I'm not going to ask if you have the proper license, I'm not a baby sitter, and I won't change my plan because you didn't get a license!  I've spent to much time and money to change because you didn't prepare. I don't like sounding gruf but the responsibility is yours not the boater.

Dave V

[skeeterman190]

 Thats my concern. Ill have all them. but what if my co doesnt?? do I tell him he cant fish cause hes not got this one?? my main concern would be if i could get in trouble if he doesnt have one. i would hope most know to have all this stuff.

[Mark117]

i loved going to the westside to fish the grand river ? now we have to travel to ohio to fish sandusky bay.... booooooo!

i hope the wind doesn't blow?

[REEL_MAN]

I love the Grand and I hope we go back next year and forget Sandusky. Large mouth are just as much fun as smallies.

REELMAN

[csfishslayer]

You can get a 3 day in Ohio for like 11$ if you don't fish there much that not a bad deal and you can pick when it's starts. or you can buy a non res for like 40$.

[bshaner]

I wonder if launching out of Sandusky but fish entirely in Canada, do you think a person would need an Ohio license?

I dont plan on fishing Ohio waters at all during the Sandusky BFL.  I dont want to spend the money for the Ohio license.

What would be the outcome if I got stopped on Ohio waters on the way back to the launch?  Would the officer believe me when I told him I didnt catch the fish in Ohio, but I possess them in Ohio.

I hope we dont fish Sandusky ever again. 

B

[motocross269]

That is a good question???  I was going to say as long as you didn't have rods out you would be good, but I forgot about bringing fish back into Ohio waters for weigh in...HMMMMM

[csfishslayer]

I would not chance it. I would think b/c you are weighing the fish in ohio you still have to have a tag to posses the fish in ohio waters.

[bshaner]

The way my season went last year, I wont have to worry about possessing them in Ohio anyway.

B