Crossing into Canada for a fishing or hunting trip.
Passports, firearm declarations, licences, live bait and what to sort out long before you book.
Almost everyone who fishes or hunts at Muskie Bay drives up from the United States, and the border is the part of the trip people ask about most. It is not complicated, but a few things have to be handled weeks ahead rather than at the booth, and one of them can end a trip before it starts.
Here is what actually matters when you plan a trip to Muskie Bay Resort in Nestor Falls, Ontario.
Check admissibility before you book, not before you drive
This is the one that catches people out, so it goes first. A past criminal conviction can make you inadmissible to Canada, and that includes impaired driving. It does not matter how long ago it was or that you have crossed without trouble before. Border officers see the record and make the call at the booth.
There are ways to resolve it, including rehabilitation applications and temporary resident permits, but they take time and paperwork. If anyone in your group has something on their record, look into it before you put a deposit down rather than three weeks before your dates. Current guidance is on the Government of Canada immigration site.
What you need to get across
US citizens crossing by land need a valid passport. A NEXUS card or an enhanced driver's licence is accepted at land crossings where it applies. Bring the document, not a photo of it.
Most of our guests come through Fort Frances or Baudette and drive in from there. Have your dates, where you are staying and who you are travelling with ready to answer plainly. Officers ask, and a clear answer moves things along.
Bringing a firearm for a hunt
If you are coming for a whitetail deer hunt or an Ontario bear hunt, your firearm has to be declared. You fill out a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, RCMP form 5589, which currently costs $25 CAD and covers any number of firearms listed on it. It is valid for 60 days.
You can fill the form in ahead of time, but do not sign it. It has to be signed in front of the border services officer. Bring it printed and unsigned, with your firearms listed accurately, and the stop takes minutes instead of an hour.
You must be at least 18 to hold the firearm licensing, and some firearms are prohibited from entering Canada entirely. Check the current Canada Border Services and RCMP guidance against your specific firearm before you load the truck.
Licences and tags
Every non-resident angler needs an Ontario Outdoors Card and a non-resident fishing licence. Both can be bought online before you travel, which is what we recommend, though they are also available locally. Hunters need the appropriate licence plus a species tag, and bear hunters need a validation certificate issued by a licensed operator.
That last point surprises American hunters regularly. Ontario requires every non-resident black bear hunter to hunt through an operator licensed to provide bear hunting services. It is not a licence you buy and a spot you choose. We cover how that works on the bear hunt page.
Live bait, firewood and your boat
Rules on bringing live bait and firewood across the border, and on moving them within Ontario, exist to slow the spread of invasive species and disease. They change. Do not rely on what a friend told you worked three seasons ago. Check the current Ontario Ministry and Canada Border Services guidance the month you travel.
If you are trailering your own boat, arrive with it clean, drained and dry. Pull the plug, empty the livewell and bilge, and remove any weed from the trailer before you leave home. Bring your registration and proof of ownership or insurance. You will declare the boat like any other vehicle.
What you do not need to worry about
Once you are here, the paperwork is done. Our rates include lodging and, on American Plan packages, all meals, so there is no scramble for groceries in a town you do not know. Boats, gas, GPS and tackle are handled on the guided, semi-guided and self-guided packages. All of it is laid out on the rates page.
If anything above is unclear for your group, call Paul at 807-271-3015. He has walked several hundred American guests through this and would rather answer a question in September than sort out a problem at the booth in October.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to fish in Ontario as a US citizen?
Yes. Every US guest crossing into Canada by land needs a valid passport, or a NEXUS card or enhanced driver's licence where those are accepted. Bring the physical document.
Can I bring my rifle into Canada for a hunt?
Yes, with a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, RCMP form 5589. It currently costs $25 CAD, covers any number of firearms listed on it and is valid for 60 days. Fill it in ahead of time but sign it in front of the border services officer. Some firearms are prohibited entirely, so check current Canada Border Services and RCMP guidance against your specific firearm.
Will a DUI stop me getting into Canada?
It can. A past criminal conviction, including impaired driving, can make you inadmissible regardless of how long ago it was. There are routes to resolve it, but they take time, so look into it before you book rather than before you drive.
Where do I buy an Ontario fishing licence?
Online through the Ontario Ministry before you travel, which is what we recommend, or locally once you arrive. Non-resident anglers need both an Outdoors Card and a fishing licence.
Can I bring live bait across the border?
Rules on live bait and firewood change and are enforced to limit the spread of invasive species. Check the current Ontario Ministry and Canada Border Services guidance in the month you travel rather than relying on a previous trip.
Which border crossing should I use for Nestor Falls?
Most guests come through Fort Frances or Baudette and drive in from there. Call Paul at 807-271-3015 if you want a route suggestion from where you are starting.
When does ice fishing season start in Ontario?
Safe ice on Crow Lake usually arrives in early to mid January, and the reliable window runs through mid March. Late January and February are the most consistent. In Fisheries Management Zone 5 walleye reopens January 1 and lake trout is open from January 1 to September 30, so a midwinter trip lets you target both.
How far in advance should I book an ice fishing trip?
Book prime February weekends six to nine months out. Ice fishing capacity is smaller than open water because it runs on fish houses and sled access rather than boats, so the good dates go early. If you are reading this in the fall, you are right on time for the coming winter.
What should I pack for ice fishing in Ontario?
Layer for standing still rather than hiking: a base layer, a mid layer, an insulated bib and parka, insulated waterproof boots rated well below freezing, a warm hat, liner gloves under heavy mitts, and ice cleats. Bring polarized sunglasses and sunscreen, since glare off snow is stronger than people expect. Also bring your passport and your Ontario licence.
Do I need my own ice fishing gear?
Not on the Premier package, where rods, tackle and electronics are provided. On the Semi-Guided package the fish house, propane heater and flasher are included and most guests bring their own rods and jigs.
Can you drive to Muskie Bay in winter?
Yes. We are a drive-to resort at 2740 Muskie Bay Road in Nestor Falls, so there is no floatplane and no gear weight limits. Most guests cross at International Falls and Fort Frances, then drive north on Highway 71. Winter road maintenance in this part of Ontario is good.