Things opened up Monday for U.S. recreational boaters and anglers motoring over the U.S./Canadian border on Upstate New York waterways such as the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario and the Niagara River – specifically, those who didn’t stop on Canadian soil, anchor or make contact with another boat.
The Canadian government recently announced that as of Aug. 9 fully vaccinated individuals will once again be able to cross the U.S./Canadian border into Canada. However, the U.S. hasn’t reciprocated with the same date, saying will be continuing its travel restrictions on the Canadian and Mexican borders until Aug. 21.
As part of the new Canadian border policy, under the category of “Entering Canadian Waters for Leisure Cruising,” individuals can now enter Canada for leisure and touring, including pleasure fishing, sightseeing and other discretionary purposes (known as loop movements),” according to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) website.
However, one must:
*Continuously remain on your boat while in Canadian waters;
*Not land in Canada;
*Not make contact with another boat, and
* Not moor or anchor while in Canada waters.
If at any point “you land on Canadian soil, come in contact with another boat or drop anchor, you will be required to report to the CBSA and if you’re eligible to enter Canada, you will become subject to all entry requirements including pre-arrival testing and submitting your mandatory information into ArriveCAN.”
The bottom line, though, is that “travelers engaged in transit or loop movements are not required to report to the CBSA,” according to the new regulations that took effect Monday. And if you’re fishing on the Canadian side, you’ll need a Canadian fishing license.
It’s been a frustrating past year and half for anglers and recreational boaters on waterways such as the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario and the Niagara River that have the U.S./Canadian border running through them. The border on the waterways has been closed. Those caught on the Canadian side ran the risk in a worse-case scenario of having their boat confiscated and being fined by Canadian law enforcement officials.
Anglers in the recent Bassmaster Elite Series competition on the St. Lawrence River were not allowed to fish on the Canadian side.
Adding to the frustration to those on the American side was the fact that Canadian recreational boaters, tour boats and anglers who crossed over the American side and didn’t touch ground or anchored were not hassled by law enforcement officials.
“Last year we lost a full season of fishing on the Canadian side. Currently, we’ve lost half of this season,” said Phil Flora, of Flora Fishing Charters out of Alexandria Bay on the St. Lawrence River last week. “August is my favorite time to be over there (on the Canadian side) to fish for bass. And it’s also the best place for walleye and muskie – particularly the 40-Acre Shoals area.”
“The Canadians play by their own rules. You’re always looking over your shoulder when you’re over there.”
A call and email Monday by this reporter to the press office of the Canadian Border Services was answered by an email directing any questions concerning recent changes in Canadian policy to the CBSA website.
Frank Campbell, long-time charter boat captain and director of outdoor promotions for Destination Niagara USA in Niagara Falls, said he’s been receiving phone calls from fishing guides and anglers about whether it’s now OK for U.S. anglers to fish on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.
“I tell them, ‘It would appear so,’ but also advise them to call (the Canadian side) and to look into things themselves before going out,” he said. “I’ve had things change on the day that you’re out there. It’s crazy.”
Corey Fram, director of tourism for the Thousands Islands Tourism Council, said he’s also been also fielding calls from anglers and recreational boaters about the issue of being on the Canadian side with their crafts.
He said anecdotally he’s heard that things are opened up, noting this past about weekend boaters who crossed the U.S. Canadian border and were confronted by Canadian law enforcement officials, but that another American who traveled over on the Canadian side Monday was not.
Like Campbell, Fram suggested any boater or angler with doubts should call the local Canadian Border Services Agency or Ontario Provincial Police office before heading over as an added precaution.
Meanwhile, one Central New York resident who crossed the Canadian border Monday by car said she didn’t run into any problems.
Terri Parrow Botsford, of Chittenango, and her husband, Todd, went to Canada to celebrate Botsford’s birthday. She said had to go online beforehand and answer questions on the ArriveCan App, supply information that she and her husband were both vaccinated and provide proof that both had tested negative for Covid within the past three days. At the border both had to present their passports and were questioned about what type of Covid test they had received.
She said it took about 1 hour, 45 minutes to get through.
From there, they drove to nearby Gananoque, Ontario, where they had lunch, and took a Canadian boat tour that stopped at 7-8 boat wreck sites along the river, including one that “my father and two of his friends were the first to find while scuba diving in 1960.” The boat cruised on both sides of the border, including around Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay, she said.
Returning to Gananoque, they then had dinner and drove home.
Botsford noted she has vaccinated Canadian friends who are “frustrated” that they’re not allowed yet to cross the border into New York “until at least Aug. 21.”
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