lac seul

[btelectric]

how strict is the no beer in boat law enforced? I don't need to get stupid out there, and I know I'm not alone in saying I like to have a few beers while I'm fishin? come on give me the low down.

[Jimmy Jig]

Well I'd say, help your self, but carry lots of money to pay the fine. I was just up there and was checked three times in 14 days! The wardens now can write for equipment, beer as well as their regular stuff.

[like a beer 2]

Don't do the crime if you can't pay the fine. We find plenty of time to drink at camp.

[Stringbean]

As of June 26th, alcohol offenses will be treated just like a motor vehicle with an open container. Get ready for the handcuffs. No beer for shore lunch either.

[btelectric]

like how steep of fines are we talking about? and there has got to be instances of leniency where people are responsible with it and the co looks the other way

[Skylane]

If drinking is so important that we can't wait until the end of the fishing day to do it, is it possible there may be a problem? It kind of worries me when I read about the importance of alcohol as related to fishing. To read some of the posts we get on this board sometimes about to beer, you would wonder if an outsider reads this that they would class all people that fish in Canada as alcoholics. Cheers, and I'll have a nice red.

[Bor]

Lighten up Skyline. If a guy wants a beer during shore lunch he is not an alcoholic.

Make sure you drive exactly the speed limit when you drive to canada, because if you go a mile over I guess you are a reckless driver and should be banished from the road.

I know it is illegal, but having a few beers in the boat for shorelunch is alot like going 5 over the speed limit. Not a big deal. Now if you are drunk, and drive a boat, then you might have bigger problems.

We were checked on Lac Seul this year and beers was not an issue with the officer.

[Jesse-WI]

We have been checked on average 3 out of 4 years. During the years we were checked, if happened more than once about 1 out of 2 times. The fines are in the area of 200-250 Canada.

You can not have any open container in the boat else you get the fine. Unless they witness the offense, one person can take the fine for everyone.

.08 is the limit so be careful with late nite drinking followed by early fishing. They can also give tickets for imparement where they believe you are over .08 or on some drug they cannot test for.

[Sutsgold]

I have been checked several times in the sioux lookout areas. They are very diligint in checking boats for safety mostly, but they will check you for beer. I have heard that besides fines they have the right to take your equipment and impound your boat, just like they would with your vehicle. We are all responsible drinkers, and because we are we abide by the law and drink when we get back to camp. Regardless, lac seul is a great place. Enjoy your trip.

[Mickey 1]

Are the wardens out on Lac Seul every other day? I'm not planning on drinking until we're done fishing at night, but, I'm a little nervous about what the "boating requirements" are in Canada. I've been checked for safety requirements & licenses many times at home(WI) but as a 1st timer to Lac Seul I certainly don't want to overlook a rule and get ticketed. And from the sounds of it chances are good we will be stopped. I have a whistle, extra rope, enclosed battery boxes, paddle, bailing bucket, working nav lights, anything else I need? Thanks for the info !!

[Whit]

lac seul is not the kind of place you want to be boating even slightly impaired. lots of hazards, big dangerous storms roll in and out, a huge and potentially dangerous lake. we never, never take beer in the boat. now, back at camp, we pound 'em back.

[new hips]

Wev'e been going there for about 6 yrs now and have been checked 3 times, always for fish only. We save the drinking for night time and cards, just some advise, play by their rules, it's their country.

[COULD IT BE]

MICKEY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A THROWABLE CUSHION AND LIFE JACKETS. I'M SURE YOU JUST DIDN'T MENTION THEM WHEN YOU LISTED YOUR SAFTEY GEAR. WE HAVE BEEN ON LAC SUEL MANY TIMES AND WE HAVE BEEN CHECKED JUST ABOUT EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TREATED VERY COURTIOUSLY BY THE OPP AND DNR. MAKE SURE YOU THROW A COOLER IN THE BOAT WITH A BAG OF ICE FOR YOUR FISH, ON LAC SUEL IF YOU BRING A FISH IN THE BOAT WITH INTENTIONS OF KEEPING IT YOU MUST KILL IT. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE FISH KEPT ON ICE WILL KEEP BETTER THAN IF YOU PUT THEM IN THE LIVEWELL AND KEEP PUMPING WARM SURFACE WATER ON THEM. YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE SLOT. ITS THE SLOT THATS MADE LAC SUEL THE GREAT FISHERY IT IS TODAY.I SUGGUEST YOU KEEP NOTHING OVER THE SLOT,TAKE SEVERAL PHOTOS AND GET A REPLICA MADE FOR THAT TROPHY OF A LIFETIME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED BY YOUR OUTFITTER.
SORRY ABOUT THE LONG POST JEFF

[Mickey 1]

Life jackets and throwable seat cushions/flotation gear are always in the boat. What is the "slot" on Lac Seul? I do know about the no live fish in the livewell rule.

[IaCraig]

I like beer too but I leave it at the dock because it would be just my luck that I'd get caught with an open beer and the officer would throw the book at me because he had just recovered a corpse from a alcohol related boat accident

On my soapbox! I am very sick and tired of people using that 5 mph over the speed limit analogy everytime they want to convince themselves it is OK to do something that is against the law or unethical. There is no comparison. You can't compare minor speeding violations to
1. keeping over your limit of fish or game
2. keeping a fish over the legal slot size, or a buck on a doe tag
3. fishing or hunting outside the legal season hours or days.
4. laws dealing with drugs or alcohol.
5. cheating on your taxes
6. cheating on your spouse
7. wearing plaid shorts with a striped shirt anywhere but a golf course
8. and about 50 other ways I've heard people use it on.
:stick:
Off my soapbox.

I wish you Good luck fishing on your trip to Lac Suel

IaCraig

[CH47]

Mickey 1,

The slot refers to the slot size limit on Lac Seul. For walleye you can't keep any fish that fall between 18 - 20.9 inches in length (with tail squeezed). For Pike the slot is 27.5 - 35.4 inches. If you purchase an 8 day sportsmans license your daily limit is 4 fish where only one can be over the slot. This goes for both pike and walleye. You can not keep any muskies on Lac Seul. CPR only.

You should be able to get a color coded slot sticker from your outfitter or camp store. Some guys stick them on their boat but we have a board we stick ours on for quick, easy measurements so as not to stress the fish too much.

Regards,

CH47

[Stringbean]

When we are headed to Lac Seul, I put plugs in the livewell tubing and use them for dry storage. The requirement for not using the livewell is posted at the boatlanding. Its just too hard on the fish. About the beer onboard, you don't need to be impaired when the wind starts to blow and the lake starts to roll. If the waves are coming over the bow of your boat and you're in a 17 footer, you need to get outta there fast.

[btelectricf]

just returned from lac seul had beer in the boat everyday, not a problem had a blast so anyone out there wondering if they can enjoy a few while catching some eyes go ahead enjoy don't pay any attention to those that prefer not to have a cold one on the water.

[FlyInOn20]

Not to rain on "your" parade, but this year (2006) Ontario made it illegel to be under the influence while in a boat. If caught above the "legal" limit, your drivers license will be revoked and if fould guilty you will loose the license for 1 year. Saw this on the CBC news during my last trip.
Did state that beer in the boat was not illegal but open containers or "appearing" under the influence was illegal.
All the times that I have been stopped on Lac Suel, there were both an MNR and police officers in the boat. 1 to check fish and 1 to check for alcohol.
Is it really worth it?
In my case nope....
I can drink at camp or at home. There to fish while on the water!

[walleye scott]

I am sorry-what is wrong with plaid shorts and a striped shirt anywhere? I think they look great with my white tennis shoes and black socks!

[Mark NL]

Been going up for the last ten years and have never been stopped on the lake or checked int camp. Sounds like we've been lucky. As for beer in the boat. I don't allow it in mine for all the reasons stated above.

[Jimmy Jig]

The fine is heavy, if you have to drink during the day I would stay home. And people wonder why they don't let OMVI's in.