Fish check north of Fort Francis

[Hawki]

Just curious how many have been stopped? The past two years we've seen it on the way up on Saturday. Is it random or every Saturday? We follow the rules so not looking to evade. We've heard the wait times can be long so it impacts our thought process on when we leave to head home.

[REG]

We went for years without getting checked and then got stopped on the outskirts of Ft Frances last year on a Sat am. And then this year - same Sat. return (June 9) - get pulled over at the same place again!

Certainly not a problem - dug out the licences and the cooler - everyone was friendly and professional and we were on our way after maybe 15-20 minutes.

I would say that we were there around 7:30am or so - but we know from another member of our group that they were still open for business around noon when they came through..

Almost no wait at the border - 10 minutes tops. We actually waited way longer for our McDonald's order in Intl Falls than the MNR and border stops combined. We vowed to never bother with that McD's again.

[tv4fish]

We have never been stopped outside of Fort Frances (we go up to Sioux Lookout). We HAVE been stopped numerous times just south of Dryden. They don't have much room there, so if they have a few vehicles already pulled over, they will just wave you through. When they are stoppping people, they have the OPP there in numbers also.

[Bitinlight]

Returned from Lac Seul on Saturday, June 9. Fish check station was just outside of Fort Francis. We got there about 11:45 a.m. Took only 10 minutes. They were very friendly. Having your fish handy and packaged properly really speeds up the process. This was the first time in 30 plus years of fishing Canada that I have been checked. No wait at all at the border.

[Ten Horse Johnson]

9 trips in last 12 years and never been stopped for fish check. However, we have been randomly selected for a full search of our car when entering Canada on two occasions. They went through everything and took out things that we had carefully packed to maximize space. They offered no help in putting stuff back in.

[rockape]

I have been checked or waived through the checkpoint 3 years in a row just nort of Fort Frances. They are serious and will take your fish out and count them. Be sure to leave skin on your fillets, and if they are frozen, only one fish per bag. I asked the MNR guy about violations, and he quickly replied that 8% are in violation in some way. I asked him if he busted anyone over the limit that day, and he said someone had 17 over the limit!!!! Wow! Don't gamble. You will get checked. They were nice and all and no issues other than the ticks in the grass at the checkpoint.

[Pikeslayer8]

Originally Posted by Bitinlight

Returned from Lac Seul on Saturday, June 9. Fish check station was just outside of Fort Francis. We got there about 11:45 a.m. Took only 10 minutes. They were very friendly. Having your fish handy and packaged properly really speeds up the process. This was the first time in 30 plus years of fishing Canada that I have been checked. No wait at all at the border.

We got back to NWO base on the 9th as well. By the time we got the plane offloaded into our rigs it was 6:30-6:45 pm. The check station was gone by then. We heard a lot about it at the base, however.
I'd bet they close up shop at 6:00 when they have these fish checks.

[tv4fish]

OK - All you guys talking about the fish check location being "just outside of Fort Frances" --- Where exactly is it? We have been going up to Sioux Lookout via Fort Frances for years and the only place we have ever been checked is south of Dryden.
We always go the Sat. in - Sat. out trip.

[tooski]

seriously REG... McDonalds??? I hope you were only stopping to use the restrooms. Certainly nothing else there were stopping for let alone waiting in line for....

[cuamb]

Originally Posted by REG

We went for years without getting checked and then got stopped on the outskirts of Ft Frances last year on a Sat am. And then this year - same Sat. return (June 9) - get pulled over at the same place again!

Certainly not a problem - dug out the licences and the cooler - everyone was friendly and professional and we were on our way after maybe 15-20 minutes.

I would say that we were there around 7:30am or so - but we know from another member of our group that they were still open for business around noon when they came through..

Almost no wait at the border - 10 minutes tops. We actually waited way longer for our McDonald's order in Intl Falls than the MNR and border stops combined. We vowed to never bother with that McD's again.

We were headed up on the 9th and saw the check both years but it was not there on our return the following Saturday. We did however have hour long waits at the border both years.