|
|
Posts: 76
| I’m very thankful for all the resort and cabin owners who get to return to their properties in Canada starting at midnight. I know it will be a quick opening to get ready for guests and I hope you find your property in good working order.
I will be traveling to Ontario in September with two of my grandsons under the age of 12 and would appreciate any issues you find at the border going in either direction? I’m not too concerned about myself crossing as the portal seems to be similar to the one used by the US Virgin Islands. I just want to be as prepared as possible for the boys.
Hopefully you don’t have to sit in long lines. I wonder if it will take longer to cross then in the past even with forewarning who will be arriving now?
Thanks in advance for any updates. I’m sure many others will appreciate any advice you can share about the new process.
Good luck fishing!
|
|
|
|
Posts: 75
| Current wait times are listed at 7 hours online for Ft. Francés. Reports I've heard is that its quite a bit longer than that. I'm crossing tomorrow |
|
|
|

Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | Wisconsin, Minnesota, we now resume our normal Fishing activities.
The gold rush is on!
(Screenshot_20210809-100953_1628522080023.jpg)
Attachments ----------------
Screenshot_20210809-100953_1628522080023.jpg (67KB - 290 downloads)
|
|
|
|
| Whew, 7 hour wait. Wonder what it normally is?
My sister and brother in law lived in Ranier, just east of International Falls for a couple years and I remember just a few cars in line to cross but that was the fall of the year. |
|
|
|

Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | I was just forwarded a video from a Lund boat owners FB page. The line is two miles long mostly trucks with boats parked on the shoulder of the highway waiting. |
|
|
|

Posts: 2356
Location: Chisholm, MN | I heard 4.5 miles long |
|
|
|

Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | With the differences in wait times people will venture to the next over places to save a couple hours. |
|
|
|
| My sister just sent me a video she got from a friend in International Falls. The video was almost 4 minutes long, and it did not span the length of the line. Person taking the video was coming from Ranier, east of the Falls. She said the line up started last night before 10 PM. The person narrating the video said the word is that if your paperwork is not completely in order, the border patrol is sending folks to the back of that line. My sister, being familiar with the area after living there said it could be more than seven hours, given the time it is taking to check people through and the length of the line. Some of the folks going to cabins they have not been able to access in almost 2 years have big construction trailers filled with supplies and those take a long time to check through. |
|
|
|

Posts: 512
| im sure it will calm down after the storm of the first day or so. they started lining up yesterday, so it should lighten up i would think after a few days.. i hope..  |
|
|
|
Posts: 23
| Seems like 7 hours of not being on the water to me... |
|
|
|
Posts: 33
| My folks went through Fort Francis last night. Arrived at ~8:30 with 42 vehicles ahead of them. Lots of trailers, a few boats, and hotels full with folks waiting to cross later. Got through around 2:30am. Mentioned there were no issues at the border itself other than the longer than usual line.
Thankfully got to the cabin and only thing out of sorts was a low batteries in boats, mowers, and side by sides.
Edited by AaronTicknor 8/9/2021 5:49 PM
|
|
|
|
Posts: 3155
| 4.5miles long and bumper to bumper!!! I'm heading up with a cardboard sign reading 'help out with spare change' |
|
|
|
| happy hooker - 8/9/2021 5:47 PM
4.5miles long and bumper to bumper!!! I'm heading up with a cardboard sign reading 'help out with spare change'
Hmmm, guy could load a porta potty on a trailer and make some serious coin cruising the line. |
|
|
|

Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | Ironically the wait time shows 5 minutes right now. |
|
|
|
Posts: 575
Location: Germantown, WI | ToddM - 8/9/2021 10:14 AM
Wisconsin, Minnesota, we now resume our normal Fishing activities.
The gold rush is on!
Todd where did u get this site or link for monitoring boarder crossing times. I would like to follow it as I have a friend heading over on Friday and I’m crossing in early to late September
Thanks a lot
* that was supposed to copy over that list of crossing stations and times... must have only grabbed your comments and not the attachment
Edited by dward 8/9/2021 10:05 PM
|
|
|
|

Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | https://travel.gc.ca/returning/border-times
You can also look at the times coming back. |
|
|
|
Posts: 575
Location: Germantown, WI | Perfect, thanks Todd |
|
|
|
Posts: 50
| My buddy went through last night around 9-10 and was the only car in line. |
|
|
|

Posts: 512
| jtmenard - 8/10/2021 7:32 AM
My buddy went through last night around 9-10 and was the only car in line.
thats what i was hoping for, after the initial rush to get in or to get up to cabins or property people own up there it would settle down..
good to hear.. |
|
|
|

Posts: 20238
Location: oswego, il | Interesting there is no delay at Fort Francis right now. Maybe the resorts will be filling up starting Saturday when people can take off a normal week. |
|
|
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | ToddM - 8/10/2021 11:04 AM
Interesting there is no delay at Fort Francis right now. Maybe the resorts will be filling up starting Saturday when people can take off a normal week.
Or... Perhaps only 50% of those who normally go don't have the Vaccine or don't want it. Generally, a free society doesn't like to be told what to do.
Do you think that the Cruse Ship industry will be at 90-100% full with their covid mandates ? Very doubtful. |
|
|
|
| Top H2O - 8/10/2021 1:18 PM
ToddM - 8/10/2021 11:04 AM
Interesting there is no delay at Fort Francis right now. Maybe the resorts will be filling up starting Saturday when people can take off a normal week.
Or... Perhaps only 50% of those who normally go don't have the Vaccine or don't want it. Generally, a free society doesn't like to be told what to do.
Do you think that the Cruse Ship industry will be at 90-100% full with their covid mandates ? Very doubtful.
Curious, when driving on a two lane road, do you drive in the right lane? Even if the oncoming lane has less snow? Just asking since you don't like being g told what to do. |
|
|
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | BWAAAAAHAAAAhaahaahaa...! Funny, I almost lost my beer trying to stay in the right hand Lane.
Not.  |
|
|
|
Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | The point that I was trying to make is .... Don't expect the Canada resorts or Cruse Lines to be anywhere near full because of travel restrictions and Vaccine passports.
Serious question... Why is the Southern Boarder not closed because of Covid ? ?
And yes, I have been fully Vaccinated since May. I'm not an anti-vaccer, but I believe in people's rights to keep their Medical condition to themselves.
If you want to go to Canada,.. fine follow their rules and be sure to have some fun while there.
|
|
|
|
| The reason Canada and the cruise industry both require proof of vaccination is dollars and cents. Kaiser Health News reported recently that the average ICU cost for COVID patients has been over $100,000. Canada, with their single payer system has kept per capita health care costs at less than half that of the USA. Takes a lot of musky fishermen spending money in Canada to cover just one ICU patient. For reference, Oneida County WI where I live, has less than 37,000 residents but we have had 35 ICU cases so far and have more folks in the hospital right now. That is over $3.5 Million and counting, just for ICU, not counting the 150 others that have required hospitalization. Again, dollars and cents.
The cruise industry would be crazy not to ask for proof of vaccination. They were hammered at the beginning of the epidemic and a cruise ship becomes a petri dish for the virus given the close quarters. They have an outbreak, they have to quarantine, cancel future trips, refund deposits, etc. That is just part of what the told the federal judge that overruled Florida.
As to health information, as any lawyer who is familiar with HIPAA will tell you, vaccination status is not health information, anymore than whether you have a driver's license. Marjorie Tayler Greene thinks it is protected health information but she also thinks the fires out west were started by space lasers. |
|
|
|
Posts: 75
| I crossed at Baudette at 5:15 this evening. I literally drove straight to the window as there were no cars. I was at the window a max of 3 minutes and sent on my way. He was friendly and went smooth, just have your passport, vaccine card, and negative test ready. |
|
|
|
Posts: 76
| Thanks for the updates everyone. Never noticed the name before but ColdLabatts is near the top my list of favorites! |
|
|
|
Posts: 75
| Walleyedoctor - 8/11/2021 8:23 PM
Thanks for the updates everyone. Never noticed the name before but ColdLabatts is near the top my list of favorites!
LOL thanks. I'm more of a lurker than poster |
|
|
|
Posts: 575
Location: Germantown, WI | Good Friend of mine crossed over the boarder today at Fort Frances... Said he waited in line for 25 minutes and then whole process took about 5-7 minutes. It seems like the hardest part is the timing of the taking the covid test and then crossing over within 72 hours of taking it. You have to wait for results and if lab is backed up at all, you might miss your window? he was able to get results back in about 36 hours of taking the test.
But pre-planning that 72 hour window and then guaranteeing results come back is a very tight window.
I'm supposed to go September 7th, but again, trying to nail down the timing of the test just prior to labor day weekend when there might be test result delays on holiday weekend, i'm thinking of going a day or two earlier to avoid that from happening.
either way, canada is within my sites and i'm pumped!!
But even before then I have 4 days fishing Leech Lake (never fished it before)..... |
|
|
|
Posts: 2046
| COVID cases are trending the wrong way in Canada basically double the 7 day average from two weeks ago...
edit..and in most of the US too obviously ...
Edited by IAJustin 8/13/2021 4:32 PM
|
|
|
|
| dward - 8/13/2021 1:53 PM
Good Friend of mine crossed over the boarder today at Fort Frances... Said he waited in line for 25 minutes and then whole process took about 5-7 minutes. It seems like the hardest part is the timing of the taking the covid test and then crossing over within 72 hours of taking it. You have to wait for results and if lab is backed up at all, you might miss your window? he was able to get results back in about 36 hours of taking the test.
But pre-planning that 72 hour window and then guaranteeing results come back is a very tight window.
I'm supposed to go September 7th, but again, trying to nail down the timing of the test just prior to labor day weekend when there might be test result delays on holiday weekend, i'm thinking of going a day or two earlier to avoid that from happening.
either way, canada is within my sites and i'm pumped!!
But even before then I have 4 days fishing Leech Lake (never fished it before).....
May need to call multiple test sites to be sure. Friend of ours had to go to Canada in July to be with her elderly mother who was critically ill. She got permission but had to have her vaccination card and test results. Because time was so critical, she called around found a place in Iron Mountain to get the rapid test, drove to Sault Ste. Marie MI and waited for the results then crossed over to Sault, Ontario. She made of a lot of calls but got it done in 24 hours. Good luck and have a great trip. |
|
|
|
Posts: 575
Location: Germantown, WI | Rapid tests not allowed. Must be a PCR test! Read the regulations, very clearly stated |
|
|
|
Posts: 52
| Sounds like their eight lockdowns haven’t worked. I’m sure their ninth will be successful. |
|
|
|

| Went across border at International Falls on Wed. the 11th around 9:45 a.m. only car in line and went smooth. Returned on the 15th again with no issues. Just have all of your stuff in order. Fishing was not as good as I expected, but it was nice to be back there chasing. Boated 9 muskies and 2 big pike.
|
|
|
|
Posts: 335
Location: Minnesota | I crossed the border on Monday morning in Baudette - wait time was about 45 minutes. I went home Monday evening and there were no cars at the border waiting to cross. I went back up on Thursday evening and I drove right up to the window and didn't see another car crossing. CBSA told me it has been busy in stretches but nothing like Monday morning. I came home on Sunday afternoon and again - nobody waiting to cross the border. Seems like th big rush is over and no worries about long lines anymore.
Have all of your paperwork ready to go and printed out for them. Make it as easy on the CBSA personnel as possible. They don't want to talk to you any longer than they have to either but they have to do their job so don't make it hard for them. |
|
|
|
Posts: 10
| Anyone else having problems with the ArriveCan app not submitting?
It hangs on 77% (trying both wifi and data) and says it can't be submitted at this time. |
|
|
|

Posts: 512
| welfaretrain - 8/17/2021 9:55 AM
Anyone else having problems with the ArriveCan app not submitting?
It hangs on 77% (trying both wifi and data) and says it can't be submitted at this time.
did you figure it out or did it finally work?? |
|
|
|
Posts: 10
| Dave T. - 8/18/2021 7:52 AM
welfaretrain - 8/17/2021 9:55 AM
Anyone else having problems with the ArriveCan app not submitting?
It hangs on 77% (trying both wifi and data) and says it can't be submitted at this time.
did you figure it out or did it finally work??
Finally worked...
Took 3-4 hours of trying to re-submit and it randomly went through and gave me the receipt! |
|
|
|

Posts: 512
| welfaretrain - 8/18/2021 8:22 AM
Dave T. - 8/18/2021 7:52 AM
welfaretrain - 8/17/2021 9:55 AM
Anyone else having problems with the ArriveCan app not submitting?
It hangs on 77% (trying both wifi and data) and says it can't be submitted at this time.
did you figure it out or did it finally work??
Finally worked...
Took 3-4 hours of trying to re-submit and it randomly went through and gave me the receipt!
ugh, thats fun! im already stressing because there seems to be a shortage of tests around us, so worried we wont get the results back in time if we can find one to take at all! oy.. |
|
|
|

Posts: 299
| Filling out the ArriveCAN app to submit. You can add multiple people. Are we suppose to add everyone that is driving in the vehicle that is crossing the border? One person, the vehicle owner does it? or does everybody have submit on the app with all the passengers? |
|
|
|
Posts: 2046
| When we crossed everyone had there own phone / Arrive App....border patrol looked up each separately...thats how we did it...I'd just make sure you all put the same time/dates.... that worked for us anyway |
|
|
|
Posts: 922
| We weren’t even asked to show anything related to the ArriveCAN app
We were asked for passport, vax card, and test results. Nothing related to the app. |
|
|
|

Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | dward - 8/14/2021 1:48 PM
Rapid tests not allowed. Must be a PCR test! Read the regulations, very clearly stated
This is incorrect. You should go back and read the regulations, it’s very clearly stated what is accepted and what is not. I’ve crossed twice on rapid tests, results to my email within 20 minutes of completing the tests.
Crossing the border is as easy as putting your pants on.
|
|
|
|
Posts: 1901
Location: MN | MuskyMidget - 9/21/2021 10:55 PM
We weren’t even asked to show anything related to the ArriveCAN app
We were asked for passport, vax card, and test results. Nothing related to the app.
Ha ha. You didn’t have to show em your phone but they knew every detail you filled in on the app and were looking at it on the screen the whole time. |
|
|
|
Posts: 922
| Correct I agree. But I still kind of expected them to ask for the confirmation number that the App gives you when you complete it. |
|
|
|

Posts: 512
| MuskyMidget - 9/23/2021 8:53 AM
Correct I agree. But I still kind of expected them to ask for the confirmation number that the App gives you when you complete it.
we said the same thing, they didnt ask for our ArriveCan receipt or anything..
but a resort owner i know up there said when they run your passport, that information is already attached to it, so they dont have to ask or see that.. |
|
|
|
Posts: 166
Location: Gurnee, Illinois | Anyone notice the first building on the left past the border patrol in Fort Francis is a weed dispensary? Our border officer joked that they confiscate any marijuana coming over the border then point people to the dispensary to replace their stash. |
|
|