Cost of Minnows in Canada?

[tntn3]

Anyone know the ~price of a dozen minnows last year? About how many per person do you use a day?

[Canuck]

I really don't to sound sarcastic but that is like saying, how much are minnows in the United States of America. The price ranges depending on supply and demand. They usually are a couple of bucks (Canadian). If you are concerned bring your own but for your information "live" minnows can NOT be brought into Manitoba. I am not sure about Saskatchewan or Ontario, we do NOT want foreign species released into the waters.

[Hemlock]

Like Canuck said (rather bluntly ) price does vary from area to area. Some places, minnows have to fly in, just like the fishermen/women using the bait. Big bucks, of course. Here in Kenora, I think I pay about $3-$4/doz. after tax for medium fatheads. Spendy, but what are you going to do? Some days you go through them, some days you don't. When we do run out on Lake of the Woods, it's a good day of fishing, and chances are, they'll bite on the powerbait. Live bait can not be brought across the border in to Ontario. When I stay down at NW Angle (Minnesota)and venture in to Ontario to fish, we buy our minnows in MN and as long as you bring your reciept and kill the minners (put them in a bag with no water...works well). If you are venturing further north in to Canada, might have to bight the bullet and just buy them from the closest bait shop. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[widetrack]

I've never heard you need a reciept to bring dead minnows into Canada. Are you sure about that?

[JZ]

You need a reciept if you are fishing the border waters in canada have come from mn and bought bait in ON!

[JZ]

Hemlocks interpretation of the rule (bringing dead bait to Canada from the U.S.) does not necessarily reflect the thoughts and views of border fishermen. Please refer to the written rules for the Providence, which you plan on visiting.

[Hemlock]

My mistake....only need reciept if you have live minnows to prove to CO that they were purchased in Ontario, while fishing Ontario.

[fishyguy]

We have salted minnows in the past and brought them up with us and when the fishing is good we find no difference but when you have to work a little harder live will out fish the dead.

How many do you need will depend on what type of trip you are on. If you are on a fly-in or outpost nothing can hurt a trip more than running out of bait. I recommend bringing salted minnows or a flat of crawlers as backup.

[danfall]

Minnows have always been a problem for us. We generally get a pound of leeches on entry (in Canada). The outpost camps/resorts just aren't dependable enough and are subject to all the conditions you and me would be collecting bait without a distributor.

Another problem with minnows is size. I can't ever find nice sized minnows at the resorts.

The final straw is that you can't seine or trap your own legally.

Get out the wallet, use leeches.

[Tonka Boy]

I've always opted for leeches and crawlers as well. The minnows tend to run on the pricy side and I can always substitue plastics instead.

Worse comes to worse I get them at the resort. Normally if that is the case...fishing isn't very good.

[Shorelunch]

The minnows are somewhat expensive there, but like what is posted above - what are you going to do? Plus, with the opportunity to fish up there, what's a few extra bucks?

Another way to go is fishing with plastics like Gulp. We've had very good luck on LOW trolling plastic crawlers, leeches and grubs. Have also done fair jigging plastics as well.

[full force five]

They will cost you your first child or right arm.

I have a cabin near Sioux Lookout, getting minnows is easy but they are expensive around 4 canuck for 12 and I mean 12. Leach or husky jerks are the alternative to minnows, I don't think you can bring in salted dead ones, not totally sure.

[eskay]

Yes, you can bring in DEAD minnows. I've done it many , many times over the years. I just put mine in Borax, or if you stop at Ben's Bait in Grand Rapids they'll do it for you (other bait shops will probably do this also). Completely legal. I've been checked by both the MNR and the border agents, and they are perfectly legal. The fish don't seem to care, and in fact I've used them for lakers and they work fine. I've also frozen the extras with the Borax and they also work great. Good way to find the type and size you want and keep them until you head north. Only thing is, you can't bring in smelt of any kind. Don't know why, but it's in the Ontario regs.

[tntn3]

Do leaches work well in the early spring. We are going at the end of may.

[WB make the CUT]

Ive talked b4 about this Hemlock do you remember?

Ive heard that in 2005... that's this summer, Ont will not import leeches from the US. For those of us that buy on entry yes those are US leeches. 95% of what they sell up there are US leeches. My question will they be able to meet demand this summer, and are they going to have the junk Canandian leeches as normal?

[Hemlock]

WB, yes I remember. I haven't talked with anyone about this since we did a few months back. I guess it's not something the locals are really buzzing about.

Honest question: What makes the leeches in Canada junk? I never fish with leeches, so I don't know.

[WB make the CUT]

Sorry about "JUNK" I did not mean to offend, I am far from an expert but I belive most of the time when we buy theses things we get two diffent types, I'll call them the black ones and the brown ones if you get black ones that are large in size (3inch) you have a great bait, if they are brown throw em out. The prob is in Ont the further North you go the smaller they get. Hem mabey you should set up a farm

[Hemlock]

Hmmm...my business is a custom framing shop and an art gallery....leech farm in back...I like the sound of it

I think I know which ones you aretalking about being junk. I'm not offended, I think you are bang on if you have come across the green/brown leeches. That's not what fish feed on naturally. I think those are also known as vegetarian leeches. Anyways, sorry that there is a lack of good quality leeches up here. Leech farm might not be too bad of an idea!

[WalleyeWeasel]

just put em in a cardboard milk carton and super glue the spout shut.........

then but a couple dozen when ye get there ( for the receipt)

[bkft]

I'm coming up in early June. I thought one could bring leeches & crawlers across the border? I guess I'm mistaken?

[Fishook]

You CAN NOT bring leeches into Ontario from the US, at least through Int. Falls/F.F. You can bring Night Crawlers into Ontario but they must be packed in artifcial bedding (Buss Bedding, etc.), no natural bedding (dirt) will be allowed. I don't think they even allow you to bring bagged potatoes into Ontario anymore - dirt, insects, etc.???

[Ron Burgundy]

The potato thing is true. No fresh potatos. Only the canned ones. I went up last yr over Memorial Day week and minnows were $3 to $4 and suckers were $7 or $8.

[WB make the CUT]

Hem, you have a US investor. Let me know

[Hemlock]

WB, I applaud your ambition...might need more than just you. Unless, of course you want to become a BIG investor.

Anyone else out there?

We could set up shops at the first town across the border in to Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan....

[jackfish]

This might be a bit forward but, let me think now, I own a $40,000 tow vehicle, a $35,000 boat which gobbles up about $35.00 a day in fuel, I have $15,000 in rods and tackle on board and I am taking a week off work to go to Canada where I'm paying say $100.00 or more dollars a day for lodging and even more money for food, hum... What does the price of minnows in Canada have to do with anything? I think it's important not to rely on minnows or other live bait. I find plastics and artificals work wonders on Canadian water. I also find it difficult to release walleye if I'm using live bait, they take them too deep at times. If an angler is versitile enough he can use a mix of live and artifical baits this should ease the pain of shelling out for minnows in Canada. And there are no restrictions on fishing tackle at the border.