I must agree, there is a definate increase in the number of Border Patrol vehicles running around.

Spoke to Superintendent Craig Kennedy at 613-659-2301
and he said "if you are in transit in Canadian waters, no problem, you do not have to report. You stop to fish, take a dip, float, what ever, but you are no longer in transit, you MUST stop at customs pr be subject to fines and or boat seizure.

Ken

there have been a couple of incidents of human trafficing in the last month with arrests in Brockville and Ogdensburg so I would expect an increased border patrol presence

Frankly I believe many are getting way to involved in this without an understanding of what the root cause of the problem really is here. This individual was required, Canadian fish license aside, to call in the fact that he was fishing in Canadian waters. Plain and simple he failed to do that, he got caught and that is the end of the story. There is a big HoHa on facebook about his right now as well. Lots of irate people yapping about something they have not read the facts on.

Very simple deal here, you are in their water, obey their laws, have a nice day.

This area is a mess lately, Mohawks on the Res think they are above the law and run chit back and forth. Many incidents of human smugling on both sides of the river, they are watching more than ever before. Just do what is right and likely you will not have a problem.

I agree - the outrage is over the top. If its the law, then so be it... If you don't like it - don't go.

But I think 99% of American boaters in the river have been living under the assumption of the Anchor/Canadian Soil rule.... I know I have for the last 20 years.

If its going to be enforced differently for the future, thats fine - I'd just like to see the law published for awareness.

So much for musky fishing out there....

I will admit that I too have always gone on the assumption that setting anchor in their waters ment you had landed, floating for a bit was ok. The river is a big place, lots of space to float on our side of the dotted line.

Wonder where one could find the written version of the law?

That's the million dollar question. Too much speculation and interpretations on this. Where is the written law?

I grew up on lake erie with my older brother, way way before 911. I remember him telling me that its not all about boating in international water but the fishing part they have always been very strict about. Unless i missed some of the story, i'm guessing it mostly had to do about fishing in their waters without a license.

Today, FC held Skaterfest on Lake St. Clair and they first came down the Detroit River to the Ambassador Bridge and turned around to head back up the Canadian Shoreline of Downtown Windsor on their way to the Blue Water Bridge. There were tons of Police Enforcement boat out there for the International Tug Boat Race and festivities on the Detriot and Windsor waterfronts. I never seen anybody get stopped as the flew buy the Police boats.

+1