USA TO CANADA BORDER CROSSING!! - Tips and Tricks to Get Across Smoothly

After decades of crossing the Canadian border from the USA, multiple times a year for fishing trips, I have some tips and tricks for crossing the border that will hopefully help you have a smooth experience. I also talk about Game and Fish checkpoints that you might encounter when coming back from a hunting or fishing trip.

Here's a video from 54 or Bust that goes into planning a Canadian fishing trip!

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[joecalhounschasintailguide]

My experience is whoever vehicle your in should be driving. We pulled up once when I was with my dad's buddies and I let him drive my truck across the border because he'd been to Canada 50 times before thinking it would go smoothly but the exact opposite. They immediately asked why I wasn't driving my own truck. We had to pull over and get searched .

[edwardsanders-tfmy]

Great video. I always learn something new, or remember something I forgot. A couple of other items that visitors to Canada should be aware of:
1) Crossing the border at night is best, but if you continue to drive to your resort destination during the night, be aware of moose! Route 502 between Ft Frances and Dryden is the worst I have seen for moose at night, I won't do that trip at night anymore.
2) Spend money at the stores while in Canada. A lot of these shops are mom and pop businesses that depend on tourism. The last thing you want is to visit a small town that no longer has basic services or retail because all the American anglers brought everything they would need for the week from the states to save a few bucks.

[daltonskrobiak]

Great video, I have been asked all of these questions on my trips across the border. Last year we got grilled pretty hard about what time and how long we waited in line. We defiantly didn't keep track of the time, as we were quite excited. Something to keep in mind next crossing! thanks for the video

[tonymosbach]

If you're using a Radar Detcetor that's attached to your windshield or visor remove it and put it away in the glove box or storage box. They are illegal to use in Canada so you're better off storing it before pulling up to the border agent.

[KarenMcTavish]

The greatest question I’ve been asked at the Canada check point for a Muskie trip was: ”What’s your PB Muskie?”
- for a single female Muskie angler / it verified I wasn’t a drug mule! 🤣

[petewitcosky]

Thanks for the tips. My family and myself just went through the border at Saulte St. Marie, MI. We followed all your tips and no issues. One thing the border agent asked me was for my license plate number which I didn’t know off my head. No issues just had to get my registration out of the glove box. Thanks again!

[droptinetackle]

Lots of great tips. Living on the north side of the border, we've heard a lot of stories. But be friendly, and dont give any attitude.

[MMAGA-]

Really solid advice, especially the no phones and pay attention. Perhaps have a printed reservation invoice of your camp or guide service. If your truck has 2A AR Glock stickers all over, make really sure nothing is under the seats. Enjoy your stay here.

[jaytee]

For agricultural products (food, plants, soil etc) you can use the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to find out if you can import the product to Canada. It’s not the most intuitive system but it helps and it’s the same system the border agents use if they’re unsure.

[nathanhook]

Oh I could stand on a soap box for this one. Well done. I love the kokanee drop.

[jimjanik]

Coming back into the states (baudette) from a late fall trip we were stopped by Canadian mnr. The person who went with put his fish in a ziplock bag with water and froze them. He had to break it all apart to show each individual fillet. They had a lab that was trained to smell fish. This same gentleman also had a leftover fish sandwich from night before in his cooler he didn't want to waste. The dog detected it immediately and he was over his limit for walleye. Thankfully they let us go after standing outside in the sleet for an hour. They were very friendly, I'm sure it could have been much worse.
I've also had them open shampoo bottles and sniff for booze.

[chapppy]

I go to Lake of the Woods every year, we prefer to cross in Baudette, so much quicker than International Falls, I always hit up the Duty Free for Beer, the duty for over 1 case isn't bad at all. The Agents in baudette are always super nice, and they actually strike up conversation, last year they even offered up the weather report for the week lol.

[scotanderson]

You are spot on. Thanks for the very good information.

[steveravely]

Another tip is, gas up and pee in International Falls. You don't need to be filling up in Canada with their fuel prices and if going up 502 there is no gas and if the border crossing has a long line your gut may be busting before you get through the crossing.

[andychandler]

6:24 yes. Had a friend turned away on a trip to Poland. The pp would have expired when he was in country. So if you know your stay is going to be in the course of that expiration date, just get it done.

[bwyyy]

As a Canadian who crosses into the US, pretty much the same deal

[kwest]

Thank you for the info. We plan on crossing the Rainbow Bridge and RV the Great Lakes. I'm working on the route now. We're planning on coming back thru Michigan

[mitchellgenz]

Solid advice Brian. Great video as always.

[adamcassidy]

1- Yes our beer is much better than US Beer(according to all my US friends)
2- CBSA are really nice to you if you're transparent and open with them.

Need to have you come to Easter Ontario/West Quebec one year for musky. The Ottawa River is well known for it's musky!

[samhill]

I have been doing pretty much everything you said when we cross into the US except for putting the transmission in park and having our passports open. Fortunately, touch wood, we've never had issues crossing but from now on I will remember about the transmission in Park and Passports open suggestions.