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This page will be sort of an extension to the "Eyecatcher" and will feature news and information that is mainly of interest to DWF members.  Often, there is information that we need to get out to our membership that we feel cannot wait for the next newsletter, or that is important enough that just putting it in the newsletter is not enough.  We advise all DWF members to check this page often!

Click for Michigan - Ohio and Canadian license/Fee info Updated for 2012
Click for our listing of DWF members looking for DWF Member fishing partners
  DWF Tournament #9
is coming up Saturday (June 29th), so get  your entry in , The entry deadline is Thursday 8pm,June 27th.  Let;s make this one a GOOD one!!!!

Forms and details will be posted as soon as available
Click HERE for Entry Form - Click HERE for Rules - Click HERE for Boundary Map

Date  Day  Tournament or Event  Weigh-In Site 
April-06-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #1 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie

Grand Harbor Banquest Center (Next to Wyandotte Boat Ramp)

April-20-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #2 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie Grand Harbor Banquest Center (Next to Wyandotte Boat Ramp)
April-26 & 27-2013 Fri.(6 PM) & Sat.(Noon) DWF Tournament #3 - Walleye - Handlining Only - Detroit River Only Gibraltar Comm Center  
29340 S. Gibraltar Road
Gibraltar
May-11-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #4 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie Grand Harbor Banquest Center (Next to Wyandotte Boat Ramp) 
May-18-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #5 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie Grand Harbor Banquest Center (Next to Wyandotte Boat Ramp)
May-25-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #6 - Early Perch - Detroit River & Lake Erie Bottem Line Bait/Tackle
32600 W. Jefferson (across from LakeErie Metropark
June-01-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #7 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie Lake Erie Metropark (Next to Boat Ramp-Right side) 
June-15-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #8 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie Lake Erie Metropark (Next to Boat Ramp-Right side) 
June-29-2012 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #9 - Walleye - Detroit River & Lake Erie Lake Erie Metropark (Next to Boat Ramp-Right side)  
July-27-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #10 - Walleye & Steelhead-
DWF/LSCWA Challenge - Lake Erie - Erieau, Canada 
Erieau Marina - 1515 Kerr Ave, Erieau, Can
www.erieaumarina.com 
September-28-2013 Saturday (Sunrise to 3 PM) DWF Tournament #11 - Fall Perch - Detroit River & Lake Erie Gibraltar Comm Center 
29340 S. Gibraltar Road
Gibraltar

Crossing in to Canadian Water

There has been some confusion concerning just what is required when crossing in to Canadian water!

If you ask 10 people, you will more than likely get 10 different answers.  Considering the possible consequences, it would seem foolish to depend on information from undocumented sources such as “ Someone told me”, “I read on a Forum” or a “guy in a tackle shop said”.  I have NOT heard of this being enforced, but it’s the Law

 Here is link to the FACT SHEET on the  Canada Border Services Agency web site http://cbsa.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/096-eng.html. That is VERY detailed on exactly what is required when crossing in to Canadian water EVEN IF YOU DO NOT LAND OR ANCHOR!!   It is to your advantage to visit the web site and read the ENTIRE Fact Sheet!

 Basically, what it boils down to is that if you cross into Canadian water, even criss-crossing back and forth while fishing, you are required to call in and report.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE LAW!! What has changed is that, in most instances, they now allow you to call in from your cell phone instead of going to a designated phone to call in. This is a quote from the web site. 

“”Simplified cell phone reporting for private boaters

While the law has not changed, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has modernized its reporting requirements for pleasure craft entering Canadian waters, in an effort to make it easier for private boaters to comply with reporting requirements.

Requirement to Report

All recreational boaters are required to present themselves upon their arrival in Canada as per the Customs Act (CA) and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). This includes all foreign boaters entering Canada, as well as private boaters who depart Canada and enter foreign waters, and subsequently return to Canada.

This obligation exists regardless of their activities while outside of Canada or their planned activities while in Canada. Arrival in Canada occurs when the pleasure craft crosses the international boundary into Canadian waters.

This provision applies regardless of whether or not boaters drop anchor, land, enter an inland tributary or moor alongside another vessel while in foreign waters.

Revised Reporting Arrangements

Certain private boaters may now present themselves to the CBSA by calling the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) from their cellular telephones from the location at which they enter Canadian waters.”” 

Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at  1-888-226-7277   Should the TRC's 1-888 service not be available, operators must call the nearest TRC directly. Long distance charges may apply.   Lansdowne  613-659-4576    Hamilton  905-679-2073  Windsor  519-967-4320   
Canadian Licenses ONLINE!!

 Canadian Fishing licenses are now available ONLINE!!!! Like the Michigan and Ohio Licebses, you can now purchase Canadian fishing licenses from your computer and print them out immediately.

This is welcome news and willl make it a lot easier for spur of the moment trips, out of town friends who are coming in and want to fish in Canadian water and charter Captains/customers who want to get a one day license on short notice!!

To get your license, go to http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_091032.html , fill out the application and print out you license.

For fishing info/regulations and prices,go to http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_165336.html

Fishing in Canada?????

For those of you that plan on taking advantage of the GREAT fishing out of Erieau and Wheatley (awesome fishery for both Steelhead AND Walleye) now is the time to get your required border documentation, if you don't already have it!!  The cheapest, easiest document is the PASSPORT CARD available at any Post Office
For those of us that fish in Canadian water, whether it be simply fishing on the Canadian side of the river or crossing the bridge or tunnel, there are some very important things to be aware of!

 Effective June, 2009, the U.S. government requires that ALL people, including U.S. citizens have a passport in their possession for entry into the U.S. In addition to a passport book, there are a few other options.

Under a law called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, persons traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), can use a U.S. Passport , Passport card (new wallet sized passport card the size of a drivers license and a lot cheaper than a passport), trusted traveler program card (NEXUS card, I-68 pass ) or an Enhanced Michigan Driver's to meet the requirements of a passport.The one drawback to the Nexus card is that EVERONE in the boat or car HAS to have one!

For those that cross back and forth across the river without landing in Canada or having reported in to Canadian customs (required if you anchor in Canadian waters), You are NOT considered as having left the U.S. and are NOT required to have these
documents
. 

Document

Cost

1st Time Fee

Length

Passport Book

$75

$25

10 years

Under 16

$60

$25

5 years

Passport Card

$20

$25

10 years

Under 16

$10

$25

5 years

*NEXUS Card

$50

None

5 years

Under 17

None

None

5 years

***I-68

$16  $32 Family

None

1 year

**Enhanced Driver's license

$45 First

$38 renewal

None 

Up to 4 years

The Enhanced Drivers license can be obtained at any Secretary of State office.  For more info and required documents to apply, check this site http://www.michigan.gov/sos/licenseid/first_mich/enhanced

*The NEXUS card is a "trusted traveler" document that allows for expedited travel between the U.S. and Canada with dedicated lanes at the border and minimal reporting requirements.  It requires a very thorough background check by both Canadian and American authorities and is NOT automatically approved.  The $50 fee is NOT refundable if denied

 NEXUS
NEXUS Marine program is a joint Canada-U.S. initiative that offers facilitated customs and immigration clearance for recreational low-risk boaters entering either country through registration into the program. NEXUS is valid for 5 years and satisfies the boat operator's legal requirement to report to a port-of-entry for face-to-face inspection in accordance with 8 CFR 235.1, but boaters must still phone in their arrival to satisfy 19 USC 1433.

 

Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68) This is for Boaters Only, not bridge or tunnel travel
Canadian Border Boat Landing Permit (I-68) applicants for admission into the United States by small pleasure boats are inspected and issued an I-68 permit for the entire boating season. The I-68 permit allows boaters to enter the United States from Canada for recreational purposes with only the need to report to CBP by telephoning in their arrival.

To utilize the NEXUS or I-68, ALL people in the boat MUST have the same document.

The Passport Card is probably the most convenient and inexpensive document if you only anticipate traveling within the Western Hemisphere by boat or land.  It can be applied for at any Post Office

Fishing Regulations to be aware of!

The transport of live bait into Canada has always been illegal but hasn't really been enforced until VHS reared its ugly head and both the U.S. and Canada started cracking down.  I haven't heard of any enforcement at the south end of the river and Lake Erie, but enforcement has been widely reported on the north end of the river and Lake St Clair, resulting in fines in excess of $500 for possessing minnows without receipts proving they were purchased in Canada.  

 It is illegal to bring any live fish, crayfish, live leeches or salamanders into Ontario for use as bait.

Anglers must not release any live bait or dump the contents of a bait bucket including the water, into any waters. The bait bucket water should be disposed of on land, well away from the water's edge.

I'm not aware of any bait shops on the Canadian side accessible by boat, but if anyone knows of any, please let us know.

 

 A fishing line must not have more than four hooks attached. A hook includes a single-pointed or multiple-pointed hook on a common shaft. The number of hooks includes each single-pointed or multiple-pointed hooks that are part of a lure

TWO lines are allowed when fishing from a boat in open water in Lake Erie/Lake St. Clair (Two lines NOT allowed in Detroit or St Clair rivers)

Two lines may be used for ice fishing. You must be within 60 m (197 ft.) at all times of any line or tip-up you are using when ice fishing and you must have a clear and unobstructed view of the lines being used at all times.

I would strongly advise everyone to get and READ both the Michigan AND Canadian Regulation/Fishing guide as there have been numerous change in both

 Member to Member
With the size of our membership and the number of members who either don’t have boats, are unfamiliar with our waters,  are new to walleye fishing or just plain want to fish with other members, it has been suggested that we have some method of getting these people together.  We have the means to do this with the Newsletter and Website. This has worked well in the past and hopefully, it will again.
If you are looking for someone to fish with or would be willing to take a member fishing, please get the information to Mike Barkley at 734-281-1649 or mbarkley@wowway.com and I will get it listed in the Newsletter and the Member’s Page of our Website.

As DWF continues to grow, let’s make sure that it grows as a CLUB and not just in numbers.   Remember, Sharing, learning and helping each other with Fishing is what DWF is all about. Don’t put it off, Get hold of Mike today.