A simple, positive answer ???

[Guest]

I would like to fish Rainy River this Spring. Will stay at campground in birchdale on American side. Will get Remote Border Pass and Canadian License. Would like to fish the Canadian side of the river with live minnows. I understand these must be minnows purchased in Canada with receipt to prove it. but if I can not bring Canadian minnows over the border at either Baudette or International Falls - HOW DO I DO IT??? Thanks for your responses.

[Guest]

just buy minnows on US side and kill em, live minnows make little difference.

[eskay]

You CAN"T bring live minnows into Canada. Period.We always buy our minnows on the US side and then just put them in a gallon zip-loc bag, and add Borax. This kills them instantly and also preserves them somewhat. The fish sure don't seem to care. You can buy Borax at any grocery store, it's in the laundry section. Most bait shops will do this for you, especially the ones in Grand Rapids, if you're going up that way.

Besides, all you can get in Canada are small, mixed species minnows that the locals trap out of the river. If you insist on live minnows, Border Services (this is a gas station/license outlet) in Rainy River sells minnows, along with licenses.

Hope this helps.

[Guest]

Thanks guys - yes that does help. i just needed to hear that using dead minnows is not a big negative I guess.

But Borax?!! Doesn't that leave a scent that would be a problem? I have heard of using salt water to kill them and that salt is not a negative scent or taste to fish. Any other thoughts? Thanks again.

[eskay]

Borax leaves no scent. All it is is borac acid, which was the main ingredient for tanning hides. The guide who told me about using borax uses it for his minnows in Whitefish Bay fishing for lakers, so if it doesn't affect lake trout, it sure won't bother anything else. we've been using it for a couple of years on both the river and the lake, and have caught walleyes, northerns, crappie, everything that swims. The only thing is that sometimes it cakes up on the minnows so you should wipe of the heavy areas so that there is less to dissolve. We usually buy a couple quarts of minnows and keep them in the freezer until they're gone. All I can add is that it works.

[Guest]

here's my method, let the water out of your bag of minnows, give em a couple smacks on the floor of your boat and your good to go.

[Guest]

As usual - I always get some good answers on this site. Thanks to WetWilly and eskay.

[Tom Stay]

Another method I've seen used by the In-Fisherman staff and the Linders is to drain the water, and put them in saw dust mixed with walleye scent, a bottle or 2. Blow some air in the bag and shake. They keep well
in the saw dust and they smell and taste good, to walleyes that is. Sold 'em to them myself. If you've ever seen their segments they've done on the Rainy, a couple were with
this kind of bait, but I don't think they said it on the air. Good Luck

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Gonzos Guide Service
http//GonzosGuideService.com

[Guest]

Now that is interesting Tom. Does the sawdust kill them or how are they being killed? We would probably get our bait about 2-3 hours before going out. I like the idea of walleye scent. Why do you put the air in there?