Lower Niagara and 50 Point

[Hacknslash]

Well I came down from Elliot Lake for a visit to Hamilton so the brother in law and I hooked up and went to Queenston. Never having fished the Lower Niagara in the fall we decided to give it a go on Tuesday. We launched the boat and proceeded to bottom bounce roe ad small minnow in a few of the drifts. No takers. We were slowly powering up to head back to the start of the drift when we heard a siren and the U. S. Coast Guard was motining us to go to them. We looked around and it appeare that we were well over halfway to the Canadian side, so we motioned them to come to us. Whn they pulled along side we were asked why our lifejackets were not on. We replied it isn't required in Canada. We were then told by the female Coast Guard that we were an inch inside US waters. Gimme a break! Well after a short lecture about thier lifejacket law we were on our way, never coming close to the centre of the river again.

Next day a buddy and I head to 50 Point marina to try for some perch and browns. We were called over by an MNR. I was asked if I was fishing with 2 rod and said yes. I though I was legal because I had read the regulations...this part in particular http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR_E001339.pdf

The office correced me and sated that even though a marina is not a tributary, it is also not considered open water. Learn something new everyday, and he warned me quoting that the regulation were vague. He asked to see my minnows, and asked where they came from. I told him Elliot Lake and he took the pail from me and told me he had to make some phonecalls. No problem. Before moving to Elliot Lake I had called the MNR and spoke to the female baitfish specialist (can't recall her name) and she told me it was ok to transport legal baitfish across land to differnt bodies of water, as long as you do not dump your pail withing 30 m of shore.

After a few minutes the officer returned my pail and licence and told us to have a good day. The oficer was polite, and engagedin conversation for awhile before going on his way.

Well we only caught one OOS smallie in te lower niagara (basss was almost white...weird) and I lost one large female brown boatside in 50 Point. All an all it was a good visit!

Oh ya the officer also asked me if I had heard anything about Lindsay Smith, and that they were keeping thier eyes and ears open also!