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I am heading to pembroke for pickerel opener and have heard many different version of whether you are allowed or not allowed to use live bait on quebec side of Ottawa river. Does anyone have the true regulation for this topic. It seems so foolish that I can fish Ontario side of river with live bait but 100 feet over which is on Quebec side of river I can't.

get comfy, read my novel below, it'll be worth it, I promise...

so last year, I pickup my buddy and we go fishing...he brings minnows, I don't usually fish live bait, but as far as I know it's legal on the Ottawa...so we launch at wendover, and start fishing around the area...not much action, slow day

we decide to head into the bay across from wendover...we're fishing there about 20-30 minutes, at this point I am throwing a plastic frog, and him a senko, just cause we wanted to switch it up...nothing else...from what I had been told, since the OTTAWA river is a connected body of water, you are allowed live bait on both sides...we saw another boat approaching, do the wave, and them bam, they quickly approach us, grab our boat, etc

they ask us what we're fishing for, we tell them, they see our licenses, all is well

UNTIL they spot the minnow bucket...now keep in mind, the rods we're using do NOT have any live minnows, like I said we're fishing artificial lures...suddenly they start asking us about the minnows, we tell them we're fishing them on the ON Side and we put them away when we came to the QC side...

they dump the water from the minnow bucket, zip lock the minnows, and give my buddy a summons to appear in court for having them...it's my boat, but he claimed ownership of the minnows, so he gets the summons...this was last...july? I believe, and he still hasn't received the official paperwork with the date in the mail...not sure if it's lost, or they're waiting 2 weeks before the date to send it...just incase he has forgotten about it

he got charged for processing minnows on the QC side...seriously...even though he wasn't fishing them, and it's a joint body of water, the fact that he had them merits a trip to see a judge

we had a nice long chat with the agents, they were fairly nice, and doing their job, which I understand, but we tried to explain to them that we assumed it was safe, and even though, we had taken precaution NOT to use them on the QC side, where we knew it was illegal (but didn't, we just happen to not have used them at this point), and it did not matter...they said, use common sense, if you're on the ON side or even past the middle point of the channel, they won't harass you BUT if you go into any bays, where it's common sense you're on the QC side, and they find them, you'll be fined...which I get now

anyways yes, sorry for writing a novel, but hopefully that answers your question...0 tolerance for minnows

Toned, thanks for the response. I fish the ottawa quite often, and have been fortunate enough not to get caught in a situation like yourself, but ofter do have minows on board on the quebec side. I had no idea they were that strict. I will make sure to be more cautious.

Are you only talking about minnows or live bait. You can use dead minnows on the Quebec side. But don't get caught with live ones.

Live minnows are not allowed on Quebec side of the Ottawa (except in Winter and you will need a receipt to prove that you bought them in Quebec) but you can use leeches which I find better for walleyes. Or worms.

It is like booze in the vehicle. "READILY AVAILABLE" will get you into trouble.

Both provincial fishing licences are accepted on the river however you have to follow the regulations for the province you're fishing.

This was very enlightening!!! Now I know and an will be careful!

Just to add to the ridiculous confusion

If you catch a walleye on the Ontario side, throw it the live well and cross the provincial border "technically" you have now imported live fish and is also against the law....Its all Ridiculous!

He did say that he was heading to Pembroke for the walleye opener. Quebec and Ont. open on the same day this year. Ont. is usually a week before Quebec side.

Wallyboss wrote:He did say that he was heading to Pembroke for the walleye opener. Quebec and Ont. open on the same day this year. Ont. is usually a week before Quebec side.

Uhh Nope, Quebec and Ontario have opened on the same day for many, many years now. Friday before the third Saturday in May

You can't possess live minnows on the QC side of the River whether you're using them or not. It's very inconvenient!! When I pick up clients in Masson, I have to arrange to meet Charlie at the dock in Rockland on my way back to get my minnows.

Wallyboss wrote:Are you only talking about minnows or live bait. You can use dead minnows on the Quebec side. But don't get caught with live ones.

Live minnows are not allowed on Quebec side of the Ottawa (except in Winter and you will need a receipt to prove that you bought them in Quebec) but you can use leeches which I find better for walleyes. Or worms.

Thanks for all the info. You mention using leeches for walleye but I have never used them before. how are they used, on a jig head?

I use them on spinner rigs also. But they are perfect bait for jigs. A lot tougher than minnows.

Relic wrote:

Wallyboss wrote:He did say that he was heading to Pembroke for the walleye opener. Quebec and Ont. open on the same day this year. Ont. is usually a week before Quebec side.

Uhh Nope, Quebec and Ontario have opened on the same day for many, many years now. Friday before the third Saturday in May

That tells you how long I haven't fished the walleye opener on the Ontario side. The Quebec side has always been the Friday of the May long weekend for at least 25 years. And i thought that Ontario was the weekend before that! Thanks Relic.