Fishing & Travel Information
For those of you visiting the club for the first time, here are some thoughts on What to Bring. By no means is it a comprehensive list, but it's a starting point and will give you a general idea of the things that will make your stay at the Pennsylvania Club more enjoyable. Club member John McConahy has also prepared another list of suggested equipment along with a sample itinerary for the fishing week and some other pointers.
Here are the driving directions to the Moon River Marina starting out at New Castle. And in case you missed the link on the home page, here is a page showing the club's location.
Travel Documents: If you're flying between Canada and the US, a passport is required. For entry into the United States via land and sea borders, U.S. citizens must present either a U.S. passport, passport card, NEXUS card, Enhanced Drivers License or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document. The only exception to this requirement is for U.S. citizens under the age of 16 (or under 19, if traveling with a school, religious or other youth group) who need only present a birth certificate (original, photocopy or certified copy), Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or naturalization certificate. If applying for any of these documents for the first time, allow at least four (preferably more) weeks. The requirements are constantly changing, so visit the Travel website of the State Department for the latest information.
Maps: This page has some charts that you can download and print out to aid in navigating to the club from Moon River and also for fishing in the local area. Some (not all) of the more hazardous rock shoals are marked, but you'll have to pencil in your own hot fishing spots.
Fishing License: If you are 18 years of age or older, an Ontario Fishing License and Outdoors Card are required to fish in Ontario. They can be purchased online from this website. They can also be purchased at any Canadian Tire store, the Sans Souci marina (but not at the Moon River marina), Grisdale's or at Wayne's Hardware store next to the Foodland in MacTier. Another good spot is FISH ON-TARIO ANGLING (905-832-4566), on Highway 400, located at the first service area north of Toronto. It's kind of hidden behind the back of the gas station. This is also a good place to pick up any last minute fishing items, though you'll pay a premium. The Bass Pro Shops in Toronto is another place to buy your license. It's located at the first exit after ETR 407 joins 400 northbound (Exit #32, Bass Pro Mills Drive). Believe they don't open until 9 AM.
The Outdoors Card is valid for three years. Fishing licenses may be purchased for one or three years at a time. If you will not be keeping your catch (which the Club strongly encourages), you can purchase the Conservation license which has lower catch and possession limits than the more expensive full fishing license. More information may be found on the Ministry of Natural Resources website.
Effective 2008, Ontario has gone from 37 fishing divisions to 20 new Fisheries Management Zones. The Pa Club is located in Zone 14, which covers the waters of Georgian Bay that are accessible by motor boat. Zone
15 refers to all inland lakes.
Click on the image on the left for a more detailed map of the fishing zones.
Here's a link to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources where you may download the latest fishing regulations and other good stuff.
Requirements for Foreign Recreational Boaters In Canadian Waters: Canada has instituted a sysem of Operator Competency Requirements for pleasure boaters. The club has compiled a page with some of the pertinent regulations you need to be familiar with.
Catch and Release is strongly encouraged while fishing at the Pennsylvania Club. By doing this, we can do our part to help keep the fishing at its best. But catch and release must be done properly for it to work. Here is an article by Bill Hasely that gives some pointers and techniques.
If you listen to a local radio staion such as the Moose (103.3 FM), you'll hear mention of the MAFOR Codes during their weather forecasts. You can download a copy of the codes so that you can figure out what they're talking about. It's a PDF file.
A lengthy article with some bass fishing tips describing some of the lures that the pros use (just like the rest of us do).
Wondering what a Texas Rig is? Or how to fish a drop shot rig? Well, here is an article with tips on rigging plastic worms that might help you out. Confused about all the types of soft plastic baits? This guide to fishing soft plastics should clear things up.
Here's a copy of an Outdoor Life article on How to Catch Muskies on Topwater. And another article on musky lures written by our very own Ralph Martone.
Just in case you hook yourself instead of that fish, here's an article to aid you in case you need to remove that hook in your finger or some other body part. Makes for good reading before you go fishing.
If you have some time, here'a a site with videos on how to fish various lures, both spinning gear and fly-fishing.
Want to learn a few new knots? Here's an article on knot tying that might help you out.
Muskies from Moon River - A story from the January 1989 issue of Fishing Facts describing the catch of a 65 pound musky from the Moon River basin, just a few miles from the club (PDF file - 626 KB).
