The border reopens to fully vaccinated US tourists on August 9th, 2021 and due to the anticipated influx of visitors and the new Covid-19 screening protocols that will be in place, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has implemented a (temporary) no importation of bait into Canada rule - at least for the remainder of the 2021 fishing season. This means in addition to live bait which was already prohibited (with the exception of nightcrawlers in bedding), you cannot bring frozen or any kind of bait - including nightcrawlers - into Canada from the USA in 2021. This measure was put in place for 2021 to help avoid the potentially longer than usual wait times anticipated with the covid-19 screening of travelers.
With that out of the way, the anglers who have decided to fish in Sunset Country this season you'll need to find a place to get live bait if the lodge and resort you're staying at doesn't already have live bait on-site at the lodge. The live bait issue may be more pressing if you're going on a fly-in trip but many fly-in outfitters also offer live bait. The key is to check with them before coming and see if they have the bait options you want and if they don't then it's likely the retail bait and tackle stores listed below will. You can also get artificial lures, rods, reels, electronics, and much more. Your purchases will go a long way to help these retailers recover from the impacts of Covid-19 restrictions on their business. So you're also supporting local businesses where you're vacationing.
