Troy and Sandi Rasmusson operate Little Bear Island Fishing Camp on Lake Of The Woods in Ontario. The Minnesota residents have not been able to cross the U.S./Canadian border due to coronavirus restrictions. Kim Fundingsland/MDN

“These restrictions will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 22, 2020.”

Those were the final words in a news release issued by U.S. Customs and Border protection on May 20. The release was for the purpose of notifying the public that all “non-essential travel” is not permitted along the U.S./Canadian border. The order was an extension of an earlier travel prohibition issued in April. All travel restrictions were put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

While the earlier announced closure of the border until May 21 didn’t have a major effect on fishermen from the U.S. planning their annual pilgrimage to their chosen Canadian waters, the extension to June 22 certainly has led to a change of plans for many seeking to enjoy some of Canada’s famous fishing.

Now seasonal businesses north of the border, everything from fishing and hunting lodges to hotels and flight services, are all but certain to take a huge financial hit. Some fishing lodges have already determined that opening for the season, whenever that border opening date is, may be too late in the season to begin operations at all.

An Ontario muskie guiding service on Lake Of The Woods, whose clients are almost all U.S. citizens, has been forced to sideline a dozen guides for an undetermined amount of time. Some of the guides are from Alberta or British Columbia who make the annual trek to Lake Of The Woods for work. Four of them have already taken other jobs due to the uncertainty of summer paychecks.

“It’s horrible. I’ve called the Border Service and said we’d be isolating on an island and they still won’t let us cross,” said Troy Rasmusson, Little Bear Island Camp on the Ontario portion of Lake Of The Woods. “And we’re not the only ones.”

Rasmusson and his wife, Sandi, are residents of Warroad, Minnesota. During the spring and summer months they move to their island lodge and cater to fishermen eager to wet a line in one of the best known fishing destinations in all of Canada. However, they can’t even cross the border to check on their facility.

“I can’t even get up there to cut grass or paint,” said Troy Rasmusson. “I’ve got fishermen friends of mine coming up June 23rd and have told them they’ll have to help out. I’ve got two weeks of work to do in 24 hours.”

The Rasmussons have been busy handling cancellations. They lost a dozen reservations for Memorial weekend and another 15 the following weekends.

“We try to re-schedule but it always doesn’t work out for everybody,” said Troy Rasmusson. “If they extend beyond June 21 there will be resorts that shut the doors, that’s for sure.”

Border crossing has been limited to truck commerce and official government employees while the coronavirus precautions remain in effect.

“A truck driver coming through could have the virus just as well as anybody else,” said Russ Bettschen, owner of Lynn Lake Fly-In Outpost Camps in northern Manitoba. “I’ve heard of some operations shutting down for the year. I’m surprised. Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan get a lot of tourism from the U.S. It’s their number two moneymaker.”

Like the Rasmussons, Russ and his wife, Lori, live in the U.S. Their home is in Long Prairie, Minnesota, meaning they have not been able to check up on their five outpost camps and three hunting camps.

“We can’t operate as a world or a country if these types of things happen,” said Bettschen in referring to the coronavirus shutdowns. “Here in Minnesota people are getting sick and tired of it. Life just can’t come to a standstill.”

“I can’t think of any better get-away, to a secluded spot, after being stuck inside for two months,” said Lori Bettschen.

The Lynn Lake Fly-In Outpost Camps boast incredible fishing opportunities immediately following ice out. The camps fill quickly with bear and moose hunters too.

“My customers who were coming for spring bear hunts are now coming in the fall,” said Russ Bettschen. “Those who were fishing have moved from June to September. Some outfitters have canceled or closed for the season. I’ve actually gained some hunting business for bear and moose.”

The Bettschens say they are going to make every effort to open all their camps, not willing to deny any opportunities for customers that are determined to hunt or fish in a wilderness setting.

“In Ontario 98% of the cases are in Toronto, but the rest of the province has nothing,” remarked Troy Rasmusson. “Now they are talking about the NBA and NHL seasons opening. Canada has a lot of hockey. You can’t open a resort in the middle of nowhere but you can bring down basketball and hockey players? People still want to go fishing.”