DNR Weekly report

[Lee Borgersen]

                    DNR Weekly report

 :fishing2:                                                                      


District 1 - Baudette area

Last updated: 2016-03-15



 CO Ben Huener (Roseau) spoke to the Roseau Firearms Safety Class about laws, ethics and conservation. Station equipment was serviced and follow up paperwork was conducted.

 CO Eric Benjamin (Warroad) worked angling and ATV/snowmobile enforcement. Tip-up anglers are out and about across the south shore of Lake of the Woods and having some success with the northerns already. Anglers should be aware that there have been reports of vehicles breaking through the ice as the ice conditions continue to deteriorate with the recent warm weather. Use extreme caution and stay within sight of other anglers should you choose to venture out.

 CO Hannah Mishler (Warroad) spent the week checking primarily tip-up anglers on Lake of the Woods. Success is starting to increase with quantity and size of northern pikes being caught. Multiple groups with young children and teens were checked. One teen, a 14=year ----old, showed CO Mishler the 43-inch pike he caught the day before. The boy stated it was his ?biggest fish ever? and he was going to have it mounted. He said it was one of the highlights of his life. Time was also spent following-up on ongoing cases, picking up litter on the lake, and checking ATV activity in the area. When you take your ice house off the lake, PLEASE remember to be courteous and take your trash with you! Enforcement action for the week included angling without a license, no angling license in possession, angling with extra lines, unattended lines, possession of unprocessed smelt, fail to renew ATV registration, and no state park pass.

 CO Nicholas Prachar (Baudette)) reports a lot of late season activity on Lake of the Woods. Fishing for walleye and sauger has been fairly slow, but some lucky anglers have been picking up large pike in shallower water and in the bays. Enforcement action was taken on illegal length northern, possession of fillets on special regulation waters, possession of marijuana, felony possession of narcotics, and driving under the influence of alcohol.

 CO Demosthenes Regas (Blackduck) reports concentrating enforcement efforts on special regulations lakes throughout the week as many of the lakes saw an improved pan fish bite with the warming weather. Time was spent patrolling area trails for off-road vehicle violations and taking complaints of litter left on Upper Red Lake. Enforcement action was taken for the week included fail to display valid ATV registration and improperly marked ice shelters.

 CO Kyle Quittschreiber (Blackduck) reports working ATV and fishing activities this past week. The warm weather has taken a toll on the ice conditions. There have been a few crappies being caught on Upper Red Lake. CO Quittschreiber attended the Red Lake Technical meeting. It was reported that walleye populations on both Red Lakes remain high. A fish house was discovered in the ditch, and the owner was contacted and advised to remove. Enforcement actions for the week included: Operating an ATV without lights, and littering

 Baudette #2 -vacant.

 Blackduck #2 - vacant.

 Karlstad - vacant.

 Thief River Falls #2 - vacant.


District 8 - Duluth area

Last updated: 2016-03-15


CO Andy Schmidt (Brookston) checked anglers along the north shore. Nice weather brought the anglers out along with a few watercraft but unfortunately few fish were caught. Phone calls were returned regarding concerns over wolves near residential areas. ATV complaints are coming in involving operating on snowmobile trails, private property and operation along shorelines.

 CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) spent time assisting a neighboring Natural Resource LE agency with cases that involved interviews of Duluth residents. Several fishermen along the North Shore of Lake Superior were also checked during the week. Many fishermen on Lake Superior were also checked when they returned from fishing the big lake. Inland crappie fishing continues with several people enjoying warm weather while ice fishing. Several calls were returned involving miscellaneous wildlife complaints.

 CO Scott Staples (Carlton) checked some fishing activity in the area this past week. Fishing was pretty good on some area lakes where some anglers found near limits of crappies. Ice is melting fast on area lakes and anglers are reminded to be very cautious when venturing out. Assistance was given to the local police department at a vehicle accident that had injuries. A report of a dead eagle found in a yard was investigated and the eagle turned over to the USFWS. Warmer weather has brought out more recreational vehicles in the area. Some complaints of illegal operation were received. Enforcement action was taken for off-highway motorcycles on the road, trespassing and registration violations. Assistance was given to a local trapper with releasing a bobcat from a trap he had set for fox.



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