MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

    MN DNR Weekly Report for April 10, 2017

 Apr 10, 2017 at 11:02 a.m.

District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (Int’l Falls) reports working fishing enforcement on the Rainy River.  Public relations work was done at an Expo held in International Falls. Time was also spent removing an abandoned fish house from Rainy Lake


CO John Slatinski (International Falls #2) report fishing on the Rainy River has been less than positive but it has not been for lack of effort, which remains high. A few fish were being caught towards the end of the week with many people saying they were happy to spend time on the water and have nice weather for this time of the year.  Along with monitoring fishing activity time was also spent removing an abandoned fish house from Rainy Lake and handling an injured animal call.

CO Colleen Adam (Ray) reports Rainy River fishing has been slow.  Ice on the big lake is getting very dangerous,with one ATV and sled going through, luckily park personnel were in the area to take notice.    Forest road and trail closures are on through the thaw in an effort to minimize damage from heavy vehicles.  Please refer to the DNR website Thursdays after 2PM for the most current information.  Enforcement action was taken for ATV use on state highway, helmets issues, and no ATV safety training.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) worked on a complaint regarding a suspected illegal deer stand on state land.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) investigated more birch cuttings this week and removal of wood without a permit.  The officer also took a report of deer that died of suspicious causes.  The officer worked ATV patrol and observed a good number of people out enjoying the nice weather.

CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) wrapped up cases with enforcement action for littering, trespass, and cut or remove decorative materials without a permit (from a birch stick theft case).  The litter bug with more than a truck load of litter also cleaned up the mess and was rewarded with a citation with a smaller fine amount.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) reports ice is off most of the area lakes and some shore fishing for suckers has been taking place.  CO Fredin located a dirt bike in the woods with no registration and part of the VIN missing, bike was turned over to the local PD.  Calls of birch tree theft was looked into around Hibbing and Aurora.

District 6 - Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports no angling activity was seen during the week as several small lakes have opened up and are now almost ice free, larger lakes are still mostly ice covered but are extremely dangerous. ATV activity was up dramatically, especially over the warm weekend. Violations included operating an unregistered ATV, failure to display ATV registration, and operating an ATV with no safety certificate.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) worked a last weekend trout detail in the BWCAW and found the travel conditions to be pretty dangerous.  The ice is leaving the shorelines very fast, so most activity on the ice is over now.  Please stay off of the ice.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) attended a meeting and training during the week at Camp Ripley as part of the Wildland Fire Investigation Team.

CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) checked anglers on border water lakes.  Ice conditions are deteriorating quickly with the warm temperatures and the officer watched one angler’s ATV drop through the ice and slush as he exited a lake-fortunately he was able to power out of the hole without a tow.  CO Manning checked steelhead and lake trout anglers on Lake Superior and its tributaries. Anglers new to steelhead fishing should be sure they review the regulations for fishing the tributaries as it does differ from other river fishing.  The officer also followed up on a TIP complaint from earlier this winter.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports checking the last of the ice anglers in the BWCA at the beginning of the week with a 100% violation rate to include litter, cans in the BWCA, and crappie over limits.  Again litter is a focus of enforcement activities.  Spring fish run activities are being monitored.  Additional enforcement action was taken for burning outside permit conditions and ATV registration violations.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area shore anglers this week.  Area ice is starting to pull away from shore and soften, travel is not recommended.  As snow melts, area fire danger increases, and fire complaints were responded to.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) checked steelhead anglers along the north shore. Some nice steelhead were caught in area rivers. The officer returned calls regarding wildlife complaints, checked ATV riders, and worked border lakes.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked fishing, boating, and invasive species enforcement efforts during the week. Anglers continue to have fair success on Lake Superior streams. With the snow cover gone in most areas, spring burning restrictions are in place and burning permits are required. Enforcement action was taken for licensing and public access violations.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area
CO Randy Patten (Northome) worked fish run activity, enforced AIS regulations for transporting watercraft, patrolled for illegal ATV activity, investigated a waters violation, and looked at a complaint about activity near an eagles nest.

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked ATV activity, fire enforcement, and sport fishing. He patrolled state park areas, state forests, and public water accesses.  Violations included ATV’s on snowmobile trails, allow illegal operation, fail to display registration, operate unregistered, and careless/negligent acts resulting in a wildfire and burning prohibited materials.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, worked wildfire arson cases, gave a K9 demo for the Lake Superior Chapter of SCI, and assisted the State Patrol with K9 support while they were involved in a motor vehicle pursuit. Enforcement action was taken for operate ATV in closed area, OHV registration issues, and license violations.

CO Sarah Grell (Grand Rapids) checked local pan fish spots this past week.  She investigated a couple littering complaints which resulted in other charges and worked ATV activity.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked open water angling this week with many sportsmen getting their boats in the water for the first time.  Enforcement action was taken for angling without a license, operating an unregistered ATV, allowing the illegal operation of an ATV by a minor, and operating an ATV on the shoulder of a county road.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Hill City) focused on angling, ATV, and commercial enforcement.  The warm weather had many ATV enthusiasts out over the weekend.  CO Van Asch also attended arson training held at Camp Ripley.  Enforcement action was taken for several ATV related offenses.

District 8 - Duluth area
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) spent much of the week working shore anglers along the north shore and the public accesses along the shore.  ATV complaints have been coming in regarding operating on closed trails and trespassing.  Time was also spent following up on trapping complaints, trespassing, and wanton waste. 

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent the majority of the week working fishing enforcement along the north shore tributaries.  Many people were observed and checked while they were fishing the spring steelhead fish run.   A litter complaint was investigated and follow-up from a prior trapping case was also worked.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) welcomed open water to the area this past week.  CO Humphrey conducted patrols in the Fond du Lac state forest which is under spring road and trail closures.  CO Humphrey and Lt. Speldrich assisted Carlton County Sheriff’s office with a drowning incident on an area lake.  CO Humphrey handled calls/complaints on a recurring trespass issue, nuisance beaver, weasel, and bear.  A permit for a road killed bear was also issued.   CO Humphrey assisted Cloquet Forestry and local fire departments on a grass fire in the Kettle River area.  Burning restrictions have been implemented in Carlton County.   OHV activity was moderate over the weekend.  Violations for OHV operation, registration, and a fire were handled.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) and K9 Schody attended the Safari Club International convention in Hinckley where people were educated on the DNR K9 unit. K9 assistance was given to other agencies with a pursuit of a stolen car and a burglary in progress. A complaint from last deer season of a possible license violation is under investigation. ATVs and fishing activity is picking up in the area with the warm weather. A wildfire was responded to and enforcement action was taken when the owner of the property was cutting wood with a chainsaw that leaked gas near a campfire. With very dry conditions, the grass started on fire quickly and got out of control. People are asked to check with their local DNR forestry office for burning restrictions this time of year.

Brookston – vacant.

Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked the North Shore fish run, where the rivers have become fishable and holding Kamlops and Steelheads. The inland snowmelt has kept tributaries in good shape for levels and flows. Boat and shore anglers continue to target the Coho salmon bite on Lake Superior. Inland ice conditions have deteriorated and become dangerous.  CO Olson worked with USCG crew checking boating safety equipment.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked river and shore anglers on Lake Superior.  Rainbows are starting to move into the rivers, making for some good periods of fishing.  Dozens of boats were out over the weekend seeking Coho salmon, but the waves and ample natural forage kept the bite rather slow.  ORV complaints were investigated, where an unregistered ATV was found operating in a closed area.  Enforcement action taken for ATV and angling violations.