MN DNR Weekly Report April 4, 2016

[Lee Borgersen]

    MN DNR Weekly Report for April 4, 2016


District 5 - Eveleth area
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports the fishing on the Rainy River continues to be slow as both the Littlefork and Bigfork Rivers have now gone out. Several animal complaints were handled throughout the week and emergency driving and pursuit training was conducted for the new CO Prep candidates at Camp Ripley.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Ray) spent the week monitoring angling, AIS, and ATV activity throughout the surrounding areas. The number of anglers trying their luck on the Rainy River has increased though; the bite has only slightly improved. Sturgeon anglers fishing closer to Four Mile Bay are reporting success over the weekend. CO Van Asch assisted at the Emergency Vehicle Operations class held at Camp Ripley for the next academy candidates.  Enforcement action was taken for various angling, AIS, and ATV violations.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports work on equipment, computer related problems, and computer based training. Small streams have re-froze and little angling activity has been observed over the week.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) assisted CO Frericks with the home show in Virginia working the TIP Trailer. It was enjoyable meeting with many different people and answering the numerous questions they had. The officer is investigating some waterfront issues on Lake Vermilion. With the colder weather, pan fish angling was minimal in the area.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking a few spring beaver trappers in the area. Angling activity is nearly nonexistent. CO Frericks manned the TIP wall of shame at the Iron Range home, sport and travel show in Virginia. An investigation is underway regarding an over limit and wanton waste of crappies.

Cook - vacant.

International Falls #2  - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports angling activity slowed after the close of the winter trout season. There is still a fair amount of ice on area lakes and many anglers were still using ATVs and snowmobiles, although areas of open water near current continue to grow. Violations included: operating an unregistered snowmobile, and fail to transfer snowmobile registration.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) reports that the lake ice is getting bad. The rivers are open and a lot of open water is visible now on any of the lakes with current. The ice is deteriorating on the edges of the smaller lakes. The geese and swans are back and spring is really here. A very few people are still chasing crappies, but it’s getting to be a dangerous proposition around Ely.  Be careful.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that he attended a wildland fire investigator’s meeting and training at Camp Ripley. He was also called out to investigate a suspicious wildland fire north of Motley.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers on Lake Superior and its tributaries. The officer also checked state parks and campgrounds as well as taking calls about ice fishing shelter removal. Members of one camping party were found with numerous violations and two of the group members thought lying about their identities would a good idea; additional, more serious charges were added to their paperwork.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked OHV enforcement, took several big game-related calls, assisted local law enforcement agencies on a few calls, and work on maintaining and readying seasonal equipment. There are still a few folks fishing, but the edges have very thin ice. Enforcement action was taken on OHM violations.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, responded to injured wildlife calls, attended wildland arson investigator training, instructed EVOC for the CO Prep Candidates and provided a K9 demo at the Lake Superior Chapter of Safari Club International. Enforcement action was taken for angling license issues and arrests for outstanding warrants.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked late ice anglers with enforcement action taken for attempting to take a fish during closed season, taking fish with a tip-up over 200 feet from the line and angling with extra lines. Action was also taken in the area for burning without a permit and not attending a fire. CO Sutherland also attended wildfire arson training over the past week.

CO Sarah Grell (Grand Rapids) checked for ATV activity in her patrol area. She took a call about an injured Eagle that had to be put down. She assisted the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office with rescuing an individual who broke through the ice while snowmobiling. She followed up on an ongoing case from deer season. She continues to work on a litter case

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked AIS, ATV, small game enforcement, and sport fishing. He attended training, and worked on case files from previous cases. He also patrolled closed trails for illegal use by ATVs. Areas where trespass complaints occurred were also patrolled.  Violations for small game activity and ATV use were dealt with.

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and trappers, patrolled for illegal ATV operation, handled injured wildlife calls for eagles and a hawk, enforced AIS laws related to watercraft transportation, and continued work on a livestock depredation by wolves. He also responded to a call of a snowmobiler through the ice who was rescued by the local fire department. Enforcement action was taken for passing in a no passing zone.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs, spring beaver trappers, and assembled firearm safety materials. He also patrolled closed forest roads and ATV trails during the week.

CO John Velsvaag (Rec Officer) checked ATV operators this past week along with several OHM operators. CO Velsvaag also checked some beaver trappers and checked up on spring fish run activity. CO Velsvaag also worked on several older cases involving illegal ATV and assisted the USFS with illegal deer stands on public lands.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued working north shore tributaries for spring steelhead run. Even with the cold temps and unpleasant weather, many people were checked during the week. Several calls were returned with a couple requiring follow-up investigations. ATV enforcement was also worked and a trapping investigation continues to be worked.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked on angling activity and worked OHV enforcement during the week. Sucker anglers were out despite the cold weather reporting mixed results.  Lakes in the area are nearing ice out with some smaller water bodies already ice free. CO Humphrey patrolled Moose Lake State Park. CO Humphrey took several calls on general angling and stream trout regulations, commercial fur buying questions and various wildlife complaints/concerns. ATV and State Park permit violations were encountered and dealt with.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with K9 training in the metro area for a good portion of this past week. Time was also spent checking area rivers for early spring angling activity, but not a lot of activity found. A deer possession permit was issued for a deer that was hit and killed by a car.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked the North Shore rivers for the start of the fish run. Despite cooler temps the water levels are up and moving fast. Fish have been seen at the French and Knife Rivers. Enforcement action was taken for a steelhead in possession. Worked area trails for ATV operations.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked river and shore anglers. A cold turn in the weather has dropped water temps and fish activity. A report of a gill net in a tributary turned out to be a section of black deer fence netting that appears to have washed downstream in past months. Fish run activity was monitored and ATV complaint areas checked.

Lake Superior Unit - vacant.
 for April 6, 2016

District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports the fishing on the Rainy River continues to be slow as both the Littlefork and Bigfork Rivers have now gone out. Several animal complaints were handled throughout the week and emergency driving and pursuit training was conducted for the new CO Prep candidates at Camp Ripley.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Ray) spent the week monitoring angling, AIS, and ATV activity throughout the surrounding areas. The number of anglers trying their luck on the Rainy River has increased though; the bite has only slightly improved. Sturgeon anglers fishing closer to Four Mile Bay are reporting success over the weekend. CO Van Asch assisted at the Emergency Vehicle Operations class held at Camp Ripley for the next academy candidates.  Enforcement action was taken for various angling, AIS, and ATV violations.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports work on equipment, computer related problems, and computer based training. Small streams have re-froze and little angling activity has been observed over the week.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) assisted CO Frericks with the home show in Virginia working the TIP Trailer. It was enjoyable meeting with many different people and answering the numerous questions they had. The officer is investigating some waterfront issues on Lake Vermilion. With the colder weather, pan fish angling was minimal in the area.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking a few spring beaver trappers in the area. Angling activity is nearly nonexistent. CO Frericks manned the TIP wall of shame at the Iron Range home, sport and travel show in Virginia. An investigation is underway regarding an over limit and wanton waste of crappies.

Cook - vacant.

International Falls #2  - vacant.

District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely) reports angling activity slowed after the close of the winter trout season. There is still a fair amount of ice on area lakes and many anglers were still using ATVs and snowmobiles, although areas of open water near current continue to grow. Violations included: operating an unregistered snowmobile, and fail to transfer snowmobile registration.

CO Marty Stage (Ely) reports that the lake ice is getting bad. The rivers are open and a lot of open water is visible now on any of the lakes with current. The ice is deteriorating on the edges of the smaller lakes. The geese and swans are back and spring is really here. A very few people are still chasing crappies, but it’s getting to be a dangerous proposition around Ely.  Be careful.

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that he attended a wildland fire investigator’s meeting and training at Camp Ripley. He was also called out to investigate a suspicious wildland fire north of Motley.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers on Lake Superior and its tributaries. The officer also checked state parks and campgrounds as well as taking calls about ice fishing shelter removal. Members of one camping party were found with numerous violations and two of the group members thought lying about their identities would a good idea; additional, more serious charges were added to their paperwork.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked OHV enforcement, took several big game-related calls, assisted local law enforcement agencies on a few calls, and work on maintaining and readying seasonal equipment. There are still a few folks fishing, but the edges have very thin ice. Enforcement action was taken on OHM violations.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored OHV activity, responded to injured wildlife calls, attended wildland arson investigator training, instructed EVOC for the CO Prep Candidates and provided a K9 demo at the Lake Superior Chapter of Safari Club International. Enforcement action was taken for angling license issues and arrests for outstanding warrants.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked late ice anglers with enforcement action taken for attempting to take a fish during closed season, taking fish with a tip-up over 200 feet from the line and angling with extra lines. Action was also taken in the area for burning without a permit and not attending a fire. CO Sutherland also attended wildfire arson training over the past week.

CO Sarah Grell (Grand Rapids) checked for ATV activity in her patrol area. She took a call about an injured Eagle that had to be put down. She assisted the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office with rescuing an individual who broke through the ice while snowmobiling. She followed up on an ongoing case from deer season. She continues to work on a litter case

CO Jayson Hansen (Big Fork) worked AIS, ATV, small game enforcement, and sport fishing. He attended training, and worked on case files from previous cases. He also patrolled closed trails for illegal use by ATVs. Areas where trespass complaints occurred were also patrolled.  Violations for small game activity and ATV use were dealt with.

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers and trappers, patrolled for illegal ATV operation, handled injured wildlife calls for eagles and a hawk, enforced AIS laws related to watercraft transportation, and continued work on a livestock depredation by wolves. He also responded to a call of a snowmobiler through the ice who was rescued by the local fire department. Enforcement action was taken for passing in a no passing zone.

CO Gary Lefebvre (Pengilly) worked fishermen, ATVs, spring beaver trappers, and assembled firearm safety materials. He also patrolled closed forest roads and ATV trails during the week.

CO John Velsvaag (Rec Officer) checked ATV operators this past week along with several OHM operators. CO Velsvaag also checked some beaver trappers and checked up on spring fish run activity. CO Velsvaag also worked on several older cases involving illegal ATV and assisted the USFS with illegal deer stands on public lands.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth) continued working north shore tributaries for spring steelhead run. Even with the cold temps and unpleasant weather, many people were checked during the week. Several calls were returned with a couple requiring follow-up investigations. ATV enforcement was also worked and a trapping investigation continues to be worked.

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked on angling activity and worked OHV enforcement during the week. Sucker anglers were out despite the cold weather reporting mixed results.  Lakes in the area are nearing ice out with some smaller water bodies already ice free. CO Humphrey patrolled Moose Lake State Park. CO Humphrey took several calls on general angling and stream trout regulations, commercial fur buying questions and various wildlife complaints/concerns. ATV and State Park permit violations were encountered and dealt with.

CO Scott Staples (Carlton) assisted with K9 training in the metro area for a good portion of this past week. Time was also spent checking area rivers for early spring angling activity, but not a lot of activity found. A deer possession permit was issued for a deer that was hit and killed by a car.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked the North Shore rivers for the start of the fish run. Despite cooler temps the water levels are up and moving fast. Fish have been seen at the French and Knife Rivers. Enforcement action was taken for a steelhead in possession. Worked area trails for ATV operations.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked river and shore anglers. A cold turn in the weather has dropped water temps and fish activity. A report of a gill net in a tributary turned out to be a section of black deer fence netting that appears to have washed downstream in past months. Fish run activity was monitored and ATV complaint areas checked.

Lake Superior Unit - vacant.