MN DNR Weekly Report

[Lee Borgersen]

   MN DNR Weekly Report 

 Apr 4, 2018
 
District 5 - Eveleth area
 
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls #1) reports fishing activity on the Rainy River started out busy in the beginning of week but slowed as the weekend came because of the cold weather and the river freezing at night. Additional work included monitoring ice shelter removal from Rainy Lake, miscellaneous animal complaints, and instructing emergency vehicle operation and response driving to upcoming CO candidates. Enforcement action included an over limit of walleyes, boat safety violations, and boat registration issues.
 
CO John Slatinski (International Falls #2) reports that ice anglers and open-water anglers are out and about in the area. The recent cold weather caused many inconveniences for those fishing the Rainy River. Ice forming overnight made launching at the accesses more difficult and then ice flowing down the river most of the day caused slower travel and required anglers to work around it to fish. The success rate was hampered as well. Slatinski checked on permitted public waters projects and fielded calls from property owners as deer parts have showed up on their property as the snow melts. Shelter removal was also monitored in the area.
 
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) continued monitoring area lakes and related angling activity. Public access sites continue to be checked. Area forest roads were monitored as seasonal road closures are now in place.

CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) spent the week completing training. There were a number of anglers in the BWCA and fishing was pretty good. Some nice fish were harvested.

CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time investigating the theft of a large number of birch trees. Area snowmobile trails were monitored and citations were issued for ATV use on the trail. ATV riders are reminded that grant-in-aid snowmobile trails cannot be ridden on. Crappies are starting to bite again. Two anglers were cited with possession of an over limit of crappies.

CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) checked anglers throughout the week and found fishing for most to be slow. Road killed otter and bobcat permits were issued. Violations of angling with extra lines and no license in possession were found.

 
District 6 - Two Harbors area

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling and snowmobile activity have slowed considerably over the week. Angling was limited to only a few people trying their hands at late-season trout. Reports were fair from the designated trout lakes and overall poor from lake trout anglers on Burntside Lake.

CO Marty Stage (Ely #2) spent time looking for the last of the lake trout fishermen in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The trout season is over now for another winter and soon the ice will start to deteriorate, so be careful if venturing out on the ice from here on out.
 
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked to clear out old case files and evidence. She also worked the end of the inland trout season and prepared lesson plans for upcoming training. Lakes along the United States-Canada border were also worked for walleye anglers.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) primarily checked anglers inside and outside the BWCA. Enforcement action included fishing without a license, use of non-VHS certified ciscoes, and failure to display ATV registration. The fish bite – and activity in general – was slower with the cold weather. Bermel picked up a road killed eagle.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked the end of the trout angling season. While trail conditions are a mess, some activity was still noted. Time was spent on a few equipment needs as well.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling and spring beaver trapping activity. Fishing success was slow for most anglers who were checked. Ice conditions are hanging on but can change quickly during spring thaws. Enforcement action was taken for licensing violations.

District 7 - Grand Rapids area

CO Randy Patten (Northome) checked anglers on area lakes, assisted North Dakota with a big-game investigation, and worked ongoing cases.

CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers and assisted the county and State Patrol with vehicles off the roadway. He also taught EVOC at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for license and OHV registration issues.

CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) worked ice angling activity in the area. Fishing is still very good. Sutherland worked on early season ATV activity and gave road kill deer permits. He also performed follow-up work on deer season cases.

CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) focused on angling and ATV enforcement. A report of a deceased wolf was fielded and investigated. Van Asch also spent time instructing at Camp Ripley during the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course for CO Prep candidates. An ongoing big-game investigation was also completed.

District 8 - Duluth area

CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) worked angling and OHV enforcement throughout the week. Nuisance animal calls were also handled. Humphrey assisted in an area work detail and attended a district meeting held in Duluth.
 
CO Scott Staples (Carlton) attended a district meeting in Duluth and the Commissioner’s listening session in McGregor. An ATV detail was worked in the Nemadji State Forest and K9 training was conducted in the area with K9 Schody.

CO Jake Willis (Brookston) reports there is still ice in the area, but it’s getting thin. A nuisance bear complaint was addressed near Floodwood. The resident was advised they don’t get to choose what animals consume the food they put out and the bear would go away if the food source was removed. An ATV detail was worked in the Nemadji State Forest, but the weather and new snow kept most people inside.

Lake Superior Marine Unit

CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) spent the week checking shore anglers along the North Shore in the Duluth to Two Harbors area. The cooler weather and mediocre catching, along with some winds from the northeast, kept anglers at bay. Area reservoir lakes north of Duluth have been drawn down substantially with the anticipation of spring melting and running to start soon.

CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) checked shore anglers and a few snowmobile operators trying to get the most from their season. Thanks to the cold weather, the rivers are still frozen. Inland ice fishing has been slow. Enforcement action was taken for snowmobile violations.