Conservation Officer Shane Zavodnik (Cook) spent time monitoring snowmobile trails and worked angling enforcement over the past week. Lake trails remain in great shape, but land trails are in need of some fresh snow. Zavodnik observed a large increase in snowmobile traffic over the weekend, and many anglers were out and about during the warm weekend.
Angling success remains fair for both walleyes and panfish. Enforcement action taken over the week included several license violations, small amount of marijuana, and unattended lines.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) worked fur registration at the Eveleth office. There was a marked increase in both fisher and pine marten taken compared to last year.
Over the long New Year’s Day weekend, Frericks concentrated on snowmobile enforcement. Hundreds of sleds were seen in the Lake Vermilion area on New Year’s Day alone. In other areas, despite rough trail conditions, snowmobilers were still out in full force. Enforcement action was taken for operating an unregistered snowmobile.
CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the past week monitoring fishing, trapping and snowmobile activity. Fishing success was poor this past week.
Snowmobile trails are in poor condition due to lack of snow and area lakes are starting to show a lot of slush.
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls 1) reports ice fishing and snowmobiling continue to get busier in area with relatively nice weather.
Fur registration was worked with fewer trappers than previous years, which was consistent with what Kittelson observed during the season.
Basic snowmobile operation and enforcement training was conducted with a couple of the new officers so they can utilize their snowmobiles for enforcement purposes.
CO Curtis Simonson (International Falls 2) reports spending time this past week working trappers and checking ice anglers. Simonson also worked the marten and fisher fur registration at the International Falls station and the Big Falls registration station. The overall number of trappers were down, but the people who participated in the marten and fisher season had success. Enforcement action taken this week was for trapping without the required license/coupons and not having trap tags on traps.
CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) reports anglers were contacted, with mixed results observed. In one large group of anglers, most houses contacted were reporting little activity with low numbers. The last house checked of the group had a 14-year-old reporting good success with a combination of walleyes, sauger and perch in his bucket. He had more than the entire rest of the group.
Fur registration was staffed with lower numbers of animals registered, which was reflected by a lower number of trappers encountered in the field.
He also met with the county attorney’s office in regard to ongoing cases.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring angling activity on area lakes. Fishing success overall has been poor. A number of angling violations were detected and addressed.
Snowmobile trails locally are in poor condition, with areas of exposed grass, dirt and rocks due to lack of snow. Above-average temperatures for the upcoming week won’t help matters. Little snowmobile activity was observed.
District 6 — Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness winter trout season opener saw a slushy start, making wilderness travelers work extra hard to get to local lakes. Success was generally good and the fair weather made for some excellent days for fishing. Violations included angling with no license in possession, failure to transfer snowmobile registration, and expired snowmobile registration.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely 2) checked anglers and trappers this past week. Snowmobiling activity increased a bit this past week. Lake conditions are good, but trails have marginal snow. Velsvaag took several calls on trout fishing and Boundary Waters regulations before the opener.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) checked anglers on a very busy Boundary Waters trout opener. Several folks had to be reminded to have their license in possession and to leave their aluminum beverage cans at home.
Manning and CO Hill assisted the Cook County Sheriff’s Office with a deer on the ice in the downtown harbor. The deer was safely escorted off the bay and onto shore.
Manning also checked snowmobiles and an off-road vehicle and helped DNR Wildlife with fur registration.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time in the Boundary Waters for the trout opener. Lakes were busy with anglers and the lake trout were cooperating for most of them. Enforcement action was taken for drugs, angling and snowmobile violations.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked angling, snowmobile and ski pass enforcement, along with assisting the Wildlife Section with fur registration.
The outdoors were extremely busy over the holiday weekend with the nice weather. Some snowmobile trails have been groomed once, but need more snow.
Bermel and CO Zavodnik worked one evening on Lake Vermilion with an extremely high violation rate encountered. Enforcement action for the week included extra lines; unattended lines; unmarked fish houses; no shelter tags; expired snowmobile registration; failure to transfer ownership; expired ATV registration; operating illegal vehicles on snowmobile trails; no ski pass; and trapping violations.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked area angling activity this past week. Several snowmobile riders who were trying to ride very poor trails were also checked.
Time was also spent working a very busy Boundary Waters trout opener this past weekend.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports working the Boundary Waters trout opener with other officers in the area. The wilderness was full of people angling, skiing, snowshoeing and camping.
Anglers had great success with multiple limits of lake trout seen on the ice. No license in possession was a common violation seen over the weekend. A few people left with citations after bringing aluminum cans into the wilderness.
Hill saw an influx of snowmobile activity, which also brought numerous registration tickets. Not only do you need to register your snowmobile, you need to display it. You cannot keep it in your pocket.
Hill rescued a cross-country skier lost on a ski trail, along with a deer that decided to ride around the Grand Marais Harbor on a floating ice chunk.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked angling and snowmobile activity this past week. Some area lakes were slush-covered, making access a little more difficult. Area snowmobile trails are beginning to be groomed, but more snowfall is needed to improve trail conditions.
Enforcement action was taken for licensing violations and failure to obtain cross-country ski passes on state trails.
District 7 — Grand Rapids area
CO Vincent Brown (Northome) spent the past week patrolling area lakes monitoring angling and dark house spearing activity. Enforcement action was taken for expired ATV and snowmobile registration; no fishing licenses in possession; allowing youth to operate an ATV without a helmet; and possession of marijuana. Brown also assisted with fur registration in Northome.
CO Mike Fairbanks (Deer River) checked anglers, monitored trapping activity and worked snowmobile enforcement. Fairbanks and his K9 partner, Si, were also requested to assist in locating a firearm that was thrown by a fleeing suspect. K9 Si was able to find a handgun buried in the snow.
Enforcement action was taken for license issues; possession of illegal-length northern pike; possession of a small amount of marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
CO Sarah Grell (Grand Rapids) spent time checking anglers and trapping activity this past week. She also participated in fur registration at Grand Rapids. She also performed equipment maintenance. Enforcement action was taken for trapping and angling violations.
CO Thomas Sutherland (Grand Rapids) performed ice angling enforcement duties over the past week, with fishing action being good for most anglers. Sutherland took enforcement action for not having a shelter license on a shelter left on the ice unattended overnight; not having an angling license in possession; failing to register a snowmobile; and allowing illegal operation of an ATV by a minor.
CO Jimmy Van Asch (Pengilly) reports working trapping, angling and snowmobile enforcement activities. A trespassing complaint was fielded and investigated. Van Asch also assisted neighboring officers with furbearer registration. Enforcement action was taken for several angling violations.
CO Taylor Hochstein (Hill City) worked ice fishing, snowmobile and ATV activity. Nice weather brought several big groups out fishing over the weekend but fishing success in the area remains moderate.
A law and ethics talk was given at a snowmobile safety class where 14 youth students were certified.
District 8 — Duluth area
CO Jacob Willis (Brookston) followed up on ongoing Turn in Poachers complaints during the past week. He reports snowmobile activity is increasing despite the trails being a bit rough still. One of the most frequent violations and complaints continues to be loud snowmobile exhaust.
CO Andy Schmidt (Duluth West) focused patrol efforts toward ice anglers for the majority of the past week. Ice conditions seem to be decent in the area and most people are still traveling via snowmobile/ATV, with the exception being where some ice roads that have been plowed. Slush has been a factor on area lakes and the fish have been less than cooperative for most of the week. Snowmobile trails were worked and violation rates were very high for registration issues and altered exhausts.
CO Kipp Duncan (Duluth East) spent time on the snowmobile working area trails. Plenty of people are out using the trails, but the trail conditions are still not very good locally. Winter fishing has been busy on most area lakes. The mild weather bringing people out onto the lakes. A trespass complaint was investigated, which turned out not to be a violation.
CO Jeff Humphrey (Cromwell) checked ice anglers on several area lakes targeting panfish, pike and walleyes. Ice conditions varied from lake to lake, with 6-15 inches observed. Slush was making some problems for those with hard houses. Humphrey assisted CO Schmidt in the Duluth area with a work detail on Caribou and Fish lakes.
Humphrey also worked snowmobile and trail enforcement over the weekend. A variety of snowmobile and angling violations were encountered.
Lake Superior Marine Unit
CO Keith Olson (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked ice anglers on inland lakes and in the Duluth-Superior Harbor. He also worked snowmobile enforcement.
CO Matt Miller (Lake Superior Marine Unit) worked snowmobile complaint areas and the Boundary Waters trout opener. Anglers saw a little slush as they began their season, but also some cooperative fish.
Snowmobile trails remain in rough shape until they are evenly packed by riders to get wet areas to freeze for grooming. Repeated violations for registration and modified mufflers were encountered. Enforcement action taken for snowmobile and angling violations.
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Minnesota DNR report: Snowmobile trails in poor condition; Boundary Waters trout opener busy - Duluth News Tribune
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