Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers reports
District 5 – Eveleth area
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 — CO John Velsvaag (Cook) checked snowmobilers and anglers this past week. CO Velsvaag also followed up on a snaring complaint.
CO Marc Hopkins (Tower) assisted with search warrants and trapping case.
CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports monitoring area lakes for angling activity. Trout angling was monitored with little activity. Area snowmobile trails were monitored with a slight increase in activity.
CO Darrin Kittelson (International Falls) reports recent cold weather has kept most people inside, however with warmer weather over the weekend more people ventured outside. Fishing success on Rainy Lake was slow, typical January, and snowmobile trail conditions are improving as the groomers are out in full force. Enforcement action included operating a motor vehicle on a snowmobile trail.
CO John Slatinski (International Falls #2) reports improving ice conditions and a reprieve from the frigid weather snowmobile riding, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing activity saw an increase this week. Officer Slatinski assisted other officers with the execution of search warrants and evidence collection. He also assisted with freeing a vehicle stuck as a result of slush on Rainy Lake. Enforcement activities included driving conduct on snowmobiles and various fishing and fish house related violations.
CO Colleen Adam (Ray) assisted with ongoing investigation and reports and also checked ice fishing and trapping activity. The Parks and Trails staff have been busy trying to set up/groom the state trails and local clubs are keeping spur trails in good shape for access to services. Ice conditions are variable and many areas with flooding and slush.
CO Don Bozovsky (Hibbing) primarily worked angling and trout angling activity. Otter and bobcat were also registered. A considerable amount of time was spent working with other conservation officers on search warrants in the Hibbing station.
CO Matt Frericks (Virginia) spent time checking anglers on area lakes and snowmobilers on area trails. Area snowmobile trails are in good shape where they have been groomed, where the groomer has not run over the trail it is noticeably rougher. CO Frericks assisted other conservation officers in serving a search warrant. Enforcement action was taken for angling with extra lines.
CO Mark Fredin (Aurora) assisted other officers with the execution of search warrants and assisted with a trapping case. Fishermen on local trout lakes were checked and some Lake and Rainbow Trout are being caught. Violations of expired ATV and snowmobile registration were found along with no MN angling license and no fish house shelter license.
District 6 – Two Harbors area
CO Sean Williams (Ely 1) reports he assisted officers on Upper Red Lake and Lake of the Woods as part of a work detail. Temperatures ranged from the -30s with almost zero visibility to just above freezing over the four-day assignment. Violations included angling without a license, possession of marijuana, and possessing unmeasurable fish.
CO Marty Stage (Ely) found the weekend to be very busy for snowmobilers and fishermen. The weather was nice so it seemed everyone was out enjoying the lakes and trails. Trout fishermen were generally doing okay, while some were doing very well. There are areas of slush on the lakes, but nothing too significant yet.
CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) worked with several officers for the trout opener. It was a glorious weekend as the weather and ice conditions couldn’t have been better for mid-January. It was a weekend that trout anglers dream of all summer long. The fish also cooperated. Fishing and snowmobile violations were encountered.
CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) attended Tribal Court in Cloquet on a case from moose season. The officer worked a busy trout opener in the Ely and Grand Marais areas. One angler contacted had not bothered to register his snowmobile for many years, figuring the odds were good he would not be caught. While working snowmobiles on GIA trail, the officer happened upon a gentleman stripping off his clothes; fortunately he stopped before baring more than his chest to the passersby. His buddies had a good laugh as he was clearly not expecting to have his snowmobile registration checked by the conservation officer while he was half clothed.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked a very busy trout opener. Lots of snowmobiles were out enjoying the good conditions as well. Time was also spent on trapping cases. Enforcement action for the week included fishing trout in closed hours, no trout stamp, unmarked fish houses, no shelter tag, expired snowmobile registration, no safety training, and fail to transfer ownership.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) checked area anglers on a very busy trout opener. Nice temperatures, but slow fishing all week. Snowmobile activity was also monitored as well. Very high volume of snowmobiles in the area.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) spent time checking anglers during the trout opener. The snowmobile trails are shaping up nicely and a lot of people were out riding them. Enforcement action was taken for angling and snowmobile violations.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked the winter trout opener in the Grand Marais station and worked on a trapping complaint. Fishing success varied greatly from lake to lake but anglers were thankful for the warmer weather arriving for the weekend. Area snowmobile trails were in excellent shape but lake conditions were drifted and extremely rough.