Weekly Conservation Officer Reports
Jan 19, 2022 10:02AM ● By Editor
District 6 - Two Harbors Area - From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - January 19, 2022
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports a nearly 30-below zero start to the winter trout season resulted in fewer-than-normal numbers of people on many of the lakes checked. Angling success was good with very few groups checked reporting no success. Slush was also an issue and several anglers were checked who made their final lake choices based on the amount of slush seen.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and snowmobilers this past week. He also followed up on a trapping complaint. Many anglers reported a fair amount of slush on area lakes.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked the trout opener with several officers. Some nice rainbow and lake trout were seen on the ice. He attended training at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for angling, snowmobile and drug-possession violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy trout opener. Easily accessed lakes were busy while many smaller lakes remained untouched. Many anglers remembered their gear, but left their license back at their cabins or vehicles. Slush was spotty. In some places it was very bad and threatened to take the boots and skis right off Manning. Snowmobile traffic was high and compliance was overall good. She did take a complaint of three riders driving aggressively and driving at and very close to other folks snowshoeing on an area lake.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the winter trout opener and other winter recreational activities throughout the week. Snowmobile and ski trail conditions are good and trout anglers saw some success. Enforcement action taken included using live minnows on a trout lake, extra line, no trout stamp, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, excessive snowmobile speed, and expired snowmobile registration.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked a busy trout opener on area lakes. While traveling from lake to lake on the snowmobile trail, Schottenbauer found a snowmobile engulfed in flames. Nobody was in the area and the snowmobile had burned to the ground, leaving a hole in the trail. Schottenbauer decided to check the ?nearby? bar, and as he entered he was greeted by a patron who stated, ?I bet you are looking for the owner of a burning snowmobile.? Schottenbauer took the report and gave the owner instructions on how to clean it up.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports conducting interviews for a background investigation. Hill also hit the trails and lakes around winter trout opener. Some gorgeous fish were seen in the bag with multiple anglers going home with limits. A few angling and snowmobile citations were given for extra lines and no snowmobile safety. Other violations included no license in possession, failure to display snowmobile registration, and operating an unregistered snowmobile. However, Hill wants to highlight that compliance was very high even though a few enforcement contacts were made.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked snowmobile and angling activity during the week. Area trails were in excellent shape, being freshly groomed. Anglers were having some luck on pike but the stream trout opener was on the slow side for fishing. Enforcement action was taken for licensing and registration violations.
CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports a nearly 30-below zero start to the winter trout season resulted in fewer-than-normal numbers of people on many of the lakes checked. Angling success was good with very few groups checked reporting no success. Slush was also an issue and several anglers were checked who made their final lake choices based on the amount of slush seen.
CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers and snowmobilers this past week. He also followed up on a trapping complaint. Many anglers reported a fair amount of slush on area lakes.
CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) worked the trout opener with several officers. Some nice rainbow and lake trout were seen on the ice. He attended training at Camp Ripley. Enforcement action was taken for angling, snowmobile and drug-possession violations.
CO Mary Manning (Hovland) worked a busy trout opener. Easily accessed lakes were busy while many smaller lakes remained untouched. Many anglers remembered their gear, but left their license back at their cabins or vehicles. Slush was spotty. In some places it was very bad and threatened to take the boots and skis right off Manning. Snowmobile traffic was high and compliance was overall good. She did take a complaint of three riders driving aggressively and driving at and very close to other folks snowshoeing on an area lake.
CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked the winter trout opener and other winter recreational activities throughout the week. Snowmobile and ski trail conditions are good and trout anglers saw some success. Enforcement action taken included using live minnows on a trout lake, extra line, no trout stamp, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, excessive snowmobile speed, and expired snowmobile registration.
CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked a busy trout opener on area lakes. While traveling from lake to lake on the snowmobile trail, Schottenbauer found a snowmobile engulfed in flames. Nobody was in the area and the snowmobile had burned to the ground, leaving a hole in the trail. Schottenbauer decided to check the ?nearby? bar, and as he entered he was greeted by a patron who stated, ?I bet you are looking for the owner of a burning snowmobile.? Schottenbauer took the report and gave the owner instructions on how to clean it up.
CO Kylan Hill (Tofte) reports conducting interviews for a background investigation. Hill also hit the trails and lakes around winter trout opener. Some gorgeous fish were seen in the bag with multiple anglers going home with limits. A few angling and snowmobile citations were given for extra lines and no snowmobile safety. Other violations included no license in possession, failure to display snowmobile registration, and operating an unregistered snowmobile. However, Hill wants to highlight that compliance was very high even though a few enforcement contacts were made.
CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked snowmobile and angling activity during the week. Area trails were in excellent shape, being freshly groomed. Anglers were having some luck on pike but the stream trout opener was on the slow side for fishing. Enforcement action was taken for licensing and registration violations.
