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Boreal Community Media

Weekly Conservation Officer's report - District 6 - July 10, 2017

Jul 10, 2017 03:48PM ● By Editor
Weekly Conservation Officer's report - District 6 - Two Harbors area - Last updated: 2017-07-10

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports a relatively quiet 4th of July week. The beautiful weather on the 4th made for some busy lakes with lots of activity. The officer gave out lots of awards to kids under 18 that wore their life jackets in the boats. One woman in a kayak though was not impressed with the officer offering an award to her children that contained processed sugar. After the CO got a brief scolding in manners, he went on his way. He was able to get back on track with his day as the kids in the very next boat were more than happy to take their award from the Dairy Queen.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) worked Independence Day activities in the area. Anglers and boaters were checked. Time was spent on area ATV trails. CO Schottenbauer checked an angler coming off Lake Superior, but the angler didn?t want to show the officer his fish. CO Schottenbauer asked why not, and the angler was afraid he would be forced to tell where he caught it as it is his secret spot. CO Schottenbauer was however insistent on seeing the fish, when the angler produced a large eelpout, CO Schottenbauer chose not to press about the secret spot.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked ATV and boating activity during the week. Fishing was slow on most area lakes and the biting deer flies were out in swarms. Enforcement action was taken for licensing violations and a report of an injured owl was taken.

CO Mary Manning (Grand Marais East) worked with CO Wahlstrom checking boaters and anglers on a busy 4th of July. CO Manning took a report of angler harassment on an area trout stream; landowners are reminded that they may not restrict anglers or others using state waters they have lawfully accessed. The officer also conducted patrols in the BWCA checking boaters and a few anglers and followed up on a littering case from last summer.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports although activity was high, it was far below average for the 4th of July week. Compliance overall was very good even with the large volume of anglers and boaters. Violations included angling without a license in possession, operating an unregistered watercraft, and no life-saving device on board a watercraft.

CO Marth Stage (Ely #2) worked fishing and boating enforcement in the Ely area and found fishing to be relatively good for a lot of fishermen. Remember to have a wearable PFD for each person in the boat.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) primarily worked angling and boating enforcement this week with high activity observed. Violations encountered included operating watercraft without navigational lights nearly an hour after sunset, fishing without a license, insufficient PFDs, and no license in possession. Assistance was provided on an injury crash on Hwy 135 and to Babbitt PD with a search warrant. Time was also spent on a litter case.



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