CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports angling activity was low. Snow, rain, and wind made the early part of the week understandably less attractive to anglers. The local ATV club held a run that was well attended and, as usual, compliance was high.

CO John Velsvaag (Ely #2) checked anglers this past week. He also worked ATV complaint areas and took several calls about nuisance animals. 

CO Darin Fagerman (Grand Marais) reports that while some smaller lakes farther up the Gunflint Trail are open, there are a few that will be close. There will be lakes to fish on the opener, but make sure to check with your lodge or outfitter for BWCAW lakes and others. Many of the backroads are still impassable due to snow, so don’t chance it unless you see bare ground.

CO Mary Manning (Hovland) patrolled area fish sanctuaries and closed areas on local rivers. Manning also checked steelhead anglers and checked a few inland lakes for ice-out. Snow has mostly melted again and adventurers are warned that auto travel on more remote state forest backroads may be hazardous due to frost heaves and culvert washouts. Cell phone service to call for help is mostly unavailable.  

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) worked sturgeon anglers on the Rainy River with CO Zavodnik. Time was spent on fish run activities. A snowmobile trails meeting was attended. Enforcement action included insufficient PFDs, failure to display watercraft registration, extra line, unattended line, and untagged sturgeon. The sturgeon was seized from the angler, who possessed it without purchasing a tag.

CO David Schottenbauer (Silver Bay) checked area anglers this past week. Time was spent on AIS compliance and training in Owatonna.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Tofte) monitored ATV activity in Lake and Cook counties. Anglers were checked along the North Shore streams. He responded to an illegal burning complaint and conducted commercial inspections.

CO Don Murray (Two Harbors) worked trapping and fish run activities during the week. Warmer temperatures have now made most lakes ice-free in the area and anglers were out preparing watercraft for the upcoming fishing opener. Enforcement action was taken for trapping and licensing violations.